Delivery and your Hospital Stay

We want your childbirth stay with us to be a part of your good and special memories of having a baby. We recommend that you take a tour of the BirthPlace Center where you will be delivering two to eight weeks before your due date.

• Unit tours are included in our Childbirth Preparation Courses. We recommend all first-time pregnant women take the Prenatal Series class.
• Those not taking our Prenatal Series class can arrange a unit tour.

Labor, Delivery and Recovery Rooms

• All maternity rooms are private.
• Each has a bathroom, shower, television, telephone, rocker, table and chairs, a bed for mom plus full size sleeper so the support person can spend the night.
• A nurse-call system for help is in every maternity room and in every bathroom.

Infant Security

UnityPoint Health - Trinity ensures the security of every newborn through the use of:

• An infant electronic tracking system (baby tags and unit sensors)
• Special identification bands
• Cameras, security locks and controlled, observed traffic on and off of the unit
• Special hospital ID badges for all staff

To protect privacy and add additional safety for new families:

• Birth information is not given out over the phone
• Family and friends should be told to call members of the new family for labor and birth information
• We discourage the publication of birth announcements in local newspapers and church bulletins
• We actively advise against announcing baby's arrival with:
  • Storks or other signs in the yard
  • Banners on the front or garage door
  • Balloons on home mailboxes

Smoking

UnityPoint Health - Trinity provides a smoke-free environment for its patients, visitors and employees. Smoking is a health hazard for everyone but especially for babies and children. It is not allowed anywhere inside our hospitals.

Babies and children who are around cigarette smoke have increased health risks:

• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Upper respiratory infections
• Allergies and lung problems
• If there are smokers in your family, we recommend that smoking only take place in a part of the house that is closed to babies and children. If this place is outside of the home, make sure it is not at a main entrance or somewhere children play.

Length of Stay

Following labor and birth, new mothers and babies are in the hospital for only a short while:

• Vaginal delivery moms, without complications, go home 24 to 48 hours after birth
• Cesarean birth moms usually go home 48 to 72 hours after birth, but sometimes may need to stay as long 96 hours
• This time is figured from the baby's delivery time

Before discharge home, mom and baby must each reach the criteria for discharge:

• Be in healthy, stable condition- determined by their doctor
• Be taught about mom's recovery needs and care
• Be taught about baby's needs and care
• Mom states she understands discharge instructions for herself and her baby
• Mom shows the ability to correctly care for herself
• Mom shows she can safely care for and correctly feed her baby
• Have information about needed follow-up appointments
• Have orders written for discharge by the OB doctor and pediatrician

Visiting

• The husband, father of the baby or designated birthing partner is welcome to come and go throughout the hospital stay, as needed. This person is not considered a "visitor."
• One person may spend the night with the new mother and baby, if desired.
• Following delivery, grandparents and siblings may visit, as the new mom desires, in her hospital room. While siblings of any age are allowed to visit, other children must be 12 years or older to visit.
• An adult (not the new mom) needs to always be present to supervise young siblings or visiting children.
• The healthy newborn remains in mom's room when visitors are present (We do not have traditional "viewing nurseries." Moms and babies are separated only for health care reasons.)
• New parents should screen visitors for any signs of infection, asking anyone with the following to wait to visit, much less touch the baby, until they are better:
  • A cold, the flu or an upper respiratory infection
  • Diarrhea or stomach flu
  • A rash of unknown cause
  • A fever
  • A sore throat
  • Cold sores
  • Any contagious condition
• Hand washing with antibacterial gel or soap and water should always be done immediately before anyone touches or holds the new baby.
• To allow mom enough time for rest and required care and teaching during her brief hospital stay, we recommend that visits be limited to short periods of time (15-30 minutes).
• Often it may be best for extended family and friends to wait until mom is settled at home to visit.
• Once home, new parents should continue to screen visitors for signs of infection and make sure anyone handling the baby washes their hands first.

Parking

• Parking is located in the lots near the main entrance to maternity services and the main entrance of both campuses.
• Please use this entrance when coming in for labor and delivery.
• Wheelchairs are available if needed.

Cafeteria

• Hospital cafeterias are located on the lower level of the hospitals. They serve a variety of hot and cold foods. Hours of operation are posted by the entrance doors.
• Vending machines are also available.

Financial Information and Preregistration

There are several things you can do ahead of time to help avoid insurance slow-downs and surprises:

• Check now with your insurance company about coverage for mom and a new baby.
• Find out what co-payments or deductibles are required.
• Notify your insurance company soon after the birth of the new baby (to enroll baby as a new dependent).
• Complete hospital preregistration forms and return them to the hospital.

Birth Practices, Preferences and Options

• Make sure you are talking with your OB doctor at every prenatal visit about this pregnancy and your childbirth concerns, expectations and preferences. Your doctor has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with you, plus knows you and your health conditions.
• Here are some topics to discuss:
  • Discomforts of pregnancy you are experiencing and how to handle them
  • Signs of labor and when to come to the hospital
  • Do you call the doctor first or head directly to the hospital?
  • Support persons you want in labor and with delivery
  • Use of electronic fetal monitoring
  • Activities suggested for labor (walking? chair-sitting? birth-ball? squat bar?)
  • Position options in labor; positions for pushing and birthing
  • Need for an IV
  • Ice chips, popsicles & hard candy in labor
  • Medications in labor for pain control: how do the medications limit activity? how do the medications affect labor and baby?
  • Other types of medicines that might be given during labor and birth
  • Any special concerns about being able to deliver vaginally?
  • Use of cameras and video recorders
  • Need for an episiotomy
  • Viewing birth with a mirror
  • Can the father cut the cord?
  • Holding and touching baby after birth
  • Circumcision decision, if having a boy: who does the circumcision?
  • Breastfeeding after delivery
  • Any special concerns or preferences of parents for labor or birth