Exceptional care for birth and beyond

When you arrive, we’ll greet you at the door and bring you to a labor room for evaluation. It’s helpful if you have your photo ID and insurance information with you. Your evaluation will include questions about your pregnancy and medical history, and we’ll also monitor your vital signs and your baby. Additional evaluation may include cervical examination, lab studies, placement of an IV, or other procedures.

You’re welcome to bring anything from home that will make your stay more comfortable, including music, blankets, pillows, and other items. You’ll also want to bring your own toiletries and comfortable clothes to change into after your baby is born.

We provide diapers, wipes, sleep sacks, blankets, shirts and hats for babies. We also have supplies for bathing your baby. You’re welcome to bring any clothes you would like your baby to wear in the hospital. Prior to going home, you’ll need a set of clothes for your baby to wear, as well as a car seat.

We have several providers as part of the physician and midwife team. During scheduled clinic hours, your regular doctor will be called when you arrive. After scheduled clinic hours and on weekends, the on-call doctor will be called when you arrive.

We provide several options for pain relief. Some women choose non-medical methods, like breathing techniques, walking, soaking in a tub, using a birthing ball, or aromatherapy for labor pains. Others choose nitrous oxide, IV pain medication or regional anesthesia, such as an epidural. Our doctors and nurses can help you understand your options and choose the best fit for you.

We encourage parents to keep babies in the room as much as possible. We also recommend that you spend time with your baby skin-to-skin and feed baby within the first 1-2 hours after delivery. Your baby can sleep in the bassinet provided by the hospital in your room. In some cases babies need closer monitoring, which may require them to stay in the special care nursery. Your baby will have a security tag that will limit where they can go in the hospital.

The entrance to the birth center is locked, so all visitors need to use the intercom to enter. They should identify you as the patient and ask for your room number. We encourage patients to have a limited number of support people present during delivery, usually one to three people.

We also encourage you to limit the number of visitors at any given time so that you can rest and bond as a family. Ask your nurse for information about family members visiting babies in the special care nursery.

Each labor and delivery room is private and includes a private bathroom. There is a pullout chair bed for your spouse or support person to rest or sleep, and the hospital has wireless internet and cable TV service in the patient rooms.

There is also a cozy family waiting area with a TV, refrigerator, vending machine and coffee.

After a vaginal delivery, most women stay two nights. After a C-section, most women stay 3-4 nights. On the day of discharge you will be given instructions for going home. Most people leave the hospital by late morning or early afternoon.

During your stay, we’ll help you learn how to care for your baby and yourself at home. You’ll learn things like feeding, safety, bathing, and more. We’ll also give you information about normal postpartum care for yourself and resources for continued support after you’re home.

During your stay, you’ll also complete your baby's birth certificate information. We’ll give you information about how to get your baby's birth certificate from the county and their Social Security number from the federal government.

We accept most health insurance plans, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, CIGNA, HealthPartners, Medica, Medicare, PreferredOne and many others.

Not sure what your insurance covers? Call the number on the back of your card for help looking at your options.

Don’t have your card in front of you? Here are member services numbers to help you get started:

• HealthPartners: 800-883-2177
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota: 800-382-2000
• CIGNA: 800-244-6224 (insurance through work); 866-494-2111 (insurance directly or through the Exchange)
• Medica: 800-952-3455
• Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
• PreferredOne: 763-847-4477 (in the Twin Cities); 800-997-1750 (outside the metro area)
• United Healthcare: 877-842-3210