1. How will I know when it’s time to go to the hospital? When you're in active labor, which is indicated by regular, painful contractions,
you should contact your health care provider, as they can best assess
your symptoms and advise you based on your individual situation.
2. Where do I go when arriving at Foothills Hospital?
When you arrive at the hospital, park in a surface-level lot directly in
front of the hospital or next to the Anderson Medical Center. Parking
is also available in two parking garages.
Do not enter the hospital through the emergency department. Use the door
halfway between the main entrance and the emergency room entrance.
If arriving after hours (between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.), then please use
the emergency room entrance.
Take the elevators by the gift shop to the 3rd floor. Take a right. The
Family Birth Center’s Labor and Delivery Unit is on the left.
(Click here for a map of Foothills Hospital).
Ring the video doorbell to be let in.
3. What options will I have for pain and stress relief?
Whether you wish to manage your pain naturally or use medications during
labor, our experienced Labor-and-Delivery team will be there to offer
you caring support and guidance.
Natural comfort measures: We offer many stress- and pain-relieving holistic
therapies, including aromatherapy and self-pay acupuncture treatments.
In addition, each of our delivery suites has a spa tub, birthing balls
and squat bars to ease your contractions.
Pain-relief medications: Our experienced Labor-and-Delivery nurses are
here to support you with nitrous oxide, an inhaled pain reliever that
you can control. While using nitrous, you can move around freely in labor.
If you decide to have something additional for pain, such as an epidural
or intravenous pain medication, an experienced anesthesiologist is available
to meet your needs 24 hours a day.
4. Where will I stay during labor?
You’ll stay in one of our eight private suites for labor and your
baby’s birth, as well as the initial hours of recovery. Each suite
has a spa tub and fold-down couch for your key support person to stay
overnight, as well as birthing balls and squat bars to ease contractions.
5. How many people can be in the labor suite with me? Labor and Delivery encourages a limit of two birthing partners who can
care for and support you in labor. Birthing partners are encouraged to
stay with the patient and baby throughout their stay.
6. Who will cut my newborn’s umbilical cord?
Your birthing companion or support person can cut the umbilical cord. You’ll
have the option to take it home, dispose of it or provide your own cord
blood collection kit.
7. Will I be moved to another area after the birth of my baby?
After welcoming your newborn, you’ll be transferred to one of the
Family Birth Center’s spacious, home-like, family-friendly suites,
designed to let you and your baby room-in together during your stay. With
your baby nearby, you’ll receive support from experienced nursing
staff to assist you with recovering from childbirth, breastfeeding (if
desired), understanding basic newborn care and transitioning to home.
Each suite has its own temperature control and mini-refrigerator, and
most have queen-size beds for family bonding.
8. What can I expect for routine newborn care?
Routine newborn care in the hospital includes:
Skin-to-skin contact with your baby after birth
Delayed infant bathing
Feeding your baby on demand (feed on cue)
Delayed use of the pacifier (for breastfeeding moms)
Avoidance of supplemental feedings with formula (for breastfeeding moms)
Routine tests and screenings:
Newborn genetic screening, which includes testing for Phenylketonuria (PKU),
Galactosemia, Hypothyroidism, Sickle Cell Anemia, Cystic Fibrosis, Biotinidase
Deficiency, Hemoglobinopathy, Congenital Adrenal hyperplasia
Hearing screening
Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening to test for congenital
heart defects
Bilirubin test to identify newborns at risk for elevated bilirubin (jaundice)
Routine medications:
Vitamin K injection to prevent hemorrhagic disease (spontaneous bleeding
that can take place without warning in a newborn)
Eye antibiotics to protect the baby's eyes from possible infection because
of contamination at birth
Hepatitis B vaccine, recommended by American Academy of Pediatrics to reduce
the risk of contracting Hepatitis B and chronic liver disease
9. Would I benefit from pelvic-floor physical therapy?
Our team of pelvic-floor physical therapists have specialized training
in pelvic floor rehabilitation and are now available to consult with new
moms while they’re still inpatients at our Family Birth Center.
They’ll cover such things as pelvic floor health, safe return to
exercise after delivery and body mechanics to avoid undue strain or pain,
especially in the stomach or back areas. They will also answer all your
questions and provide information about BCH
outpatient services for pelvic floor rehabilitation.
10.What are the visiting hours and policies for the Family Birth Center?
Please check BCH’s
visitation policy for up-to-date visitation guidelines, including for visitors under the
age of 12 years.
To protect vulnerable patients, our Special Care Nursery is open to no
more than two people at a time.
Quiet hours are between the hours of 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. No visitors are
permitted in the Family Birth Center during those hours.
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