By: Bruce Magee

The months prior to a baby being born are a flurry of activity. If this is your first baby then the activity level is even higher. There are nursery's to get ready things to buy and books to read to get ready for this new life which will quickly be here. You're also faced with many choices that have to be made prior to the baby being born. One very import choice you have to make is what hospital are you going to deliver the baby? This decision may be straightforward should your doctor only has privileges at one facility. So start by asking your physician where he delivers babies. Here are some tips on how to select a facility and get ready for your delivery.

The selection of hospital might be decided on straightforwardness of getting there. If you reside in the city or a rural setting you need to consider how you're going to get to the hospital. How far away the hospital is, do you have easy access to get to that facility? These are points to consider along with the standing of the hospital.

Visit the hospital before you have the baby, you need to know as much about the place that you can. This knowledge can help ease the anxiety when you're having the baby. You should find out what type of birthing rooms are available. Who is able to visit and what times. Who is able to be in the birthing room while you're in labor? Take a tour of the obstetrics unit and make sure you also include the places that you'll be after the baby is born. This will be significant because the more knowledge you have in advance the less anxiety you'll feel when you're having the baby.

About a month before the baby is due you should take one additional look at the hospital and its layout. Find out where you should park when you first arrive and where visitors will park. You may also want inquire the price of auto parking and find out if the hospital validates. If the hospital required preregistration now is an excellent time to do this as well. Your last month of being pregnant might be uncomfortable so you'll want to get as much done as you possibly can.

Here are a couple others details you should find out before you go into labor. One thing many new mothers neglect to inquire about about is the telephone. You will most likely want to let everyone know the baby is born, so you will want to contact some people. Find out if the hospital has a phone which you can use, just how much it cost and how to use it (is there a number that you need to press to dial out). Almost everyone has mobile phone nowadays so you may also want to ask what the cell phone policy of the hospital is if you choose that instead. One last and very important thing to find out is which place to go when you're in labor. Will you need to check in anywhere or go right to the obstetrics' floor? Also inquire what door to use if it's the middle of the night as they may lock the main doors. This planning now will be worth the time invested and likely to make your delivery less stressful.