The types of things I looked for were:


~ Labour facilities/approach to labour/birthing suites
~ Midwifery care
~ Private room availability: I figured that if I was in pain/tired/confused/emotional, that I would need as much privacy as possible!!
~ Can partners stay? Are the welcome? Do they get fed?
~ What is the hospitals "rooming in" policy with regard to where the baby sleeps?
~ What is the policy on breastfeeding support/education. What is their policy on formula feeding? Is their policy rammed down your throat, or is "mothers choice" fully supported?
~ What other ancillary services are offered?

Not many of the websites will offer all this info by any stretch, but these were things, on having #2, that I was interested in.

(As I mentioned earlier, in Darwin there was no choice at all, but the maternity ward in the Darwin Private Hosp. was a great experiance for me, so my future expectations are based on what I had there!)

Try adn visulaise what you want, and then ask around to see what the hospitals near you offer, and pick one that seems to match as closely as poss?