Labour Ward Tour?

[absam32]

Has anyone been on one of these, and at what stage of your pregnancy did you do it? I asked about these at my booking in, and was told that they didn't offer them as a matter of course, and no-one has said anything about them to me since, but am now 26 weeks, and beginning to think about the birth. I think would really like to familarise myself with where it will all be happening. I've seen tours advertised on the hospital website but it doesn't say anything about when in your pregnancy is a good time to do it. I don't know if its best to hang on 'til right near the end so its all fresh in my mind...any experiences?

Hi,
I think unfortunately it really depends where you are in the country as to whether you are offered a tour of the labour ward. Some friends of ours were told that the hospital they had their children in (in Norfolk) didn't offer tours due to the risk of baby snatching!!
Anyway we had a tour of the whole maternity unit at the hospital we had our son in (Watford General) at about 30 weeks. We were just booked onto a tour dependant on my due date, we didn't have a choice, so I think they just book you onto to a tour when they think its appropriate.
Your community midwife should be able to advise you on this and if tours are being advertised on the hospital website it looks like you should be able to have one. Good luck.

Was part of ante-natal classes so about 34 weeks. It was useful but not essential. Why don't you ring up and ask. I think at my hospital swine flu put paid to a lot of 'tours' and not sure if they have been re-instated to the same level.

With my first pregnancy in 2010 we were not allowed a tour because of the swine flu outbreak. I am not pregnant with number two and have been told they don't offer tours because of the risk of infection but they have a virtual tour online. So, if you can get a tour great but I think they are few and far between. TBH at the end of the day, when you are in labour you won't care about having a good look round, just so long as you know where the hospital is!

I went on one, when I was 40+12, as a reassurance about induction, should I need to take it.

I hadn't been on one before because I was planning a homebirth, but I'm glad I did, because it was much nicer than I thought it would be, and really made me feel at ease about going there if I needed to (i didn't, in the end, but I was glad I had the option)

Most people in my ante-natal class went at about 33-34 weeks.

Thanks everyone - that makes sense...I guess they have to be careful about having great groups of visitors trouping round. I'll give them a ring and find out when the next one is I think - I think I'd find it reassuring...if for nothing else than knowing how to actually find the place when we need it!

they don't do them at my hospital anymore due to the huge numbers of people booking on them - I'm guessing this gave rise to a load of issues - hygiene, crowding, security etc etc. Pity as I don't know anything about the labour ward there!

Our tour involved a brief look at the MWLU at the hospital, then delivery. Having been admitted to the maternity ward at 31wks I knew what that looked like and what happens there, but we didn't get to the see it on the tour (so were nowhere near new babies/mums), but they did explain what happened (in terms of routine etc) on the ward. It wasn't a standard part of our antenatal care as there are 3 different hospitals all very close to us and the MWLU in my local town, all with different pain relief options, dates for inductions, facilities etc.
I went for my tour at 36wks...
I also found the information on the hospital's website very useful (especially so I could send visiting informaiton to my slightly hysterical parents who are still convinced travelling for 5h might just count as a "special circumstance" and will thus be allowed to be with me all day, so what's the harm in them showing up ...the leaflet seems to have calmed them a bit).

I have mine booked for 4th Feb when I'm around 30 weeks. Was told they do the tours when you have 2 mths left.

I rang the hospital myself. We don't have any antenatel classes as such here, they only do walk in info sessions.

Glasgow royal no longer offer then due to infection control they are making a DVD for a virtual tour, but tbh my sister got the tour 5 years ago and sadi they showed her this lovely birthing room with pool and music and all sorts but when it came to the birth was on the ward til the last min up to deliver in a private room (no music or dimmed lights) and back to the ward within a few hours i think DN was born at 4-ish and she was back on the ward by 6.30-ish!

I would love to know where you all live Glasgow doesn't seem to have half the options elsewhere does :(

We have 2 local hospitals. One won't let anyone look round since the swine flu outbreak. The other gives tours to anyone who turns up at a given time, and they take you everywhere including scbu. It was awful traipsing round there with about 20 other random people, seeing the tiny babies in their incubators. I felt so uncomfortable and it must have been horrible for any parents with a sick baby there.

Where I live there are 2 places where you can give birth. At the hospital labour suite tours are part of the labour and delivery anti natal class you can attend. U usually get booked onto sessions at around 34 week onwards. There is also a midwife lead unit to look round here though they don't really do a 'tour' I had to ring up and organise to be shown around myself

We can have a tour of the ward after 30 weeks so in 4 weeks time. Even better they do a Sunday tour. xx

I asked about this on monday (30 weeks pregnant) when I was getting my anti D injection. They said I could look round the delivery ward but not the MLU downstairs as the whole point of there was that it was peaceful etc and didn't have people coming and going. They did an online tour of it though through the hospital website, and I got a really good feel for for it just by being in the reception area (was v. plush and relaxing)