A Pregnant Woman's Guide to Hospital Tourism

It wasn't a complete waste of time to visit the maternity ward this afternoon, but it could have been if I were as complacent as most of the other women there. I was surprised at the general lack of questions and at the tour guide's inability to answer most of them (or rather most of mine). I don't blame the tour guide; she's a volunteer and most certainly is only feeding us the information she was given rather than providing a real insider look to the decision making process of the ward.

The tour guide's attitude to the pregnant couples there was also representative of the entire system of maternity information. Like the many books out there, I had the impression she viewed us as pregnant cows without the slightest indication of intelligence and who only needed to be fed sweet tidbits to reassure us.

She joked about how we'll feel when we arrive in labour. It's okay if we feel the need to press the security buzzer a couple of times to be let in. She downplayed the role the woman in the process of giving birth. If you have a plan (she meant birth plan) hand it to your nurse. If you don't have a plan, don't ask me what that is; you'll be delivered no matter what.

The private rooms were similar to this one, but older and smaller.

She wasn't, however, able to inform us about the room rate, the rental costs of a breast pump nor the c-section rate at St. Michael's (which I later found out to be 25-27%, which is on par with the rate in Toronto, ~28%). I didn't ask about the epidural or the pitocin rates, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were also high. Especially considering from the time of admittance, women would only be there maximum 24 to 36 hours in the event of a normal birth.

It is incomprehensible that a woman, who is about to give birth, would not want to know absolutely everything possible about the type of care she could expect. Since becoming pregnant, I have developed the rather engrossing hobby of reading and watching everything I can get my hands on. Without this information, I would be blind and scared, ready to accept everything the almighty doctor told me. This professional might have other concerns than was is ultimately best for my care.

A healthy scepticism of a doctor's recommendation makes a healthy person.

Like most humans, they too make mistakes. Many years ago, I had an earache and went to a clinic. The doctor on call remarked on the health of my tonsils as peered down my throat. When I told him they had been removed, his embarrassment was written all over his blushing cheeks. Because of that rather enlightening experience, I always ask questions.

After the many books I've read and perhaps also because of my previous experiences in the health care system in Canada, I've decided to attempt a home birth. Visiting the hospital today simply confirmed that desire to be in my own space when it comes time to face the pain.