Birth is a powerful, intimate experience, and we (the health care team) on Labor & Delivery support you in your choices to make this experience special for you.  Everyone present at your birth should be there to support you and participate in welcoming your new baby into the world.

 

We hope the information below will help you plan for visitors during your stay in the Birthing Center and on our postpartum unit.  You will be in the Birthing Center until after the birth of your baby.  You will then be transferred to Shepardson 5 - the Mother Baby unit.

 

Visitor Guidelines - Fletcher Allen Birthing Center

 

  • To ensure patient safety, any visitor may be asked to leave the birthing room by the nurse, physicians, or the midwife.
  • The Labor Lounge is reserved for laboring patients and one support person.
  • Visitors may wait in the family and visitor lounge at the entrance of the Birthing Center or in the Main Lobby visitor area.
  • In consideration of maintaining privacy of all our patients, we would like you to ask your family and friends to wait in the family and visitors waiting room.  Waiting in the hallway or outside the patient room door is not allowed.
  • Visitors should not bring food into patient’s room without the consent of the laboring woman.
  • One support person is usually allowed in the operating room with the patient.  There may be circumstances in which no visitors are allowed. 
  • One support person may remain with the patient during placement of an epidural catheter for analgesia.  There may be circumstances in which no visitors are allowed.
  • Complications of pregnancy or labor requiring intensive care may occur.   In these circumstances, there is a limit of 2 visitors.  Exceptions can be made at the discretion of the attending and nursing staff for individuals directly involved in medical decision making.
  • No children under the age of 13 may visit unless they are related to the laboring couple.  Each child must be accompanied by an adult.  It is highly recommended that they attend a sibling class if they are planning to be present at the birth.