Midwife says "NO" toTour of Hospital !

[luciemule]

My SIL asked her obstetrician the other day, whilst at her appointment, if herself and DH could visit the maternity unit before the birth just to get an idea of things.

He went and asked midwife and SIL heard her say "no - we're too busy, we don't do maternity ward tours".

I think this was wrong and unfair but was just wondering whether other hospitals have this policy (it's Peterborough btw).

I was thinking of ringing them myself and casually asking to see what they said to someone else.

in another sense though i was laid up for about 3 week in the maternity ward and it's not nice seeing tons of couples walk around, when you're trying to rest or when other women are in labour. you feel like you're in a zoo a bit.

but isn't that the same for ANYONE going into hospital - and their visitors?

It's also worrying if you're going to have surgery (I would have thought, I haven't had any myself ). So you need to know about buttons and bells and parking too.

T'would be impossible to tour every patient

Luciemule - I think P'borough hospital was going to offer a video/DVD of the maternity unit but I don't know if they ever went ahead with it. Tbh there really isn't much to see upstairs - not that that's much consolation to your SIL. I wasn't offered any tours there either so it seems to be their policy.

But with childbirth you generally have to go in in a rush so saving 5 mins when you get there for real might be quite useful, especially if you're in quite bad pain as you generally are at that point.

And positive outcomes in childbirth are possibly more related to being relaxed than in surgery - don't know how much by, though.

Sorry, maternity services liaison committee. It's basically a forum for users of maternity services to give feedback about their experiences and to try and improve facilites.

I had a tour at one hospital and gave birth in another (without a tour) . I did know that this was going to happen though as I moved just before dd was born but I went to the first hospital tour just-in-case and as I'm nosey .

Just had an idea - if the reason is because the midwives are so busy, perhaps SIL could arrange to meet her community midwife there and she could show them around.

Because the only constraint the midwife who I spoke to at Peterborough outlined was being too busy to show parents around.

They don't do a DVD but liked the idea.

Not sure what help it would be, actually, and can imagine it being a bit of a nuisance for the staff and patients, but you should be able to go if you really want.
We went on a Saturday morning.
It was boring.
And everyone giggled nervously at the sight of the forceps.

i could have had a tour. i didn't bother.

Our local hospital runs them at a set time on Sat (2pm) we did the tour to familarise ourselves with where to go and what not I would say for me it was beneficial because I am really scared of the whole childbirth thing so it kinda made things more real iykwim?

Have had a very bad experience of peterborough hospital this week from the ward staff (not maternity) - so rude and awful - really unprofessional. I will be complaining officially.

My relative also had MRSA there.

Doesn't surprise me the maternity unit is like this with you. Of course you should see the unit before you give birth - you can't be the only mum who wants this.

The local spawn removal unit doesn't offer a tour, but you're allowed to sit in ADU and watch a video if you want to.

To be honest I appreciate the fact that they are trying to maintain a quieter and more efficient unit for those who are actually in the throes of using it.

Agnes

Jules, do you really not see why it can help?

My local hosp admits you into one room, then moves you to a delivery room, then moves you to another place for recovery. I was incapable of any detailed speech by the time I got to hospital (beyond Take this kind of commands) and would have got very upset at being mvoed around and not being able to ask why, if i hadn't already known. I knew where the loos were (essential as there was loads going on in that area), knew what pain relief they offered and what it looked like, knew where the pool was and what it looked like - loads of stuff. All I can say is, it really helped me.

why on earth a tour,,, lots of people needlessly tramping around lovely newborn babes spreading infection and god knows what else.
Hospitals + for sick people+ rest quiet and consideration and those that dont need to go shouldnt.
It shouldnt be access all areas in these places .
fgs sake if youer worried about location parking etc be a grown up and do a trial run.

I went on the tour at Jimmy's - twice. It really helped me to feel more comfortable. We never saw (nor were seen by) any newborns and the mothers. We were shown where the delivery suite was. We were taken into a delivery room (since one was empty) and talked through the equipment, and what was likely to happen. We were shown the jacuzzi - as it was empty.
I know what I am like if I don't know what is going on - and I had visions of my body going on strike and refusing to give birth if I felt that I wan't in my own 'territory' . So I made myself as familiar with the hospital and the delivery suite as I could.

But theyre are too busy, maternity services are at crisis point at the moment.....they can hardly care for the amount of people coming through the doors, nevermind give people guided tours of the maternity suite.
Its a sad fact, but its how it is until the goverment buck their ideas up and do something about it.

Better care=going private=money money money

depends upon privacy/how busy unit is/avilabilty of staff to show you about.many units do offer presentations talks by MW on facilities etc

in fairness to labouring and expectant mums and to maintain privacy, it is not always possible to visit

think about it, if you were on a surgical ward would u expect prospective patients (essentially members of the public to traipse through)

my tour decided me on a hb so I'm glad I went on one. we never saw a single woman either in labour or on the post natal ward so it wasn't intrusive, but we learnt a lot about rules for using pool, equipment they had, when to go in, etc etc etc.

I've been on tours & it's really useful. What saved me was being told which entrance to use in the night.

Seeing where you'll be - or even just meeting a midwife can help with any questions.

The hospital I gave birth didn't do 'tours' either. I had my antenatal classes at the hospital and they told s about parking, where to arrive etc.

The Norfolk and Norwich used to do them but have stopped now as it takes up staff time and is a health and safety risk according to my midwife.

You can, however, have a virtual tour, that you must inform them you want to borrow at your booking-in as there's only one and a lot of ladies want to use it

Mrs Carrot - this is where I gave birth! Was offered a virtual tour - tried to look at it, but it wouldn't work.