I'm off to a hospital appointment next week, at 15 1/2 weeks, and I'm making a list of questions I'm planning to ask, compiled from a few sites I've come across and my own feelings/worries. Anyone have more I can add to this? Feel free to take my list and use it, critique, etc...

  • About my Prenatal Care
  • When can I take a tour of the facility?
  • How long overdue will you allow me to go before inducing me?
    Don't ask them - tell them how you want to give birth if you go over.
  • If I am not happy with my care, how do I go about changing hospitals?

    About the Birth/Labour
  • Do you support my choices in my birth preferences?
  • If no, which are okay and which aren?t?
  • When a mother arrives in labour what standard procedures are done?
  • Do you have a squat bar or birthing chair?
  • Do you have facilities for waterbirth, or warm water as pain relief?
  • Is there a place for my husband to lie down or sleep somewhere during labor if he wants to?
  • Are there ?time limits? on labour, as in some hospitals?}
  • Do you allow food and drink during labour? }
  • Do I have a choice of positions? What labouring positions are recommended? }
    Again you make this decision and tell them how you want to give birth - do not ask their permission.
  • Is there a limit of how many people are allowed in the room?
  • What is the policy if my baby is breech? Will you wait for him/her to turn around on his/her own?

    About my Post-birth Care/Stay
  • How long do women usually stay in the hospital after birth?
  • Is there a minimum/maximum?
  • Can my husband spend the night in my room if he wishes to?
  • When can family and guests visit me?
  • Can immediate family (husband, my parents and siblings) visit out-of-hours?
  • Is there an age limit on visitors?
  • Can I breastfeed immediately after birth?
    This will depend on your birth but again you need to be clear with them that you want to attempt feeding immediately, do breast crawl, skin to skin etc
  • If I end up needing a Caesarean and nothing is wrong afterwards, will the baby be placed with me while things are being "finished off"?
  • Will the baby be staying with me all the time?
  • Will I be sharing a room with another mother?
  • How do you decide who shares with whom?

That is a fabulous list!! Well done

Just remember that you will need to be clear in your own mind of your own birth plan and preferences. Asking them their views on things will give the hospital the upper hand. If you want to feed straight away you demand it to be put into your file and make it known to staff when you go in when in labour, etc.
Take the time to discuss your own birth plan with them and how they will fit that in with their own policies
Many of your qustions will depend on circumstances at the time (ie rooming arrangements)

Ask about continuity of care through out labour - ie will you have the same midwife(ves) attending your labour consistently or whomever can get into your room.
You may also like to ask questions about the Hep B and Vit K shots given at birth - they will ask you to sign permission forms for these for your file - if you have questions or want to take some time to research these medications, take it - you do not have to sign straight away so ask them as many questions as you wish.

You may also like to ask them about nappies - some hospitals use cloth on newborns, any disposibles need to be provided by you, and vice versa.
I had heard of a hospital that made you bring in your own food when on the ward after birth so ask about that too

HTH