Maternity Services FAQ

Many couples ask if they can take pictures during their labor and delivery. This is one of the choices you need to be considering. You may take still photos at anytime. You may also video before and after delivery, but videography of the delivery is not allowed. Your nurse will let you know after delivery when it is ok to turn on your video camera.

Couples are often curious as to how many people will actually be present during delivery. Your doctor and L&D nurse will be there. Another nurse will usually scrub in to assist your physician and an additional nursery nurse will attend to assist with the baby. Everyone will have a purpose and a job to do. If you should have a Cesarean Section, a pediatrician may be present to assess your newborn right away. Anesthesia personnel will also be there to assure your comfort during the procedure. We value your privacy and will not allow anyone in during your delivery who does not have a reason to be there.

You may have as many friends and family in the waiting room as you would like. Visitation in The Birthing Suites is usually limited to three people at one time, but they may swap out throughout the day to visit with you. This policy may be changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.  To access your Birthing Suite, your family and friends will need to check with the staff at the nurse’s station to see if it is a good time for visitors. This is necessary for two reasons. First, this is a real-life maternity ward and occasionally emergencies do happen which require us to keep the hallways as clear as possible. Secondly, it allows us to make sure you are properly covered before your friends and family enter. We value your privacy at Springhill Medical Center and will take all the precautions necessary to help maintain that privacy.

You may have as many friends and family in the waiting room as you would like. Visitation in The Birthing Suites is usually limited to three people at one time, but they may swap out throughout the day to visit with you. This policy may change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  To access your Birthing Suite, your family and friends will need to check with the staff at the nurse's station to see if it is a good time for visitors. This is necessary for two reasons. First, this is a real-life maternity ward and occasionally emergencies do happen which require us to keep the hallways as clear as possible. Using the intercom allows us to make sure the hallways are as clear as possible during emergency situations. Secondly, it allows us to make sure you are properly covered before your friends and family enter. We value your privacy at Springhill Medical Center and will take all the precautions necessary to help maintain that privacy.

When you receive your epidural is determined by your physician. Some physicians desire you to have reached active labor, or four centimeters dilation, before getting an epidural. Others simply desire you to be in a good labor pattern. This is a good topic to discuss with your physician so you will know what to expect.

If you are coming into the hospital in labor, come through the Emergency Department located at the rear of the hospital. Tell the registration clerk that you are a patient forThe Birthing Suites at Springhill.  They will need your driver's license, insurance card and your insurance co-payment. When they have completed the registration process, you will be transported to The Birthing Suites.

If you are entering the hospital for a scheduled C-Section, you will need to come through the main admitting office on the first floor. You will need your driver's license, insurance card and insurance co-payment. You will need to arrive two hours before your scheduled C-Section time. Once the admitting clerk has completed your registration, you will go directly to The Birthing Suites. Please remember, if you are coming in for a scheduled C-Section, do not eat or drink.

If you are scheduled for labor induction, you will need to come through the main admitting office on the first floor. You will need your driver's license, insurance card and insurance co-payment. You will need to arrive at the hospital one hour before your scheduled induction time. Once the admitting clerk has completed your registration, you will go directly to The Birthing Suites. If you are coming to the hospital for an induction of labor, please do not eat or drink.

We place every baby skin to skin with mom as quickly after delivery as possible to allow for immediate bonding, warming and breastfeeding if this is your feeding preference. In doing this we delay any treatments that can wait for at least one hour, such as baths, weighing your baby, and footprints. Your nursery nurse will do a quick assessment at delivery while the baby is skin to skin and frequent checks over the one to two hours following delivery. We do recommend you discuss this practice with you family so they are aware that they will also be delayed from seeing you and the baby during this important time for your new family.