Delivery Day
Having a baby is such an extraordinary experience and generates a lot of emotions and questions. If you have any questions, needs, fears or concerns, please tell your nurse. They are your advocate and will do all they can to help you.
Before your delivery day, talk to your provider about what to do when you suspect you’ve started labor, such as when you experience ongoing, regular contractions. You’ll want to know ahead of time when to call your provider.
You should always call your doctor or midwife if:
- You experience any bleeding or bright-red discharge
- Your water breaks
- You experience vision changes, a headache, or sudden or severe swelling
At the Birth Center
Upon checking in at the front desk, a security officer will escort you and your coach or family member to a triage or evaluation room. Your care team will begin monitoring you and your baby. If you have a delivery plan, please provide it to your nurse at this time.
When labor has progressed, you’ll be taken to a private labor and delivery room. After delivery, you will be moved to a postpartum/after-delivery room. Your baby will stay with you in the room, where we encourage skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby to promote bonding and health.
Pain management
We want to do everything we can to make your experience what you want it to be. Some mothers prefer no pain relievers, while others want as much as possible. All of your pain control options will be explained to you.
An anesthesiologist is available 24 hours a day to provide help. Please talk to your nurse if you have questions about pain control or if you’d like it adjusted.
Visitors
Labor and Delivery: 2 support people per stay, must be 18 years old or older and provide proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours.
Your two support persons will receive special green bands
After Delivery: Upon transfer to mother baby unit, one support person may stay overnight. Second visitor may visit during regular visiting hours from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Neonatal intensive care unit
Should your baby need emergency medical help, Valley Children’s Hospital staff are standing by inside our Birth Center to provide specialized care. The Valley Children’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has six beds to help care for newborns close to home. A helipad is also available if a patient needs to be transported to a higher level of care.
Learn more about what will happen if you're scheduled to have a C-section.