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 direct you and your coach or family member to the OB department. If you arrive after the locking of the main front doors, you will enter through the Emergency Department. You will then be escorted to the OB department. 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 may 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 anesthesia provider 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
Your coach or primary family member will receive a special green band that provides continual access before and after delivery, as well as the ability to spend the night. Your baby’s brothers and sisters can also come and go as they’d like during visiting hours, but they may not spend the night.
We also will have two visitor passes at the front desk for your visitors to share during visiting hours. Visiting hours for others visiting after your baby is born are 8 a.m.–9 p.m. daily. Besides the baby’s siblings, no other children younger than 12 are allowed.
New mothers need privacy and rest. We recommend limiting stays during delivery and while you’re sleeping and breastfeeding.
Neonatal intensive care unit
Should your baby need emergency medical help at delivery or during your stay, please know that our nurses and respiratory therapists are certified in Neonatal Resuscitation and are well equipped to take care of your baby. We also have a partnership with Valley Children’s hospital that allows us to call their neonatal team if needed.