Obstetrics

Services we offer for our pregnant patients include:

• 24-hour maternal–fetal medicine coverage
• Birthing classes
• Lactation support
• Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Midwifery services
• Pastoral and spiritual care
• Private birthing and postpartum suites
• Social work consultation for inpatients and outpatients, including for supplies, antenatal and postpartum mental health, pregnancy loss and bereavement, domestic violence, and more
• Tertiary care hospital

The amount of information you get during pregnancy can be overwhelming. We’ve broken down the basics of what you need to do or should consider during each month of pregnancy.

Another important part of our personalized patient experience is education and support before and after childbirth. Many classes are offered to help parents know what to expect, prepare for baby’s arrival and be ready for baby at home.

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Your Stay in Labor & Delivery

During Your Labor

• If you arrive between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., enter through the main entrance.
• If you arrive after 9 p.m., proceed to the Emergency Department entrance. You will be directed or escorted to the Labor & Delivery Suite, where a labor nurse will greet you.
• Your nurse and a physician or midwife will evaluate you and attend to your needs.
• To avoid interruption of medical care, we allow no more than three support people to accompany you while in labor. If there are other family members or friends with you, they will be directed to wait in the family waiting room.

During Your Recovery

• After the birth of your baby, you will stay on the Labor floor before being transferred to your Postpartum hospital room.
• On the Postpartum floor, we offer a full array of services including support with breastfeeding and access to our breastfeeding consultant as well as access to baby care classes and the Newborn Channel.
• In anticipation of going home, your physician or midwife will review the discharge plan. You and your newborn may be eligible for a home nurse visit after discharge. Please inquire about this option.

Infant Car Seat

Be sure to have a properly installed car seat. Our staff is not trained to evaluate car seats and place your baby into them. On the day of your discharge, the person driving you and your baby home is responsible for having the car seat correctly installed and for placing your baby into it properly.

Patient Privacy

To protect your privacy at all times, we will not reveal any information during your stay. All information regarding you and your baby must come directly from you or your partner.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Hospital Stay

Can I tour the facilities?

Tours of our maternity services center are offered on a regular basis and we encourage you and your support person to take a tour by your 34^th week of pregnancy.

Besides my doctor, who will be caring for me?

From the time you arrive at our maternity services center, professional, experienced nurses, physician assistants, and midwives are assigned to care for you and make sure your needs are met. They will get to know you and your family. You may also have a doula join your care team.

What do I bring to the hospital?

Remember to bring your photo identification and insurance card when you come to the hospital. It’s best to have two bags packed—a small one for labor and delivery and a larger one for you and baby during your hospital stay.

Suggested items to pack for labor and delivery include:

• Lip balm
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Socks
• Snacks for support person
• Massage tools
• Robe and slippers
• Pediatrician’s name and phone number
• Extra pillows
• Phone numbers for family and friends

The bag for you and your baby might include:

• Personal care items and cosmetics
• Nightgowns, robe, and slippers
• Underwear and nursing bras
• Loose-fitting outfit to wear home
• Outfit for baby to wear home

Please leave valuables such as jewelry, credit cards, and large amounts of cash at home. The hospital cannot be responsible for your personal belongings.

How long can I stay in the hospital?

How long you are in the hospital after your baby is born depends on your health and your specific insurance coverage. Generally, mothers stay 24 to 36 hours after a vaginal birth and 48 to 60 hours after a cesarean (C-section) birth.

Are the postpartum rooms private?

BMC Brighton offers private postpartum rooms. On the postpartum floor you will enjoy a full array of services, including breastfeeding consultation and support, infant massage, access to the Newborn Channel, and baby care classes.

If you have had a C-section, we offer rooms with two full beds for your partner’s comfort during your recovery.

Can my baby “room in” with me?

We encourage rooming in. Infants usually “room in” with their mothers during day and evening hours. Your baby may “room in” with you at any time and for as much time as you decide. When you need time for yourself, our staffed nursery is always available for your baby.

How do I know my baby will be safe?

At BMC Brighton, we use a state-of-the-art infant security system to ensure your baby’s safety. Also, everyone who cares for you and your baby wears a hospital identification badge that includes their photo.

Your baby’s birth certificate is a legal document that makes the birth a permanent record in Commonwealth of Massachusetts vital records.

Birth certificates should be completed before the birthing parent and baby are discharged, as the hospital is required to record a birth at Town Hall within ten days.

Learn More

Losing a pregnancy or a child is a difficult time for families. Our Spiritual Care Services team is available at 617.789.3045 to answer questions—or just to talk.

Support Groups

Support groups are available throughout Massachusetts, so you can connect with others who have had the same experience.

• BPUSEA (Bereaved Parents of the USA)
• Carrying On
• MEND (Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death)