No two hospitals are exactly alike. Aside from the differences in staff, policies, amenities, and even small-but-important things like room design, the quality of care provided by hospitals can differ greatly. Eventually, you’ll need to choose the hospital for your delivery (and if you’re like many women, you may have already started, even before your pregnancy). These differences can have a major impact on your birth experience.
Here are a few questions that can help you choose the hospital that’s right for you:
1) Is the hospital labor-friendly?
Studies have shown that hospitals with lower C-section rates may offer more support and resources to aid in the progression of labor, making them more “labor-friendly.”
Compared to some hospitals, others are more reliable in providing the staffing and personal attention needed to support you in labor. As a result, more women are able to have their babies without the risks and extended recovery times that come with unnecessary C-sections. That is why we call these hospitals “labor-friendly.”
When doctors, nurses, and midwives allow labor to progress naturally, they can help avoid medically unnecessary C-sections and contribute to a lower overall C-section rate at their hospital — an important part of being considered labor-friendly.
2) How does the hospital support labor?
To get to the bottom of this, you should ask a few questions. By asking a few or all of these, you can get a better sense of what your labor experience would look like at any given hospital.
- Does the hospital have a policy about when during labor they admit women?
- Does the hospital have an early labor lounge or an area for you to be supported during early labor?
- Does the hospital offer supportive tools like birthing balls, tubs, and showers?
- Do they have complementary or alternative pain relief techniques like reiki?
- How many patients are assigned to each nurse?
3) Is the hospital in my insurance network?
This is a pretty important one! You can find out which hospitals are in your insurance coverage network by either:
- Calling your insurance provider, OR
- Calling your hospital of choice and asking if they accept your insurance, OR
- Visiting your insurance provider’s website and searching through their hospital and provider directories.
To get help choosing the birth team that is right for you, contact our coaching team to assist with the search. They can help you find a provider who is in your network and accepting patients.
