Motherhood is an extremely beautiful and cathartic phase in every woman’s life. Although very painful and laborious, it awards meaning and magnificence to a woman’s life. It is said that becoming a mother makes you relinquish being the center of your own universe. There are similar paeans written in praise of mothers and their importance in everybody’s lives. Likewise, there are numerous odes presented as tributes to motherhood in literary as well as cinematic world.
Mothers are as indispensable to one’s existence as is any other fundamental requirement for one to lead a proper life. Embracing motherhood for bringing a new life into this world is a very noble thing to do. Just the news of an addition to the family is enough to put a smile on everybody’s faces. 
Urbanization has brought many hospitals and medical centers in proximity to everybody. The world has come closer because of technology. In this age of rapid development and information availability at your finger tips, it is also important to select the best hospital for bringing your bundle of joy into this world.
Motherhood, in all its glory is absolutely painful for the expecting woman. The law has also allotted a mandatory 12 week period of unpaid leave for pregnant employees as a respite from workday stress. Also, there are too many hospitals shouting out to expectant mothers and their families as to how they are the best in terms of medical experts and facilities and thus irreplaceable. This makes selecting the best maternity or delivery hospital for the
benefit and safety of your loved ones a little difficult.
However, you need to understand that selecting the correct hospital ensures safe baby delivery. It is the best gift you can give to your expecting loved one.
Following is a checklist one could refer while selecting a hospital for helping your loved ones deliver a healthy baby:
A) The trimester phases:
These phases begin with the first phase when you are at the cusp of pregnancy and getting acclimatized to the baby bump. Basking in the joy of welcoming an addition to your family, it without doubt is a very joyous stage of your life. Taking care of the fetus growing inside is paramount. Consider the following points for having a comfortable and great motherhood:
- Nutritionists– Every hospital these days employs qualified nutritionists for helping to-be mothers to monitor every single thing going inside their tummies. These nutritionists help pregnant women in eating healthy and nourishing themselves and the fetus well.
Tip: Choose a hospital having qualified nutritionists and dietitians on-board. - Testing and vaccinations– There are a slew of diagnostic tests to be done in all trimesters of pregnancy for tracking the healthy growth of fetus and ensuring a strong health of the mother. Blood tests, plasma protein screening, sonography, and similar other tests are required to be done. Serious illnesses like Down syndrome and other abnormalities in the unborn baby can be detected through such tests. Timely vaccinations are also very important for having a healthy baby. Tip: Hospitals having laboratories on their own premises should be selected for swift diagnosis of abnormalities and anomalies in baby. Diagnostic centers should at least be present in close vicinity of the hospital you choose.
- Fitness during pregnancy– Maintaining an acceptable level of fitness during pregnancy is also very important. Many reputed hospitals offer yoga and exercise classes which are conducted by yoga and fitness experts. Tip: Select a hospital which offers fitness classes from time to time to expecting mothers for maintaining a perfect weight and a fitter to-be mom.
- Lactation consultant– Breastfeeding bestows tremendous health benefits to both you and the baby. It is also a good way of bonding with your baby. Consultation with a lactation expert makes you understand the correct ways of feeding your child. Tip: While looking up the hospital, make sure to know whether there is a lactation consultant on-board.
- Counseling and workshops– Pregnancy counseling and workshops strive to educate parents on the finer intricacies and details going into childbirth. Breathing exercises, labor progression and its stages, neonatal screening information, crucial role fathers play in the birthing etc., are roughly covered during such sessions. Tip: Choose a hospital which conducts counseling sessions so that the delivery can be a less tiresome process for the mother.
- Other facilities– Facilities like an in-house blood bank, a chemist store, a round-the-clock available ambulance, are few other facilities which are extremely important and should be considered while choosing a city hospital for delivery. These facilities are a necessity if any emergency situation occurs. Tip: Look up websites of hospitals for getting a fair idea as to what all facilities they offer. You can find a comprehensive list of top hospitals in India here.
B. Just before giving birth:
This phase is just a few days prior to delivery of the baby. Following steps should go into the care to be taken for making the last few days easier for the mother.
- Location of the hospital– Having the hospital near to your residence helps a lot. The labor pains which necessitate hospitalization, happen usually anytime after the date prescribed by the obstetrician.
Tip: Choose a hospital which is minimally away from your residence. This helps in reducing travel as well as hassles. - Complete maternity set-up– Hospitals these days are equipped with spacious Labor-delivery and recovery rooms. Majority of them also have Neonatal ICUs and facilities for handling high risk pregnancies. Tip: Choosing a hospital housing proper NICUs and operation theaters geared with greater hygienic standards is a must.
- Pregnancy packages– Hospitals provide differential packages covering antenatal classes, counseling, screenings etc. for choosing from. Tip: Choose a hospital which provides packages catering to the secondary needs of women because of their pregnancy.
- Qualified medical consultants– Make sure that the hospital you choose for yourself or your loved ones has qualified medical consultants i.e. neonatologists, anesthesiologists, obstetricians, pediatricians and multi-disciplinary doctors in event of emergencies. Tip: Choose a hospital based on Internet results for the availability of qualified visiting and full-time obstetricians. Choosing a hospital having round-the-clock available obstetricians is extremely helpful for premature and high-risk births.
- Birthing plan– Have a word with your doctor on whether you would be having a natural or C-section delivery. It is not only beneficial for the mother, but also for the child if a natural delivery option is chosen for. Tip: A normal delivery makes the new-born more resistant to diseases and bestows it with better immunity in later life.
- Stem cell preservation– The umbilical cord in the mother’s womb is a rich source of stem cell tissues. These tissues help the baby fight life-threatening diseases in later life. The stem cells when preserved can be retrieved even after several years saving the baby now in its adulthood from death. Tip: These days many hospitals house the facility of stem cell banking. Choose a hospital which offers this option. This is a very big investment you make in the present to save your baby from fatal exigencies in its future.
C. Post Partum
The first few weeks of the baby’s life are extremely crucial for its health. Qualified pediatricians and neonatologists should be consulted for checking on the delicate health of your bundle of joy. Selecting a hospital which offers immunization and screening plans for the baby is extremely beneficial.
Tip: The hospital you select should have neonatologists on call 24*7. Discussing your baby’s health with the neonatologist about the mandatory vaccinations makes you help it shield from outer pollutants. Moreover, discussing its sleeping habits and handling it in its first few weeks of growth helps too.
While motherhood is a wonderful and happy phase; both for the woman and her family, choosing a hospital for the delivery can be stressful. Taking into consideration the above points and having a word with relatives and friends about the same may be of great use. It is of great importance to consider each and every factor before zeroing on one hospital. As in the end what matters is, a healthy delivery of your baby in a calm and safe environment.