Help! What questions to ask on first tour of maternity ward?

[katie789]

I'm going on a tour of my local maternity ward tonight. It's the first time I've been inside one, and I wondered what questions I should be asking the midwives as we go round?

I'm 31 weeks, and originally quite fancied a home birth (it's my first pregnancy), but am now thinking I'm better off in hospital for my first time.

They do have a birthing pool (just the one), and I'd love to use that.

I guess they'll cover most things on the tour, but can anyone with more experience than me think of stuff I should raise now?

Thanks.

I asked...
what stuff did i need to bring and what they provide (some provide towels, some dont, some provide formula milk if BFing doesnt work out but some insist you bring your own etc)
visitors allowed at what times and how many people allowed at the birth
how long do they usually keep people in for
how likely is it that the pool will be free when you go in or is always in use?

that kind of thing!

Thanks, that's useful stuff - especially about what I need to pack. I feel like the birth is still ages off and I have lots of time to plan, but perhaps the next 9 weeks will go quite quickly!

How to get into the building/ward after hours.

Babies never seem to come in the day time!