What to Expect During Your Stay

Visitors

In the new Childbirth Center, the Labor & Delivery rooms and the Parent & Baby rooms have plenty of space for family and friends to visit.* In fact, the space was designed in thirds: one-third for the patient, one-third for the doctors and nurses, and one-third for family. Please ask your family and friends to call the Childbirth Center reception desk at (425) 688-5326 to determine your location following your baby’s birth.

COVID-19 visitor policy: For the most up-to-date information for visitors, please refer to our campus Visitor Notice.

Keeping Your Baby Healthy

From the very start, your baby depends on you—just like they did during your pregnancy. We support your desire to keep your baby healthy. Here are ways to keep the germs away.

Clean hands: Good hand-washing is one of the best ways to stop illnesses from spreading. Both staff and visitors should wash or sanitize their hands before and after holding or touching your baby. Please feel free ask your care providers and visitors in the hospital, "Did you wash or sanitize your hands?" This also applies once you arrive home as visitors ask to hold your baby.

Well visitors: At the hospital and at home, ask your visitors to stay home if they’re sick. You can capture precious moments with pictures and videos to share later. Or, you can use videoconferencing to connect.

Vaccines: Vaccines are a good way to help keep you, your family and your visitors well. Encourage friends and family to be up-to-date on their vaccines—flu and Tdap vaccines in particular—before your baby is born. 

Baby's First Bath

Your baby is born with a natural moisturizer called vernix. This whitish, waxy substance on the skin has many protective benefits. At birth, we dry your baby but leave the vernix on for your baby’s sake. 

Because vernix is a natural moisturizer, it will be absorbed naturally over time. It maintains water balance in the skin and keeps your baby’s skin soft and supple. Vernix also provides an extra layer of protection while your baby’s immune system is getting stronger.

Plan to give your baby their first bath once you get home. This helps baby: 

• Have more bonding time during the important first hours.
• Keep warm.
• Keep blood sugar stable.
• Start breastfeeding easily.
• Prevent infections and form immunity.
• Bond with mother. 

Rooming With Your Baby

Unless your baby needs specialty care in our NICU, they stay in your room with you so your growing family can get the chance to know each other before going home. Our nursing staff will spend time with you and your baby, teaching you basic infant care such as feeding, diapering and swaddling. 

When it comes to feeding your baby, all of our Childbirth Center nurses are trained to help you with breastfeeding. There are also lactation consultants available as needed to help you in the hospital and after you and your baby go home.

Security

The Childbirth Center's four-level security program includes a state-of-the-art system to help ensure you and your newborn are receiving care in a secure environment.

Newborn Photos

Bella Baby Photography is typically available in our Childbirth Center to take portraits of your newborn and your family during your stay. As a result of COVID-19, please contact Bella Baby Photography directly to discuss newborn photography services.