During Your Stay
Upon Admission
Congratulations! Your big day has arrived! We know how excited you and your family are to welcome your new baby into the world. Your safety, well-being, and comfort are our top priorities in the Maternity Services unit. Upon admission, you will be assigned to a tranquil Labor and Delivery Room, or a family birthing suite designed to accommodate your needs. A nurse will work closely with you, your family, and your physician to ensure you have the best care possible.
Welcoming Your Baby
We know the first moments with your newborn are extra special. After delivery, you and your family may immediately begin bonding with your new baby. The first hour after birth is commonly known as the "golden hour," and we encourage you and your spouse or significant other to bond with your infant during this time. Family and friends are encouraged to visit after the golden hour. Our family birthing suites offer the comforts of home, including a sleeper chair so the baby's father or a family member can stay with you.
About two hours after giving birth, you and your baby will be moved to a Postpartum Room for the remainder of your stay. You and your baby will room together during your hospital stay, unless your baby requires special medical attention in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which is devoted to providing specialized care for newborns born premature or ill.
Looking Out for Your Baby's Safety
Keeping you and your family safe is extremely important to us. With the utmost security in mind, we will identify your baby at birth with a special bracelet that will be identical to the one placed on your wrist. Only you and the person selected to wear the other bracelet can move the baby from your room to the nursery. As a security measure and for your convenience, all Valley Presbyterian Hospital employees wear recognizable identification badges.
Keeping Your Baby Healthy
During your hospital stay, we will make a daily assessment of your baby's health. If he or she shows any signs of jaundice — a common condition in babies who have a build-up of bilirubin in their blood — we will treat your baby immediately with special light therapy. Our nursing staff is always available to answer your questions or contact your physician regarding your baby's condition.
Questions? We can help. Contact us at 818.902.5222.
Visitors are Welcome!
Having a baby is an exciting family event, and we encourage your spouse or partner to remain with you throughout your stay. In our Labor and Delivery Unit, after you give birth, we observe the "golden hour" and allow parents to bond with their newborn for one hour before we welcome visitors. Additionally in the Maternity Unit, we maintain a special quiet time daily from 3– 5 PM so parents may bond with their babies with minimal interruptions. We appreciate the observance of this quiet time for infant bonding.
Visiting Procedures
Please see the General Visiting Procedures and Maternity / Women's Services section on our Visiting Hours page for information about visitation hours and other policies when admitted to Labor & Delivery.
Breastfeeding Support
We believe that breastfeeding is the healthiest way for you to feed your baby. We do not accept free formula milk or milk from breast milk substitute manufacturers, and have developed a breastfeeding policy that guides how we care for our patients. Our nursing staff has received more than 20 hours of breastfeeding training and will work with you to achieve your breastfeeding goals. We also have specially trained lactation consultants on site to assist with breastfeeding education and support. We are committed to the health of the mothers and babies we serve, and we provide breastfeeding support, even after a hospital stay.
For breastfeeding support and more information, contact us at 818.902.3912.
