The Birthing Center
Delivering at BMH
Admission Procedures
- As soon as you think you are in labor, call your doctor’s office if it’s during office hours. After hours or on holidays or weekends, call the Birthing Center at the hospital at (843) 522-5168 or (843) 522-5174. If advised, come to the hospital through the Birthing Center entrance (8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday). After hours or on weekends, go to the Emergency Department.
- Bring your supplies, including your insurance card.
- For your convenience, you may leave your car at the entrance until you are registered. Then park your car in the hospital parking lot.
Labor and delivery suite
When you arrive at the Birthing Center, you will be greeted by one of our antepartum nurses. She will admit you and contact your doctor with a report on your labor progress. All procedures are not done routinely, but are performed at the direction of your doctor. If you have certain preferences regarding the care you and your baby receive, please discuss them with your doctor before your delivery date.
What to bring to the hospital
- Personal wear (robe, gowns, slippers).
- Toiletries, including shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, powder, comb and brush.
- Nursing bras.
- Insurance card.
- Notepad and pencil.
- Birth announcements and phone numbers.
- Receiving blanket (for the trip home).
- Discharge outfit for your baby.
- Infant car seat.
What not to bring to the hospital
- Medications (the hospital will provide all of your medications).
- Tampons or sanitary pads.
- Electrical appliances such as hair dryers, curling irons and hot rollers.
Labor
- Labor occurs in labor/delivery/recovery rooms (LDR).
- Two support persons are permitted; no other visitors will be allowed.
- Mothers may have cracked ice or clear fluids only, per physician’s orders.
- Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the hospital.
Facilities
- Laboring moms are first taken to an LDR room where they stay until after the baby is born.
- LDRs contain internal and external fetal monitors.
- Our Neonatal Care Center will take care of your baby after delivery.
- We have a special surgical suite for cesarean section births.
Delivery
- Delivery occurs in LDR rooms for vaginal deliveries and in the Operating Room for cesarean sections.
- One support person may be in attendance (upon physician’s approval).
- Immediate bonding with the baby is encouraged.
- Recovery will last approximately one hour. Then you will be moved to the postpartum area.
- Breastfeeding is encouraged (lactation specialists are available—ask your nurse).
- Infant identification and footprinting is performed.
- Baby pictures are taken as a security measure.
Preparing for Your Baby
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