Motherhood is something that is cherished by every woman. Although she has to undergo various physical and emotional changes, that can be stressful as well, what matters is the well-being of the mother and the child. This can be ensured by choosing the maternity hospital carefully. A lot of research and planning is required so that the maternity hospital you finally chose is comfortable and equipped with all facilities that may be required at the time of the delivery.

Here are a few factors that should be kept in mind while zeroing in on the hospital:

• Obstetrician and staff credentials – The most important thing that should be kept in mind is your obstetrician. He/she should be experienced and skilled to handle any kind of complications that may arise anytime. There should be a level of trust between the obstetrician and the patient. The mother-to-be should be comfortable with the doctor and other hospital staff.
• Hospital Facilities – The hospital should be equipped with the latest facilities and ready to handle any kind of emergency. Although a new born doesn’t require any special treatment, if all goes well, there may be times when the infant needs to be placed in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). The maternity hospital should also have an adult Intensive care unit for the patient.
• Proximity from your home – It is always better to opt for a maternity hospital that is close to your home. There are numerous times during the pregnancy that the mother-to-be has to be rushed to the hospital for some reason or the other. Staying close to the hospital is quite convenient and saves a lot of time and hassle.
• Round-the-clock Availability – Staff in the maternity hospital should be available round-the-clock, as no one can predict when the patient would need assistance. The patient may need support at odd hours and the support staff should be skilled enough to handle the lead time before the doctor arrives.
• Transparency – There should be clarity between the doctor and the patient. The doctor should be clear about the patient’s condition and clear all doubts and queries that may arise in the patient’s mind. It is advisable to take feedback from your known sources on whether the maternity hospital is good or not.
• Hygiene and Cleanliness– Check the cleanliness and hygiene of the hospital in general. The labor room should be spotlessly clean and Covid protocol must be followed at all times.
• Post-Natal-care specialists – The hospital should have all specialists such as lactation consultants, physiotherapists, and nutritionists to take care of the patient post-delivery.

Periods after delivery

Your first Periods after delivery can come anytime between two and 12 weeks after delivery. For most women, it happens between six and 12 weeks. If you exclusively breastfeed, your period will likely be delayed until you give your baby solid food and other forms of milk.

Wrapping up

The maternity hospital may not necessarily be fancy but it should be clean, comfortable, and close to your home. The doctors should be experienced and skilled as ultimately, they are going to handle the delivery. Adequate post-delivery care should be available as the mother and the baby need care for the first few days. These factors are just some of the things that should be considered. What matters most is that the patient is comfortable with all the arrangements.