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When should I go to the hospital?
The following is a general guideline to help you determine when to call the hospital. Be sure to check with your caregiver for specific instructions.
- Your bag of water breaks, with or without contractions.
- If this is your first pregnancy and you are having contractions every 5 minutes that require your total concentration, and you cannot walk or talk through them.
- If you have severe abdominal pain.
- If you have bright red bleeding.
- If you have decreased or absent fetal movement.
If you have questions or concerns during office hours, you can call your caregiver. If you're not sure you are in labor, please call your caregiver or the Family Maternity Center at 425-304-6100.
Please call us before you come to the hospital. We can help you decide whether it's time for you to come in, and we can prepare for your arrival. When you arrive, we will evaluate your progress and notify your doctor.
What kind of room will I have?
You will have a luxurious, private suite in which you will labor, deliver, recover and spend your post-partum time. If you need a cesarean section, you will be taken to one of the cesarean section operating rooms conveniently located on the 3rd floor of the Family Maternity Center.
What should I bring to the hospital?
A week or two before your due date, pack an overnight bag with items for your hospital stay:
- Nightgown (front-opening styles are convenient for breastfeeding)
- Bathrobe
- Slippers
- Shower cap if you use one
- Bra (nursing style if you plan to breastfeed your baby)
- Clothes to wear home
- For you: comfortable clothes that fit during mid-pregnancy
- For baby: blankets, diaper, infant-size sleepers, gown, etc.
- Cosmetics, toiletries
- Copy of your Birth Plan
- Camera or video camera with extra film and batteries
- Change for small purchases from the gift shop
- Personal comfort items
Please leave all valuables, such as jewelry and credit cards at home.
Who can be with me during labor and delivery?
This is your choice. You may invite your husband or partner, a support person and/or family members to stay with you during labor and delivery. If it becomes necessary to deliver your baby by cesarean section, in most cases you may choose one support person to accompany you.
What about circumcision if I have a son?
If you have a baby boy and wish to have him circumcised, tell your health care provider. Your doctor will usually perform the procedure before you leave the hospital. There is a hospital charge for the procedure, and a professional fee will be added to your doctor's billing.
What about visitors and visiting hours?
Family members and support persons are welcome 24 hours a day in our Family Maternity Center. Other visitors are welcome until 8 p.m.
For the health of your newborn and others in the Family Maternity Center, we ask that you have no visitors who are ill or who have recently been exposed to a communicable disease. Everyone – including you –should wash their hands before touching the baby.
What about meals?
While in the hospital, you may select your meals from daily menus. Meals are served around 8:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. daily. A limited menu is also available during evening and late night hours. Juice, coffee, milk and soda are available in our Family Maternity Centers for you.
Your husband or partner, family and visitors may purchase beverages, snacks or meals from the hospital coffee shops or cafeteria and bring those items back to the Family Maternity Center.
What is your approach to caring for mother and baby?
We encourage you to touch and hold your baby as much as you desire at delivery and during recovery. Our professional staff is available to help you learn to hold, feed, diaper, swaddle and dress your baby. We will, however, respect your needs and wishes for privacy and rest.
We strongly encourage 24-hour rooming in and reserve the use of the well-baby nursery for those mothers with specific medical conditions that require them to have extra rest or if they are unable to care for their baby. Whether breast-fed or bottle-fed, newborns should be fed "on demand." Therefore, babies who stay in the nursery are returned to the mother for feedings.
What about paperwork?
Hospital staff will help you complete birth certificate forms according to state requirements.
If you need a social security number within one to two months you will need to visit your local Social Security Office to complete an application. This must be done in person, not by mail. Make sure to bring the following original (not photocopies) documentation with you:
- Documentation of your baby's birth. You will receive a birth document that has your baby's footprints, name and birthdate before you leave the hospital. This is not an official birth certificate, but you may use it to apply for a Social Security card for the baby.
- Second piece of ID for the baby. Bring the baby's identification bracelet or crib card.
- Proper identification for yourself. This may be a driver's license, passport, school ID card, health insurance care of any of the acceptable documents listed on page 2 of the Social Security card application.
Applications are available at the Social Security offices, Monday - Friday between the hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm. There is no charge.
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Everett Social Security Office: 8625 Everegreen Way, Suite 108
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Lynnwood Social Security Office: 6600 196th ST
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Mount Vernon Social Security Office: 220 East College Way, Suite 170
If you need more information concerning your infant's Social Security card, you can call the Social Security office at 800-772-1213 between the hours of 7:00am and 7:00pm, Monday thur Friday.
If you do not need a social security number that quickly, please check the box at the bottom of the birth certificate form that you will fill out in the hospital at the time of your baby's birth.
If you are unmarried and want the baby's father's name to appear on the birth certificate, you and the father must sign a paternity affidavit in the presence of a notary public after the baby is born. The hospital will submit this affidavit to the state along with the birth certificate.
Newspaper notification for a birth announcement is available and optional. Hospital staff can help with this.
What is the hospital discharge procedure?
Your doctor will decide when you are ready to go home. Your nurse will help you complete any remaining paperwork and review with you some instructions for caring for yourself and your baby.
Someone will need to drive you home since you should not drive a vehicle for several days after delivery.
Washington state law requires that babies travel in approved infant restraint seats. Before your baby is born, be sure to have an approved car seat. Practice using it and securing it correctly in your car. This is extremely important to your baby's safety and welfare.
How long will I be in the hospital?
The answer varies for each patient. Generally it is very safe for new mothers to return to the comfort of their own homes shortly after giving birth. Before you go home, your physician will examine you. If you are not medically ready to go home, you will be encouraged to stay and continue to receive the care you need.
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