Cancellation of Maternity Ward Tours For Pregnant Mums

[RachH]

My midwife told me this week that hospitals are no longer doing maternity ward tours for pregnant Mums because of risk of infection, so I feel a bit in the dark as to what to expect when I get there to give birth. Has anybody else been told this? I feel a bit unnerved by it and think I will check with the hospital directly.

When I was pregnant with dd I was told that the hospital would be introducing virtual tours. I think they were planning to hand out a DVD with a tour on it.

when i was pregnant our hospital had just stopped doing tours. i think the reasoning was that if the labour rooms were all in use, then you'd have all the prospective parents making a wasted trip. bit of a different reason, but same effect.

i felt a bit in the dark too - still do 15 months later tbh - gave birth in the room that can become the emergency theatre - still have never seen the inside of a standard labour room!

Scuse my language but bllx! I've worked for the NHS in hospitals for some time - As long as you wash and dry your hands your not increasing any risk of infection by being there - I should think the real reason for cancelling is time constraints - why can't they just be honest?!

Don't really know what to suggest in terms of relieving any anxiety you have about not knowing where you'll give birth. Are you sure it's the delivery suite tours they've cancelled, not just visiting the 'after' ward? If it were me I'd express my anxiety to the midwife and see if she can arrange something, failing that a formal letter to the head of midwifery is called for imo. A huge factor in satisfaction giving birth (which spees up labour and results in less complications) involves you being comfortable and relaxed about where you have the baby- I think they have an obligation to help you with that.

The same as happened for me i was told no more hospital tours and no more groups of classes.The only thing we get now in Staffordshire is 2 hrs at the hospital which is antenatel class (once) then your shown pics of tour going tomorrow so i will let you know.

Its not to do with the risk of infection - its staff shortages. Theres not enough midwives to look after women in labour most of the time let alone show women around the unit. Its not right though. Why not have a homebirth and not go in at all. If hospitals so full of infection - why introduce your newborn to the risk! Might be worth looking into an independent midwife too - you will get a much higher level of support and guarranteed one-to-one care throughout. Worth the money.

I'm booked for a homebirth but MW still tells me I MUST go on the hospital tour (even though many people I've spoken to have been quite scared by it!). Am resisting for now, but will see!!

I was refused a hospital tour with ds2, was very unhelpful, since I don't like hospitals.
Then I had to go in for monitoring at 35 weeks. They took me to the delivery suite, becuase my GP thought I was in premature labour.
I was there for 6 hours, and that did help a little for me to get used to the idea of being there. But I still wasn't comfortable, or relaxed on the day.
Sorry, pointless post.....
If you feel anxious about being in hospital, I would phone the superviser of midwives at you hospital.

When I went on a maternity ward tour all 10(?) couples traipsed into a room with peeling plaster and exposed wires from sockets and the midwife proudly pointed out a padded mat we might like to give birth on. Half the people were standing on it!

I can't imagine it was scrubbed before someone was born on it later - revolting. Needless to say I didn't return there.

Agree with others not due to infection risk, likely to be staffing, last time I went to mat. section place was crawling with preg people on a tour (was in danger of being dragged along since I was bigger than most!)