Booking hospital bed

I went to admissions and completed the forms and booked the bed. I just told them who the doctor was and gave them the medical aid authorisation number.

The doctor who is connected to the hospital should give you the letter. He/she is the referring doctor and must appear on the hospitals register/list.

Who ever the doctor is that is actually going to be in the delivery room/theatre should be the referring doctor.

I booked my bed at 28weeks. The dr gave me a code to fill in on the booking form. I was able to do mine online, the next day the hospital sent me my pre booking number.

Does the GP or the gynae gives you this letter?

I booked my bed at 32/33 weeks. I also had to take a note from the doctor to say he is my doctor and that he will be doing the delivery and he had to let them n=know what my blood type is.The rest I had to do myself.

One important thing to ask is about pain relieve , I lived in the world where I was going to get an epidural until I was told that the hospital where I will give birth is to small to do epidural's so it was natural all the way.

Also find out what you need to take.

You would be responsible for booking your own bed - that is between you and the hospital.

There is usually a letter/referral letter you get from your doctor, that you use to book the bed, but each hospital works differently - I booked on-line for Medi-Clinic and it was really easy.

My guess is you want to be booking no later than at 36 weeks at the very latest.

However I was due 10 June and booked on the 23rd April.

I booked at 28 weeks which is the norm.