Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

ban on maternity ward tours?

26 replies

squirreldumpling · 28/08/2010 11:39

I am posting this on behalf of a friend who is due to have her first baby in November. She and her partner have been told that they cannot see the maternity unit/ delivery suite prior to being admitted to the hospital when in labour and that there is now a national ban on tours. I had my baby last year and was given a tour of the midwife-led unit and the consultant-led unit as part of the antenatal classes.

Have any other people been told there is a ban? Or is it just a strange rule of this hospital?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

NoTeaForMe · 28/08/2010 12:07

My hospital also has a ban of tours still in place due to swine flu. We have also been told that after I have the baby there will be NO visitors at the hospital (other than my husband obviously!)

nymphadora · 28/08/2010 13:09

I had one this week so its not national.

MacMomo · 28/08/2010 13:14

both hinchingbrooke in huntingdon and the rosie in cambridge told me no. so how do you choose which will suit you best?

Allegrogirl · 28/08/2010 13:38

Out hospital has stopped tours but I assumed it was down to a lack of resources. We've only got one hospital so choosing isn't a factor for us. They've got a little video 'virtual tour' on the hospital website which is hardly the same thing.

HelenaCC · 28/08/2010 13:49

Ive been round my midwife led unit but not allowed on the labour ward as it was too busy - so ban not nbational, most hospitals here in Manchester do organised tours.

Was worth going to give me and idea of what to expect - found it kind of scary, but at least I can visualise it more now.

onimolap · 28/08/2010 13:57

TBH there isn't that much difference between hospitals.

You might want to check certain facilities (number of birthing pools, home-from-home rooms etc) to maximize the chances of getting what you'd prefer.

But unless there's a striking difference, I'd go for the one you can reach most easily and reliably.

Hevster · 28/08/2010 19:50

Salisbury are still doing them!

Tootlesmummy · 28/08/2010 19:54

Edinburgh are not doing them now either. To be honest what difference does it make to be able to see it?

I wasn't fussed about going round as what are you going to do if you don't like it? I'd just try and be prepared for what's coming and take what you need to feel comfortable.

Chathappy · 28/08/2010 20:46

I've just been on a tour at hinchingbrooke macmomo so I think the ban was temporary before due to swine flu?

I think the Rosie still has the ban though. I'm pretty sure I heard it's due to sickness bugs rather than swine flu.

It is annoying but I guess they have to think of the newborn babies if there is a lot of infection spreading around.

I guess it depends what the reasons are that they have banned the tours - you would have to ask at that particular hospital.

Pootles2010 · 28/08/2010 20:50

York don't do it. To be honest i'm glad. The state i was in just after having baby (bleeding heavily, hair was a haystack, totally zonked out) the idea of 30 odd people wandering around the corridors just to 'have a look' would be awful! I did want the tour before having baby, but now am on the other side as it were, i don't think it would have helped much tbh.

Mummybear72 · 28/08/2010 21:48

Nottingham don;t do tours becuase they say the labour suite is usually too busy so you wouldn't get to see it anyway. However there are photos on the website and at the antenatal classes.
You can go to the maternity section/building, check out the car parking, reception, coffee shop and the layout of the building so you feel confident and you'll know your way around on the day. Plus you could ask other mums in the area or your midwife.

pantaloons · 28/08/2010 21:51

My friend had a baby 2 weeks ago, she was shown a video tour of the ward.

Cosmosis · 29/08/2010 17:35

"To be honest what difference does it make to be able to see it? "

it can make a big difference if you have more than one hospital to choose from, we have 3 to choose from, 1 we weren't interested in as they don't have a pool, but the other 2 do, so we had a tour of each of them.

whammie76 · 29/08/2010 19:23

I didn't get a tour in either pregnancies, as 1st time I was in and out the hospital alot during my 3rd trimester, so missed my antenatal classes anyway. Certainly didn't think I missed out on anything.

Tootlesmummy · 29/08/2010 19:59

You can see what facilities they have online or speaking to the midwives, or other mothers. A tour is not necessary.

Sufi · 29/08/2010 21:05

Still doing tours our way.... and useful, IMO, as it puts your mind at rest, helps you know what to expect, allows you to ask Q's etc. I don't like the idea of going into anything 'blind' so why would childbirth be any different?

Tootlesmummy · 30/08/2010 07:47

Would you ask for a visit to see a hospital if you were going in for an operation?

I just feel that your midwife is there to answer questions and midwives are already stretched so this is something can be facilitated by a video.

Cosmosis · 30/08/2010 12:50

No, but you can choose where to have an operation, which is a similar thing.

Also I found it very helpful to be told where to go when we came in etc etc, so we're not just in a blind panic when the time comes! Also they answered questions about visiting hours and stuff like that, that the MW wouldn't know.

Tootlesmummy · 30/08/2010 13:33

I feel it's a waste of hospital resource time you don't that's fair enough.

Pootles2010 · 30/08/2010 14:30

We were told where to park, how parking charges worked, visiting hours etc in our antenatal class. I think the needs of the women in labour at the time/recovering afterwards should come first, it doesn't seem appropriate to have people in a ward that aren't patients/visiting patients. I was so upset when i went in, I'd have hated to have a group come trooping past when i was in such pain.

japhrimel · 30/08/2010 15:12

I've found a lot of info is available on the hospital website. My hospital (Royal Berks) have a downloadable leaflet on the Maternity facilities, with info on parking, visiting time, how many bags to bring, etc, etc.

There is also info on their policies. We talked to our MW about the 2 hospitals on option and choose the one with the most up-to-date policies on induction, breastfeeding, etc,

We're hoping to go on a tour, but that's mainly to see where it actually is, as we've never actually been to the maternity wing.

lindy100 · 31/08/2010 18:43

No tours are ever available in Norwich - always too busy, apparently :(

isobelle · 31/08/2010 20:14

how about in berkshire, bucks? wycombe, wexham, reading and heatherwood? anyone know..? a ban on visitors - that would be bliss...!! bar partners/husband

atmywitssend · 31/08/2010 22:19

I did a tour before giving birth and with hindsight, not sure it was worth the effort! I'm sure you find out more by talking to people who've been there/done that than from a tour.

japhrimel · 01/09/2010 10:27

Afaik, the RBH does tours. At least I have a number to call to arrange one!

Flip

1 2