Family Birthplace

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The Family Birthplace Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Your Maternity Care Questions

How many rooms are there in the Family Birthplace?

There are 12 labor/delivery/recovery suites and 40 postpartum rooms provided by Memorial Hospital West Maternity Care Services. Please note that the labor rooms are on the second floor and the postpartum rooms are on the third floor in three separate units. The units are as follows: LDPR rooms 3061 – 3072, Family Birthplace expansion rooms 3074 – 3087, and Central rooms 3001 – 3014.

What do the rooms look like?

All the rooms in the Family Birthplace are private. The rooms are decorated in soft, homelike colors. They all have either a hospital bed with a sleeper sofa or recliner chair for your partner. All have private bathrooms, some with tubs with jets, some with showers. The rooms have free television and Wi-Fi access. Please note that no matter what room you are in, we are committed to providing excellent nursing care.

What is the normal length of stay in the hospital?

Most moms stay 48 hours after a normal, vaginal delivery and 72 hours after a cesarean delivery. Some insurance companies will send a nurse to your home under certain conditions, if you are able and choose to leave before these times. Discuss this with your health care provider and your insurance company if this is something that may be of interest to you.

If your newborn requires phototherapy after discharge, your personal insurance company will arrange for the bilirubin blanket to be delivered directly to you at the hospital before the baby is discharged.

How can I register for childbirth classes?

Complete the Online Scheduling Information Form or call us at (954) 844-7110.

How do I know when I should come to the hospital?

Check with your doctor or midwife for directions and timing on when to come to the hospital.

Does my healthcare provider give me anything to bring to the hospital?

Yes. Your doctor or midwife should give you either a yellow card or a copy of your medical records to bring to the hospital. This will contain the results of your lab work. It is very important that you bring this with you so we can best care for you and your baby.

Where do I go when I get to the hospital when in labor or for a planned induction or cesarean?

When your physician instructs you to go to the hospital for possible delivery or induction, please enter the hospital through the Memorial Hospital West Main Lobby. This entrance is on the east side of the hospital and is open 24 hours a day. A security officer will be present to sign you and your family members in before entering the hospital. After the security check, please take the elevator directly to the second floor, Maternity Triage and Labor and Delivery Unit.

If you are scheduled for a planned cesarean, you will enter the hospital on the north side, Memorial Hospital West Surgical Services entrance. You will need to check in with the security officer in the emergency department for access to the special elevator. Take the elevator to the second floor and check in at the reception desk.

What are the visiting hours for the Family Birthplace?

We embrace patient- and family-centered care and encourage family and friends to visit you 24 hours a day. Children cannot be left with a patient without other adult supervision. All visitors must present a picture identification to enter the hospital. Please note that the safety of mom and baby is our primary concern. Because of this, there may be times when some visitors may be requested to step out of the room. With your privacy in mind, no visitors are allowed to wait in the hallway; they must either be in the room or in the designated waiting areas.

What security measures are there to help keep my baby safe?

All doorways to the Family Birthplace are locked and are monitored with security cameras. Security officers are posted at the entranceways to all Family Birthplace units. Permission must be given to enter and leave. Babies are footprinted and banded at birth with special color-coded bands. The mother and one designated support person are given bracelets to match the baby. There is also an additional security sensor on the baby. The best security is always the parents watching the baby in their room.

Can the baby 'room in' with mother?

Yes. We encourage you to keep the baby in the room with you as much as possible. This allows you to learn to care for your baby while in the hospital with the assistance of the nurses. Remember, safety of the baby is always important. If mom is too tired to keep an eye on the baby and there is no one else staying with her, the nurses may suggest that the baby be taken to the nursery for a period of time. For your infant's safety, the nurse will match your bracelet and your baby's bracelet every time they bring the baby back to you.

What is the procedure for a scheduled induction or cesarean?

Call your physician for directions about when to come to the hospital. Remember that priority is always given to women in labor, unless the induction or cesarean is of an urgent nature. If your procedure is not medically necessary, you may be asked to stay at home for several hours, or possibly until the next day, until a bed is available. Remember that a scheduled date and time is NOT a reservation.

What should I bring with me to the hospital for myself?

Bring anything to help you through your labor: massage oils and tools, music and CD or cassette player (battery-powered), and lip balm. We provide pillows, but you may want to consider bringing your own familiar ones from home. For postpartum, bring toiletries, toothbrush and paste, a nursing bra and nightgown, slippers and a robe. Also bring a case for your eyeglasses or contacts if you wear them. Please leave excess jewelry and money at home.

What should I bring to the hospital for my baby?

Our maternity care provides T-shirts for the baby, but we encourage you to bring in several long sleepers. You will also need a car seat and blanket for discharge. The hospital's maternity care provides blankets and diapers while in the hospital, but you will need your own supply at home. It is Florida State law that all babies be discharged for home in a car seat. Call (954) 844-7110 to have a child passenger safety technician teach you how to put in the car seat

Who will be responsible for overseeing my baby's medical care in the hospital?

Your baby′s pediatrician will coordinate the care of your infant with the nurses. By the time you are at 35 weeks gestation, you should have chosen a pediatrician for your baby. If you do not have a physician, call Memorial Physician Referral Service at (800) 944-DOCS. Please bring the name and phone number of your pediatrician with you when you come to the hospital. If your pediatrician is not on staff at Memorial Hospital West, the staff neonatologist will act as the pediatrician during the baby′s hospital stay. We will still require the name and phone number of the pediatrician even if he or she is not on staff.

Is there a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the Family Birthplace at Memorial Hospital West?

Yes. There is a 20-bed level II NICU. The Memorial Hospital West NICU is staffed with all NRP-certified registered nurses. There is 24-hour coverage by either a neonatologist or neonatal nurse practitioner. Parents are encouraged to visit and care for their NICU baby as much as is medically possible.

Can I have my baby's cord blood collected?

More than 70 diseases can be treated using cord blood – it can save lives. We want you to know that you have choices about what you do with your baby's cord blood. You have the option of paying a private company to collect and store your newborn's cord blood. If you are not going to hire a private company, we hope you will consider donating to the public cord blood bank through CORD:USE. You can do this here at Memorial Hospital West when you have your baby. You will need to complete a medical screening and sign a consent form. If you would like more information, call (954) 844-6914 at Memorial Hospital West or contact CORD:USE directly at
(888) CORDUSE (267-3873) or corduse.com.

Is there lactation support with the maternity care services?

The Family Birthplace is very supportive of breast feeding for babies. We have board-certified lactation consultants on staff and every nurse is a breastfeeding resource nurse (BRN) with special training and education. The best way to start breastfeeding is to place the baby "skin-to-skin" on Mom. Your nurse will support you and your family as you learn how to breastfeed. It takes time. You may also call the Breastfeeding Support Line at (954) 844-9908 or attend the twice-monthly Nursing Mom's Support Group.

Is there someone at the hospital to take the baby's picture?

Our365 is not affiliated with Memorial Healthcare System, but is a service that is available for you for prenatal and infant photography. You can contact Our365 customer service at (800) 325-3550. Packages are available for purchase.

Does the Family Birthplace have a doula service?

Memorial Hospital West recommends the company Mother′s Care Doula Services. They can be reached directly at (954) 433-CARE (2273). They are available for both labor and postpartum support.

Is Your Doctor a Memorial Doctor?
To find a physician who is committed to maternity care, call Memorial Physician Referral Service toll-free at (800) 944-DOCS. We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Memorial Hospital West