Do you have to have a tour of birth centre to give birth there?

[Lizbiz89]

Due to moving house I've left it quite long to arrange a tour of birth centre for labour. Next available date of tour I'll be 38 weeks. Hopefully I make it that long but if I don't will I be allowed to give birth there? Gave birth in a labour ward last time do not quite sure how it works.

Yes, of course, the tour is so you can decide if you want to, and to show you what's on offer, and to familiarise yourself with the place.

If you're not fussed about seeing it, or don't make it, they aren't going to turn you away!

Yes, but you might need to make sure you are on their list/books.

I live in one city, near the border of another.
I had all my antenatal care in my city, but the birthing centre in in the neighbouring city.
So my midwife referred me there and although I was 34+weeks I had to go there for a booking appointment.

Arranging to go for a walk around was separate.

I never actually had a tour, nor was I offered one. Also, Congratulations!

Depends where you are - mine didn't do tours but did have online tours you could look at. Health and safety concerns I think.

Oops, didn't read your question properly! Sorry

No don’t need to do a tour... but it might be useful to do a practice run to find out where it is. A friend of mine found our local centre was full when she went into labour. She was sent to another at a nearby hospital. Unfortunately her and her DH had not been there before and sat nav sent them a short cut over miles of speed bumps- not great in labour! Then when they got there they had to find the birthing suite. Not easy when no one had told them to look for signs saying ‘womens health’ and they were looking for ‘maternity’...

Once they got there she had a great experience though (pool etc) so it was no problem she hadn’t done a tour.

I never toured..

Check with your midwife - here the “tour” is actually a booking in appointment to check the birth centre will accept you (i.e. are you low risk enough), and you get referred by community midwife at 34 weeks if you’re interested. Although you can also have a look round the rooms as part of the general maternity unit tour that happens once a month.