Giving Birth at Our Hospital -- General Information
Arriving
When you arrive, please enter the hospital at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital entrance – 3959 Broadway (at the corner of 165th Street). Once inside, staff will assist you to the Labor & Delivery Suite. If needed, a wheelchair will be provided.
Click here for directions to the hospital.
Click here for a map of the Medical Center.
In Labor
The labor and delivery unit is on the 10th floor of the Tower building. There are 10 labor/delivery/recovery rooms (birthing rooms); 6 assessment/triage rooms; 4 high-risk beds; 3 operating/delivery rooms; a recovery room and a transitional nursery. Each birthing room is a private room with a bathroom and shower. In some situations, your physician may decide to move you to a delivery room when birth is imminent. There are televisions and telephones in the birthing rooms; cellular telephone use is not permitted.
Members of the health team you may meet while in the hospital include: obstetric residents, registered nurses, anesthesiologists, medical students or nursing students.
Routine admission procedures include checking the mother's vital signs and the baby's heartbeat. The mother will be asked to give a sample of blood. A vaginal exam will be done to assess how far you have progressed in labor.
Your labor support companion may stay with you during these procedures, during labor and at the birth, with rare exceptions.
Many women are encouraged to be out of bed while in labor. Your doctor's orders and your condition determine when you might walk around and/or take a shower. Light fluids are provided at your doctor's order.
Electronic fetal monitoring, either intermittent or continuous is often used. This and the need for intravenous fluids (I.V.) are determined by your doctor.
Your support person is encouraged to be present in the operating room if a cesarean birth is indicated and regional anesthesia is used. On some occasions, this is not possible. Please discuss this with your doctor.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding should begin as soon as possible after the birth. The new family will most likely remain together for 1-2 hours in the birthing room. After a delivery room or cesarean birth, the family moves to a recovery room and you can begin breastfeeding there. Your labor room nurse will assist you.
Your Baby
Your baby will be examined briefly after birth by your nurse and obstetrician (or her pediatrician, if necessary).
If you have a new son and wish him circumcised, you will sign a consent form for this procedure, which is usually done during your hospital stay.
You and your baby are transferred (in most cases together) to your postpartum room on the 5th or 6th floor. There are private and semi-private rooms, each with its own bathroom and shower, TV (with a 24-hour "newborn" instructional channel), storage area and telephone. If you're interested in getting a private room (subject to availability), ask about the Stork Club upon admission to the hospital.
Your baby will be admitted to the nursery briefly while you get settled in the postpartum room. Your infant is assessed (including ability to maintain a stable body temperature). At this time a security bracelet is placed on an ankle and an antibiotic ointment is applied to the eyes. Then your baby can stay with you in your room. Of course, staff will care for your baby in the nursery if you wish.
You will be taught how to take care of your baby. There is also written information about mother and baby care and breastfeeding to take home. Diapers, undershirts and blankets are provided for use during your stay.
After the Birth
Average hospital stay is 1-2 days after a vaginal birth and 3-4 days after a cesarean birth.
General visiting hours on the postpartum floors are noon to 8 pm. Please limit visitors to 2 or 3 people. The baby's father (or your main support person) may stay from 8 am until 10 pm in a semi-private room or at all times in a private room.
The new baby's siblings may visit in your room during general visiting hours (noon to 8 pm). Siblings should:
- Be free from contagious disease or recent exposure to a contagious illness
- Have up-to-date immunizations
- Have no fever, cough or runny nose
- Not be "coming down with something"
Your Baby's Trip Home
You will need an undershirt, a "stretchy" or two-piece outfit, a hat and a blanket. In cold weather, you may also need a sweater and/or heavier "snowsuit" type outfit. Some extra disposable diapers will be provided. The use of an approved car seat is required by law in New York State.
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