Guelph General hospital has turned to the Internet to help ease women planning to give birth at the hospital.
A new web page on the hospital web site includes a video tour of the hospital's Family Birthing Unit.
The seven minute online tour, hosted by Family Birthing Unit nurse Vanessa Wood, covers everything an expecting mother-to-be can expect at the hospital as well as providing information on what to bring when it's time to give birth.
Guelph General sees roughly 1,600 babies born there every year.
"We're very excited about the pre-natal tour video," said Shannon Maier, clinical director maternal, newborn and paediatric services at Guelph General.
"We had a lot of requests for tours of the hospital for patients who were planning on delivering there and we just weren't able to accommodate or sustain a regular tour program," Maier said.
The next best thing was a virtual tour and with funding from the Guelph Hospital Foundation it became a reality.
"We find that a lot of our patients are really interested in getting their information online," she said. "It's convenient for them, they don't have to come in and the get the opportunity to have their questions answered."
Maier said a lot of women, especially first-time mothers, might understandably have some nerves leading up to the birth of their child and anything the hospital can do to help make the experience as positive as possible is a plus.
"Everyone's birth story is different, and we recognize that, and we just want people to know that we're here to help them have the safest, best experience as possible."
Maier said hospital staff is still available for anyone with any questions, but they hope the video helps answer most.
