One of the most important decisions any birth mother will need to make is which hospital you choose to deliver in. If you live in a more rural area with only one hospital in the region, then your decision is pretty much made for you. However, if your region has multiple birthing hospitals, you may find it harder to choose. So, what are some of the most important aspects of choosing the right hospital?
Hospital Staff Qualifications
Mom and baby deserve to have the best possible care. Your adoption specialist will likely already know which hospitals have the highest skilled birthing experts but it doesn’t hurt to have an idea of what you’re looking for. Board-certified OB/GYNs and anesthesiologists and well trained registered nurses should be available at your prefered location.
Special Care Nursery / NICU
While it’s best to remain positive about the delivery, it doesn’t hurt to cover all your bases. In the unfortunate event that your baby needs extra care, you’ll rest easier knowing your hospital has a fully staffed special care nursery/NICU. These departments are trained to provide care for newborns experiencing everything from premature delivery to low blood sugar to more serious conditions.
Postpartum Care for You and Your Baby
After you deliver your baby, you might stay in the hospital for anywhere between 1 to several days. The length of time that you remain in the hospital will depend on several factors, including how the delivery went and what your insurance will cover.
Regardless of how long you and your baby are in the facility, you will want to get an idea beforehand of what the postpartum plan will be. Feel free to ask your adoption agency for any details regarding how involved the birth mother and the adoptive parents will be.
Proximity to Your Home
As long as there are no concerns about the quality of care a particular hospital possesses, you may want to choose one that’s not all the way across town. It can be scary, uncomfortable, and dangerous to go into labor at home and then have to spend a long car ride to the hospital with ongoing contractions.
Adoption Accommodations
Find out exactly what the adoption accommodations at your prospective hospital are. Will they provide a private room for the adoptive parents to bond with the newborn? How many people will they allow in the delivery room? Chances are good that your specialist already knows, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Your Comfort Level
Overall, go with your gut. Even if you find a hospital that aces all of your concerns, but leaves you feeling uncomfortable, consider your other options instead.
