After Your Baby is Born
Our partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital ensures the very best care for your newborn with Boston Children’s pediatric hospitalists on site 24/7 to check on your baby soon after birth. You can feel confident knowing that a Boston Children’s pediatric hospitalist will be assigned to care for your newborn during your stay in The Maternity Center.
When your baby is born, he or she will be evaluated by a maternity nurse who is certified in neonatal resuscitation. The nurse will then place the baby on a warm blanket on your tummy and dry him/her off directly after arriving in the world. At this time, the nurse will give your baby a hat and diaper, and then place him/her against you, chest to chest. A snug warm blanket will be placed over both of you. Your baby will be closely monitored and, as long as he or she is stable, all medications, assessments, bathing, as well as height and weight measurements will be on hold for a least one hour after birth. This gives you time to enjoy Skin-to-Skin. This is a special way of holding your baby, skin to skin and chest to chest, and it is one of the best things you can do for your newborn. Skin to skin contact provides comforting, nurturing touch so your baby is relaxed and adjusts to life without stress. Find out more about Skin-to-Skin care.
After your first session of Skin-to-Skin care concludes, your baby will have a complete examination by an in-house Boston Children’s pediatric hospitalist. A second exam will be given to your baby prior to discharge. As state law requires, a maternity nurse will treat your baby's eyes with an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. An injection of Vitamin K is also given to ensure initial clotting of your baby's blood. In addition, a hearing test will be performed on your newborn. Learn more about this hearing screening.
If you give birth to a boy, you will need to decide whether or not to have him circumcised. This minor surgical procedure is performed shortly after birth by your doctor. Your signed consent is required to have this procedure performed.You may want to discuss circumcision with your chosen pediatrician. Find out more about circumcision.
To help you prepare for the care of your baby and yourself following delivery, a Baby & Me instructional booklet will be provided as well as educational videos. Our nursing staff prides itself on providing personalized attention to each new family. If your baby requires a longer stay, we will provide complimentary overnight accommodations for you and a support person.
All Babies Cry
Some babies are easy to comfort, others cry for hours every day no matter what you do. Listening to a baby cry is very hard on the parents. You may wonder what’s wrong, and feel that you should be able to solve the problem. Your baby doesn’t cry because he is spoiled, angry at you, or trying to control you. Babies love the people who take care of them. Learn more about what to do when your baby cries.
Security
As part of our security system, matching identification bracelets will be placed on mother and baby immediately after birth. The father (or significant other) is provided with a bracelet as well during the visit. He/she must keep the bracelet on throughout the entire hospital stay. In addition, each Milford Regional maternity nurse wears distinctive security identification, which is discussed upon admission. Mothers are encouraged to insist that anyone handling their infant show this badge.
The mother and/or father (or significant other) may go to the nursery to get their baby and bring him/her to the mother's room. It is important to note that the infant must be transported in the bassinet and not in your arms. At this time, the nurse will identify the infant and mother/father (or significant other) by checking both bracelets.
Newborns are also protected with an ankle bracelet armed with a security transmitter which triggers an alarm and automatically locks all doors to the Maternity Center when the baby nears any entrance or exit. The alarm is also triggered if the door is opened from the outside and the baby is carried out.
The Maternity Center is locked down 24 hours a day; individuals are “buzzed in” through an intercom system which connects them to the nurses’ station. 24-hour surveillance cameras are also strategically located throughout the floor for added security.
Meals for Baby & Mom
All babies need to be fed when they are hungry (on demand). Whether you are breast or bottle feeding, our staff will assist you. Instruction is available for mothers to learn more about infant feeding. Our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants are ready to address any of your concerns before delivery, during your stay at our Maternity Center or after discharge. Sometimes a simple phone call can help resolve an issue, or appointments to meet one on one with a consultant can be made by calling 508-422-2960. For more information about breastfeeding, see our breastfeeding page. Through our new dining program, moms can make selections from an extensive menu anytime of the day between 7:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. A microwave and small refrigerator are also available for special foods from home. Your support person can dine with you, by purchasing food vouchers in the cafeteria that allows him/her to order meals and have them delivered to your room.
Eager Visitors
While awaiting the birth of your baby, family and friends have access to a spacious family waiting room. In support of our Skin-to-Skin program, we ask that visitors respect the private bonding time between you and your baby for the first couple of hours after birth. After this time, your baby’s father (or support person), grandparents and siblings are welcome to visit any time you wish. we ask that all other visitors respect quiet time for mom, support person and baby from 2PM-4PM and only visit between the hours of 11AM to 2PM and 4PM to 8PM. Those under the age of 14 will not be admitted unless they are the baby’s sibling.
Skin-to-Skin
