5 Reasons You Should Consider Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery

Obesity is a global pandemic and rates are growing significantly in the Middle East. In the Middle East, obesity affects women more than men. Weight loss surgery is one way to address morbid obesity in order to improve health.

For those with morbid obesity, the weight causes many different health issues, while there are many types of bariatric surgery, all result in more than just weight loss. Read on to learn the reasons why you should consider bariatric weight loss surgery.

1. Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Improves Your Cardiovascular Disease
   Losing weight helps to lower your blood pressure and improve many cardiovascular diseases (i.e., congestive heart disease, peripheral artery disease, etc.). One recent article pointed to a significant reduction in overall cardiovascular disease risk after bariatric surgery.
2. Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Reduces Other Health Conditions
   Besides reducing the pressure on your heart, bariatric surgery improves your blood glucose. For most, there is a resolution of Type 2 diabetes shortly after surgery. Results are more significant for Roux en Y, and Gastric sleeve, but still happens with other weight loss surgeries. Weight loss surgery also improves obstructive sleep apnea.
   Sleep apnea is caused by a restriction in airflow during sleep. It impacts sleep cycles, which also makes losing weight without surgery difficult. After bariatric surgery, you can expect to eliminate the need for a CPAP machine.
3. Bariatric Surgery Improves Depression
   Many obese people experience depression because of poor body image and social stigma.
   Even young who are living with significant excess weight find it difficult to participate in activities they might otherwise enjoy, leading to social isolation and depression. Losing this excess weight can improve emotional health in these patients. It was found that people who underwent bariatric surgery had a 32.7% decrease in depression at the time of surgery and 16.5% decrease six to 12 months after surgery.
4. After Bariatric Surgery, You Can Expect a Reduction in Joint Pain
   Obesity causes many health issues. Your joints, and muscles, are also affected by excess weight. Many of the daily joint aches and pains will be improved post-surgery. If you follow the diet and exercise recommendations of your health care team you will also notice an increase in muscle tone, which will make you feel and look better.
5. Some Fertility Issues Improve, Post Surgery
   Infertility is frustrating. Excess weight can impact hormonal levels making getting pregnant difficult. The weight that is lost post-surgery makes getting pregnant easier. You should discuss your plans to get pregnant with your care team to ensure that you are completely healed from surgery before you conceive.

Are You Looking for the Best, Full-Service Hospital in the Middle East?

We are the largest private, academic, hospital in the Middle East. Our diverse clinical and academic teams provide the highest level of care. Our Clinical Nutrition Department can support your bariatric surgery diet.

If you have a BMI that is great than 40, or a BMI greater than 30 and a chronic health condition bariatric weight loss surgery may be your answer.

Click here to book your first appointment with us and find out. Pre-booking appointments ensures that we can deliver the highest quality care to you in a timely fashion.

Galls stones is a very common surgical disease, it affects 1 in every 12 women but also seen in males. The symptoms that is commonly seen in patients variable ranges from pain in the right side of abdomen, indigestion especially fatty meal, burping or even jaundice.
Gallstones are of 3 types most common is cholesterol and other bilirubin and pigmented type. Size of the stone also varies very tiny in few mm to large like ball.
Mostly commonly seen in women, overweight, over 40 and after child birth. The treatment is only surgically remove the gall bladder, the surgery known as cholecytectomy, but due to the new innovation in surgery called laproscopic cholecystectomy it can be done with 3 or 4 small key holes but no pain and early return of daily activity or work.

By Dr. Nadia Saeed Khan (Specialist Surgeon)

Diagnosed in both men and women, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, with an estimated 1·8 million new cases recorded in 2018. According to Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), this is the second most common cancer and the second highest cause of cancer deaths in the UAE.

Colorectal cancer, in most cases, starts with benign tumors or polyps which is abnormal growth of tissues on the lining of rectum and colon. Over time, some polyps change to become cancerous. Screening is the process of looking for cancer in people who have no symptoms of the disease. In CRC screening, it means looking for adenoma polyps, before they produce symptoms or become cancerous and can be removed. There is 5 % lifetime risk of colorectal cancer in average risk individuals, and 90 % survival rate when detected early.

What are the Common Symptoms

Early colorectal cancer often has no symptoms, which is why screening is so important. As a tumor grows, it may bleed or obstruct the colon. Patients should see a doctor if they have any of the symptoms, such as abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, rectal mass, sudden loss of weight and anemia

What are the Risk Factors for Colon Cancer

Many lifestyle issues are among the critical risk factors for colorectal cancer. Lack of regular physical activity, a diet low in fruits and vegetables, low fiber and high fat diet or a diet high in processed meat may increase your chances of getting colorectal cancer. If you are overweight or obese, your risk of developing cancer becomes higher. Excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco raises the risk of colon and rectal cancer significantly,”

Who should be Screened

• Emirati man and woman over the age of 40 years
• Asymptomatic man and woman over the age of 45-50 years

Colonoscopy remains the gold standard for colon cancer screening. If it is not available, other options are stool occult blood test or CT colonography

Recommendations to Reduce Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is not entirely preventable. But you can reduce your risk by getting yourself routinely checked, starting from the age 40. Daily moderate physical activity and eating a balanced diet with fruit and vegetables, whole grains and foods containing fiber reduce risk of the disease.

The best way to beat any cancer is by regular screening tests and early detection. If you are 40 years and older, book an appointment with a Gastroenterologist in Thumbay University Hospital, Ajman or any other hospital, whichever is convenient for you

By Dr. Shailesh Kumar (Consultant Gastroenterology and Hepatology)

Our hands are one of our most valuable assets. You need your hands for most common activities, especially at work, so preventing hand injuries is something to keep front of mind. Unfortunately, hand safety is often overlooked and hand and finger injuries in the workplace continue to be common.

Bone fractures and breaks, tendon and muscle tears, and cuts and lacerations are some of the more common ways workers injure their hands on the job. While treating hand injuries can prove to be costly and often require many days out of work to recover, the good news is that many workplace hand injuries are easily preventable. With the right training, tools, resources, and education, employers and employees can help prevent hand injuries.

The Risk and Cost of Hand Injuries

Hand injuries don’t discriminate. They can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, age, or industry.

However, people working in industries like farming, construction, installation and maintenance, and transportation experience higher numbers of hand injuries than those who work in other industries. This is largely due to the frequent use of heavy machinery, repetitive tasks, and the physical nature of these fields. Machines like assembly equipment, hammers, saws, bulldozers, and other heavy equipment can put workers at increased risk of serious hand injuries.

And according to the data, ignoring anyone’s risk of experiencing a hand injury can prove costly. Sixteen percent of all workplace hand injuries involve employees who are 55 and older and often require longer periods of recovery, which means more days away from work following an injury. While the median number of work days missed overall for hand injuries is five, older workers who experience these injuries often need 12 to 14 days to recover.

And hand injuries don’t just cost employers and employees missed days. It’s very easy for these injuries to quickly grow more and more expensive financially, depending on the type of injury.

Key Hand Injury Statistics:

• 110,000 lost-time hand injuries annually
• Hand injuries send more than one million workers to the emergency room each year
• 70 percent of workers who experienced hand injuries were not wearing gloves
• The remaining 30 percent of injured workers did wear gloves, but the gloves were inadequate, damaged or the wrong type for the type of hazard present.

Most Common Hand Injuries

Here are the most common:

Cuts, Lacerations, and Punctures

These types of injuries can happen for a variety of reasons, from broken glass to machine mishaps, and can be the most intensive injuries to treat, often requiring stitches or more to begin the healing process.

One explanation for why lacerations are so common could be a simple lack of hand protection. To combat this, employers require workers to use appropriate protection when their hands are exposed to any dangers that could result in the following:

• Skin absorption of harmful substances
• Severe cuts or lacerations
• Severe abrasions
• Punctures
• Chemical and/or thermal burns
• Harmful temperature extremes

Following these guidelines can greatly increase hand safety at any workplace, reduce the number of days workers miss due to injury, and lessen the number of workers’ compensation claims.

Crushes

These injuries are just like they sound and usually involve parts of, or the entire, hand getting caught between heavy machinery and another hard surface. Crushes are the third most common cause of hand injuries.

Crushes can permanently disfigure, scar, or damage the hands. This happens most often in cases where a crush prevents blood from reaching muscles in the hand.

Fractures, Sprains, and Tears

While cuts, lacerations, and punctures affect the outer parts of the hand, fractures, sprains, and tears have more to do with the hand’s inner workings: the bones and tendons.

Fractures are breaks in the bone, and can be caused by trips, falls, and crushes. They can require much longer recovery times than other injuries.

Avulsion fractures are also common with hand injuries. These types of fractures happen when a bone is moving one way and a tendon or ligament is moving or pulled in the other direction. A common avulsion injury happens when a worker’s wedding ring or other piece of jewelry gets caught on machinery. Many workplaces that use heavy machinery ask workers to remove any rings that they wear due to the risk for avulsion fractures and even detachments that can occur.

Soreness and Other Pain

Consistent soreness and pain in the hands is another widespread condition. Many of these injuries stem from repetitive tasks, such as typing or other frequent hand movements.

Keeping Hands Safe

Employers can take some easy-to-incorporate measures to prevent hand injuries in the workplace. Consider the following:

1. Provide Personal Protective Equipment

Make sure your workers are well equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), like gloves, that helps protect their hands from any injuries that may be sustained in their line of work. Overprotection is always better than under-protection, so err on the side of caution.

When selecting the type of protective glove for employees, there are several important factors to consider that may vary based on industry. Not all gloves are the same, and not all gloves provide the same type of protection

2. Educate and Set Expectations

Be sure to educate your workers about the tools and machinery that is used frequently at your worksite. Host training programs to help employees get to know equipment features, potential hazards, and appropriate safety measures.

You can also post a list of safety tips and workplace expectations in heavily trafficked areas – like locker and break rooms – that reminds employees to remove all rings, necklaces, earrings, and other jewelry before using hazardous machinery. Employees should always stay focused while handling heavy machinery and tools, with minimal distractions in areas where potentially dangerous equipment is being used.

3. Support Open Communications

Make sure your employees know that they can report any safety issues they identify in the field to their managers or supervisors. Employers should always be present and available for employees to report any safety issues or concerns immediately. When someone reports an issue, it is an opportunity to review what happened, what could have prevented the problem, and any other pertinent information with employees.

4. In case of Emergencies

If your employees experience significant injuries, they should be considered medical emergencies and should be promptly evaluated in the nearest emergency department. Significant injuries can include (but are not limited to) severe crush injuries, finger avulsions, severe lacerations, extensive burns, or injection type injuries from high pressure paint or grease guns.

By Dr. Faisal Ameer (Consultant Plastic Surgeon)

Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a rare chronic inflammatory disease of the breast that can clinically mimic breast carcinoma.¹ The ladies usually present with progressive onset of a breast lump.

GM is an uncommon breast lesion that is well known for its worrisome clinical presentations as a hard breast lump, particularly in younger women.

The etiology of GM is unclear. The postulate ,   include autoimmune disease, undetected organisms, reaction to childbirth and the use of oral contraceptives, but there are reports of GM occurring in patients who have not received oral contraceptives. Further, not all patients have a history of childbirth, and some have hyperprolactinemia.

The origin of GM is unknown, and its diagnosis rests on demonstrating a characteristic histological pattern, combined with the exclusion of other possible causes of granulomatous lesions in the breast and of breast cancer.

The most common clinical presentation is a firm unilateral, discrete breast mass, often associated with an inflammation of the overlying skin, usually present with progressive onset of a breast lump.

Affected women are nearly always parous and usually present in their early thirties. A tender extra-areola lump is the usual presentation associated with fixation to the skin or to the underlying pectoralis muscle. Occasionally, nipple retraction and lymphadenopathy is seen, and regional lymphadenopathy may be present in up to 15% of cases. The ladies will have a breast mass that can vary in size from 0.5 to 9 cm, and often the overlying skin is inflamed.

In more than 50% of reported cases, the initial diagnosis was considered malignant or suspicious for breast carcinoma.  Inflammatory breast lesions of this kind may be clinically mistaken for malignancy, particularly if reactive draining lymph nodes are enlarged. In 2 of these cases, patients presented with tender and enlarged nodes. Thus, a mammogram can be misleading when the symptoms demonstrate no abnormality but more often suggest carcinoma. As a result of the sinister nature of these signs, there is often a strong suspicion of breast cancer.

Tuberculosis (TB) of the breast is an uncommon disease that is often difficult to differentiate from cancer of the breast when it presents as a lump

Breast TB should be considered in differential diagnosis in women with clinically suspicious breast lumps who are from high-risk populations and/or endemic areas.

  TB is an important differential diagnosis because of the implications of corticosteroid therapy; however, the histological features of GM differ from those of typical TB. TB and other infections need to be excluded by serological tests and histological study of the affected tissue with special stains and by examining cultures of the affected tissue for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, mycobacteria and fungi.  Also, a woman in the reproductive age group who presents with a palpable lump in her breast might have TB; this must be considered, especially because the incidence of breast TB may increase with the global spread of AIDS.

Uncommon sites and similarities with other diseases clinically and radiographically occasionally lead to diagnostic and therapeutic delays.

FNAC may not always differentiate between GM and other diseases of the breast, and a confident diagnosis may require histological samples, negative microbiological investigations and clinical correlation.

Adequate tissue specimens are therefore needed to differentiate GM from other pathologies, including cancer and other causes of GM, such as TB, sarcoidosis and ductular ectasis. Combining the cytological features seen in the aspiration biopsy material with the histological appearance of the lesion led us to favour the diagnosis of GM.

The treatment of choice for GM is wide surgical resection of breast masses has been successful with corticosteroids have been reported to be useful. In cases of recurrence after biopsy or delayed wound healing, re-excision and a short therapy of high-dose steroids can be efficient. If there is no delayed wound healing or recurrence, no further therapy is required. Recurrence, fistula formation and secondary infection are well-known complications of GM, thus long-term follow-up is recommended. Neither wound complication nor recurrence has been identified as correct management of disease, corticosteroids used after healing postoperatively wound.

In conclusion, GM and breast TB are rare inflammatory diseases of the breast that can clinically mimic malignancy and which may be misdiagnosed as carcinoma. The diagnosis of GM must be based on a multidisciplinary approach. None of these cases were diagnosed clinically and radiologically before FNAC and biopsy, which emphasizes the awareness among surgeons, radiologists and pathologists of this unusual but distinctive disorder. Increased awareness of these diseases will improve understanding and management of them.

By Dr. Nina Vicol (General Endocrine Surgeon)

Reference:

1. Kessler E, Wolloc Y. Granulomatous mastitis: a lesion clinically simulating carcinoma. Am J Clin Pathol 1972;58:642-6. [PubMed]
2. Going JJ, Anderson TJ, Wilkinson S, et al. Granulomatous lobular mastitis. J Clin Pathol1987;40:535-40. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
3. Donn W, Rebbeck P, Wilson C, et al. Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: a report of three cases and review of the literature. Arch Pathol Lab Med1994;118:822-5. [PubMed]
4. Jorgensen MB, Nielsen DM. Diagnosis and treatment of granulomatous mastitis. Am J Med1992;93:97-101. [PubMed]
5. Fletcher A, Magrath IM, R?ddell RH, et al. Granulomatous mastitis: a report of seven cases. J Clin Pathol1982;35:941-5. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
6. Osborne BM. Granulomatous mastitis by histoplasma and mimicking inflammatory breast carcinoma. Hum Pathol1989;20:47-53. [PubMed]
7. Wilson JP, Chapman SW. Tuberculous mastitis. Chest1990;98:1505-9. [PubMed]
8. Davies JD, Burton PA. Postpartum lobular granulomatous mastitis. J Clin Pathol1983;36:363. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
9. Rowe PH. Granulomatous mastitis associated with a pituitary prolactinoma. Br J Clin Pract1984;38:32-4. [PubMed]
10. Kumarasinghe MP. Cytology of granulomatous mastitis. Acta Ctyol1997;41:727-30. [PubMed]
11. Martinez-Parra D, Nevado-Santos M, Melendez-Guerrero B, et al. Utility of fine-needle aspiration in the diagnosis of granulomatous lesions of the breast. Diagn Cytopathol1997;17:108-14. [PubMed]

The Condition

A hernia occurs when tissue bulges out through an opening in the muscles.  Any part of the abdominal wall can weaken and develop a hernia, but the most common sites are the groin (inguinal) the navel (umbilical) and a previous surgical incision site.

Common Symptoms

• Visible bulge in the scrotum, groin, umbilical area, especially with coughing or straining.
• Pain or pressure at the hernia site.

Treatment Options

Surgical Procedure:

• Open hernia repair – An incision is made near the site and the hernia is repaired with mesh by suturing (sewing) the muscle closed.
• Laparoscopic hernia repair – The hernia is repaired by mesh or sutures inserted through instruments placed into small incisions in the abdomen.

Benefits of Your Operation

Benefits – An operation is the only way to repair a hernia.  You can return to your normal activities and in most cases will not have further discomfort.

Risks of not having an operation – Your hernia may cause pain and increase in size.  If your intestine becomes trapped in the hernia pouch you will have sudden pain, vomiting, gangrene and need an immediate operation.

Expectations

Before your operation – Evaluation may include blood work and urinalysis.  Your surgeon and anesthesia provider will discuss your health history, home medications and pain control options.

The day of your operation – You will not eat or drink for 6 hours before the operation.  Most often you will take your normal medication with a sip of water.  You will need someone to drive you home.

Your recovery – If you do not have complications you usually will go home the same day.

Call your surgeon – If you have severe pain, stomach cramping, chills or a high fever (over 101 F or 38 C), odor or increased drainage from your incision, or no bowel movements for 3 days.

By Dr. Sobhy (Specialist Surgeon)

Introduction

Rapid changes in lifestyle and increased awareness of the disease has resulted in a documented prevalence of about 33% of some degree or form of diabetes in the UAE. While medication can keep diabetes under control, if unchecked or left unsupervised diabetes can lead to many different forms of health complications. With correct treatment many people with diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of these complications. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most important complications of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

What is Diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetic complication that affects the eyes. It is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye known as the retina.

Damage to the retinal blood vessels can cause partial vision loss or even blindness. In diabetes the high blood sugar levels damage the cells that line the blood vessels. As a result, the blood vessels may leak fluid or bleed into the retina and cause vision loss.

Who gets it?

Anyone with diabetes mellitus can develop diabetic retinopathy. The occurrence and severity of the diabetic retinopathy is directly linked to the degree of sugar control, duration of diabetic disease and the presence of other conditions such as hypertension and kidney disease. Diabetes mellitus may also predispose the patient to early cataract, glaucoma and other ocular complications.

Signs and symptoms:

The early stages of diabetic retinopathy are not obvious as the centre of the retina may not yet be affected. In later stages patients may have

• Blurred or fluctuating vision
• Distortion of vision and presence of dark spots (floaters) in front of the eye
• Bleeding in the eye cavity (vitreous hemorrhage) which can lead to sudden loss of vision
• Dark or empty areas in vision

Diagnosis:

Diabetic retinopathy if untreated can lead to permanent loss of vision. Hence it is essential to diagnose and treat the disease appropriately. Detailed evaluation involves the following steps.

Comprehensive eye examination to evaluate all parts of the eye from the front to the back. This involves visual acuity examination, intraocular pressure measurement and slit lamp examination.

Additionally few eyedrops will be applied to dilate the eye. At Thumbay Hospital we utilise the latest fundus cameras to examine the retina in a process called as dilated fundus examination and fundus photography. Patients who have diabetic retinopathy involving the centre of the retina (macula) will also undergo the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan.

In some patients a special photographic process will be used, in which a dye is injected into the blood circulation to better identify the stage of diabetic retinopathy and to guide treatment. This fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) process creates a visual map of the retina aiding in treatment.

Treatment:

The treatment of diabetic retinopathy depends upon the stage of the disease. In early stages control of blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, hemoglobin and kidney function will help limit the signs of diabetic retinopathy. These measures are also necessary in the later stages of the disease when more advanced forms of treatment are required.

In patients with leakage of fluid and blood from damaged vessels, laser treatment is necessary. At Thumbay University Hospital we use Argon green laser with multispot technology to deliver the laser energy. Laser sittings are usually painless and are performed in the OPD in multiple sittings. In patients with swelling in the macula and vision loss due to recurrent bleeding, injections may be required in the eye cavity.

Advanced cases with large amounts of bleeding inside the eye or tractional retinal detachment require complex Vitreoretinal microsurgery. Thumbay University Hospital has advanced microsurgical suites with the latest small gauge instrumentation offering treatment in such cases.

Diabetic retinopathy is a disease which has the potential to cause permanent visual loss. Any patient diagnosed with diabetes mellitus should receive a detailed fundus evaluation at the time of diagnosis. Subsequent examinations should be conducted annually or more frequently depending upon the stage of the disease and degree of diabetic control.  If diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed early and treated appropriately, the severity of the damage can be limited and vision can be restored.

By Dr. Soman Nair (Specialist Ophthalmologist)

Follow this tips to protect your skin from the damaging effects of sun exposure and reduce your risk of skin cancer.

• Apply sunscreen when you are going to be outside, even on cloudy day, apply sunscreen to all skin that will not be covered by clothing, reapply approximately every 2 hours after swimming or sweating .use a broad spectrum water resistant sunscreen that protects the skin against both UVA and UVB ray and that has an SPF  at least 30 .use these tips when selecting a sunscreen .
• Use one ounce of sunscreen –an amount equal to size of your palm. Thoroughly rub the product into the skin .Don’t forget the top of your feet, your neck, ears and the top of your head.
• Seek shad: remember the sun rays are straight between 10-12pm .If your shadow is shorter than you, seek shad.
• Protect your skin with clothing when going outside wear a long sleeved shirt, pants, a wide brimmed hat and sunglass.
• Use extra caution near water, sand as they reflect and intensify the damaging  rays of sun, which can increase your chances of sunburn.
• Get vitD safely: eat healthy diet that incudes food naturally rich in vitamin-D or take supplements .
• DO not seek the sun.
• If you want to look tan, consider using a self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it .don’t use tanning beds. Just like the sun, UV light from tanning beds can cause wrinkle and age spots and can lead to skin cancer.
• If you spot anything changing, growing or bleeding see your dermatologist.

By Dr. Atiya Anjum (Specialist Dermatology)

1. UAE is one of the most sort after country of residence in the world. It’s multiculturalism, tolerism and superb infrastructure makes it the best place in the world to live, especially for people with families. Multiple outdoor activity is one of its major positive attraction. However, with the current pandemic state one must remain vigilant of the risk to health of free social interaction. The only sure way of avoiding infection with COVID -19 virus/ Seasonal flu are
2. Social distancing of minimum 2 meters with healthy looking individual and avoiding sick people as much as possible.
3. Regular hand hygiene.
4. If you have chronic disease like diabetes and hypertension, than making sure that you are complaint with your medications and achieving good control of sugar and blood pressure.
5. Enhancing your immunity with balanced diet and high intake of different colors’ fruits and salads. Vitamin C is an immune booster, make sure you get that naturally.
6. Exercise has been proven in scientific study to not only improve physical health but mood as well. Both of which are a solid immune booster.
7. Daily sun exposure of pink, rising or setting sun with strong rays for 45 minutes is sufficient to build vitamin D in our system. Make sure your hands, legs and face skin are sufficiently exposed for the purpose.
8. With the rise in cases of Covid-19 noted recently – so called second/third surge, please make sure that you remain aware and well acquainted with the demography of the disease and continue your safety measures and not get too laxed with social interaction. Social distancing, face mask and hand hygiene are the key to avoid the disease. Most of the cases are asymptomatic and hence you will never know from whom you will contact the disease. In case of symptoms please see the doctor on priority basis.

By Dr. Heena Khan (Specialist Internal medicine)

Did you know that when you choose your OB-GYN or health practitioner, you are also choosing your maternity hospital? When selecting your doctor or midwife, take the time to research where they have admitting privileges. Most obstetricians have admitting privileges to only one hospital—and you’ll want to be comfortable with the location.

Why does that matter if you trust your delivery doctor? Depending on their on-call schedule, your doctor might not be the one delivering your baby. If they are unable to be at the hospital when you go into labor, there’s a chance that an OB-GYN working at the hospital might be the one to handle the delivery. You will want to be comfortable with the labor and delivery team at your maternity hospital in that situation.

When researching your maternity hospital, it’s important to be thorough and make sure you’re asking the right questions. Does the hospital have a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)? What are their policies on COVID-19? Will you have a private room?

Rest easy. Here’s your complete guide for how to choose a maternity hospital for you and your baby.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Maternity Hospital

Do They Cover My Basics?

When writing up a list of the best maternity hospitals for you, first start with the basics. Check with your insurance company to make sure that the hospital accepts your insurance. If travel distance is important to you, consider what traffic would be like on the way to the hospital once you go into labor.

What Are the Hospital’s Team and Practices Like?

Above everything, it’s important that you and your baby are being cared for by a skilled team. Check the accreditations of the hospital’s OB-GYNs and anesthesiologists to see if they are board-certified. When your practitioner is board-certified, this means they’ve undergone extra training in their field, as well as ongoing professional development.

If you have a high-risk pregnancy, inquire if the nursing staff is certified in high-risk obstetrics. If there’s a chance your baby will be born preterm or have other special needs, inquire if the hospital has a team of neonatologists and nurses. Will you be able to have a hands-on relationship with your baby while they’re in NICU?

Ask questions about the maternity hospital’s procedures so you know what to expect during your birthing experience. Will you labor and give birth in the same room, or will you be moved to a new room before your baby is born? Will you be able to stay with your baby 24/7 or will they be moved to a nursery?

In the case of a complication like an unexpected c-section, you want to ensure your maternity hospital has the staff and resources to provide you with the best care possible. Do they have an anesthesiologist available around the clock?

Do you know if this hospital is a teaching hospital? In these situations, medical students and/or residents might be present during your labor and birth. If you’re not comfortable with that (which is completely understandable), ask if you can request they stay out of the room.

Do You Have a High-Risk Pregnancy?

If you have a high-risk pregnancy or pre-existing conditions, plan for your worst-case situation and make sure the maternity hospital has the appropriate facilities. Do they have a neonatal intensive care unit in the case of preterm birth or other complications?

Women are considered to have a high-risk pregnancy if they are:

• Either very young or older than 35
• Overweight or underweight
• Pregnant with more than one baby
• Have pre-existing health conditions like diabetes or cancer

Talk to your doctor about your specific pregnancy needs and what situations you should be ready for. If you need to be transferred in the event of an emergency, it’s understandably better to only need to travel between floors, instead of between health facilities. If your chosen hospital doesn’t have the appropriate equipment, consider an alternate plan if complications occur.

Do They Support Your Birthing Plan?

You likely have plans for how you want your birthing experience to go. Women who have a birthing plan often have a more positive birthing experience. Whether you want to have a natural birth, use pain medications, or have a c-section, make sure your maternity hospital is equipped to handle your unique situation.

Consider if there is any labor or birthing equipment that will make your experience more comfortable for you. If you want to have a water birth or freedom of movement, check hospital policies to see if they can accommodate these wishes. Hospitals that offer wireless fetal monitoring, for example, can allow you to walk around your room or floor while keeping an eye on your baby’s vitals.

What Are Maternity Accommodations Like?

It’s likely that you’ll spend at least a few days at the hospital following birth. Inquire into room accommodations so you can plan what you need to pack to be comfortable.

Research if rooms and bathrooms are private or if you’ll need to share with others. If you want a private room, inquire with your insurance company about what the fees would be. If having a private room is important to you, you might want to shop around to compare costs between hospitals.

Will your partner, family member, or friend be able to stay overnight with you? Clear this with the hospital first. If so, ask what accommodations are available for them to sleep, like a couch or recliner. Some hospitals provide rollaway beds so visitors can sleep in the room comfortably, while others may allow you to bring an inflatable mattress.

Consider how you’ll spend your time at the hospital when you’re not doting on your baby. Is there a TV in the labor and delivery rooms and postpartum rooms? Some maternity hospitals offer daily group and one-on-one activities like childbirth education, breastfeeding classes, and even lessons for making homemade baby food.

While you can certainly arrange for friends and family to bring you food, you might want to visit the cafeteria once or twice. Check to see if the cafeteria is open 24/7, how orders are handled, and if they accommodate any specific dietary needs. Some hospitals also gave small cafes for coffee, pastries, and some quick snacks.

What Are Their COVID Policies?

Hospitals contain patients that don’t have the ability to fight off infections. As the pandemic continues to affect everyday life, hospitals have put policies into place to protect patients and staff. Most will conduct some sort of screening at the entrances, ranging from verbal assessments to temperature checks.

Many hospitals have capacity limits on who can be in the birthing room or visit after your baby is born. Some allow just one visitor to accompany moms-to-be in the labor and delivery room. Inquire if your partner will be able to stay with you throughout the entire labor and delivery experience.

What Should I Ask on the Tour?

Your next step will be to tour your prospective maternity hospital. This is a smart step to take to prepare for the birthing process, especially for first-time parents. It can also ease a lot of nerves surrounding the childbirth experience.

Come prepared with a list of questions and don’t be shy when talking about your needs and wishes. Ask about hospital policies like where to park, what to pack in your hospital bag, and visiting hours. Some other questions to ask include:

1. How many people are allowed in the delivery room?
2. Where can other friends and family wait?
3. What is the hospital’s cesarean rate?
4. On average, how many births take place each day?
5. Is the hospital comfortable with natural birth?
6. What kind of fetal monitoring is available?
7. What pain management methods do you offer?
8. How long do laboring mothers need to wait for an epidermal?
9. What labor and birthing equipment would I have access to?
10. Do you allow video recording and/or photography?
11. Will I be able to labor at my own pace?
12. Can I choose how I push or deliver?
13. Are there any situations where my baby will need to be transferred to another facility?
14. What are the hospital’s support systems surround formula or breastfeeding?
15. Who handles the majority of baby care, the parents or the nurses?

Plan to schedule your tour at least one to two months in advance of your due date. Request to see all rooms you’ll be in during your stay, as well as hospital accommodations like cafeterias and common areas. Ask if there is a choice between private and shared rooms, and ask to see both options.

Choose the Best Maternity Hospital for Your Needs

Don’t be afraid to be thorough when choosing the right maternity hospital for you and your baby. Childbirth is an emotional process and it’s important to be comfortable with your prospective hospital’s accommodations and OB-GYN team.

Want to make your birthing process even more special? We offer maternity packages that include a decorated room, photos of your baby, a birthday cake, and even a makeover for mom. Contact us today to learn more about obstetrics services like pregnancy care, childbirth, and postpartum care, or to schedule a tour.