20/02/2026
Doc, should I deliver from a government or private facility?
This is mostly up to you if you have a pregnancy without any complications. However, you need to check the following, among other things to ensure it's a facility that is well staffed and equipped to handle deliveries 🌟:
📍 Location & Accessibility; Is the hospital close to your home? Are there easy transport options available? Can you easily get a bus or Yango?
📍 Is it open 24/7 for maternity care?
📍 Do they have experienced midwives? Very important because these would usually be your first point of contact and initial assessment for labor
📍Are you comfortable with the expertise and attitude of their obstetrician?
📍Do they have private rooms or shared and what is your preference?
📍 Do they have good neonatal services. This is very crucial especially when you foresee that you need neonatal services
📍Do they have an operating theater 24/7. This should be checked even if you're planning to have vaginal birth because sometimes emergencies occur that cannot wait even more than 30 minutes before intervention for survival of the baby or yourself
📍If you want certain services like epidural for pain management, ask at your facility as it is only available at UTH and few private facilities in Zambia
📍Does your insurance cover the hospital? If you need cash, what are the costs for delivery, room, emergency caesarian section etc?
📍Visitation Policies. Will they allow your partner/family to accompany you and are you comfortable with their rules?
Any COVID-19 restrictions?
📍Please check the reviews & reputation of facilities you're considering and change when you're not happy until you find what you need. Remember this is about your health and you should not compromise
📍Depending on your condition, your obgyn may recommend that you transfer to certain facilities where there is the care that you need. Please heed or seek second opinion if not comfortable.
📍At the end of the day, the safety and safe delivery of your baby is Paramount
