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Where Should I Deliver My Baby? 9 Questions to Ask When Choosing an OB/GYN and Hospital
Congratulations, you’re having a baby! We know, you have A LOT of decisions ahead…What are you going to name him or her? How are you going to decorate their room? Are you going to enroll in any prenatal classes? Just to name a few. And as you probably know, one of the first steps is to select an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN, for short) as well as the hospital where you want to deliver your baby. Actually, these decisions really go hand-in-hand. Here’s why…
It’s a common misconception that moms-to-be can select an OB/GYN at one hospital and deliver at a different one where their provider of choice is not affiliated. In reality, however, OB/GYNs only have what’s called “admitting privileges” at certain hospitals. “Admitting privileges” is a fancy way of saying the hospital or other treatment facility that a healthcare provider is affiliated with and where he or she can admit patients.
What does this mean for expectant mommies? It means the hospital that your OB/GYN is affiliated with is also the hospital where you’ll be delivering your baby. Because of that, the following scenario could potentially happen as an unintended consequence (and we want to help you avoid it!): A mom-to-be selects an OB/GYN, and then finds out later on that her provider doesn’t have admitting privileges at the nearby hospital where she was hoping to deliver; the mom is now upset because instead of driving five minutes to her community hospital to have her baby, she will have to drive an extra hour. The big takeaway here is that it is very important to ask any OB/GYN(s) that you may be considering about their hospital affiliation beforehand. It could save you a long commute when it comes time to deliver your baby – which is even more crucial if you’re expecting during snow season when road conditions could be dicey!
In addition to being close to home, you may be wondering about other important considerations to help you decide where to have your baby. The following list provides some ideas of questions you may want to ask beforehand – and, in case you’re curious, we’ve included Carson Tahoe Health’s answers as well.
1. Is it a designated Baby-Friendly Hospital? Yes. Carson Tahoe Health became the first Baby-Friendly Hospital in Nevada, and is currently the only hospital with this designation in Northern Nevada. Baby-Friendly Hospitals are designed to ensure proper mother / child bonding with every delivery. To learn more about the designation, go to CarsonTahoe.com/babyfriendly.
2. Do they offer guided tours of the delivery rooms? Yes. Tours are offered once monthly and give you the opportunity to visit the OB department and have your questions answered about your upcoming birth experience. To view our tour schedule, go to CarsonTahoe.com/childbirth-support.
3. Do you like the feel of the labor and delivery rooms? All of our labor and delivery rooms feature oversized windows with sweeping views of the Eagle Valley, beautiful hardwood floors, ambient lighting, soothing décor and much more to make you feel right at home.
4. Are private rooms available? What accommodations are available? Yes. ALL of our rooms are private and feature accommodations for your partner, as well as a restroom complete with a shower. These rooms also offer a television and DVD player. Education videos are available.
5. Can your loved ones be in the delivery room? At Carson Tahoe, we encourage a family centered experience. Partners are encouraged to attend during the entire birthing process. We also welcome any immediate family members you would like to have present during the birth of your baby.
6. Can the baby stay in the room with you 24/7? Yes. We keep you and your baby together throughout the hospital stay, this is called “rooming-in” and it’s only a guaranteed practice at Baby-Friendly Hospitals.
7. Can you perform c-sections? Yes. And should the need arise; emergency equipment is conveniently located within each room.
8. Are lactation consultants available (a specialist can be invaluable in helping you get off to a good start with breastfeeding)? Yes. Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC’s) are available to provide education, support, and private consults to pregnant and nursing mothers. For more information go to CarsonTahoe.com/childbirth-support.
9. What are the next steps once I’ve selected an OB/GYN at the hospital of my choice? Visit your doctor to confirm your pregnancy, and ask for a referral to the OB/GYN of your choice. Your doctor will provide your early pregnancy care in consultation with your delivering care provider.
For more information about prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care in Northern Nevada, go to CarsonTahoe.com/OB. Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center is the most convenient and closest labor and delivery hospital to Carson City, parts of South Reno, Dayton, Minden, Gardnerville, and Genoa.
