When you begin office visits to your obstetrician, family medicine  physician or midwife, the Baby Suites staff is notified and will send you an information packet including pre-admission forms to expedite your admission. You also may complete an online pre-admission registration form.

When Labor Begins
As your due date nears, you will be instructed by your care provider to call before leaving for the medical center so that he or she can assess your progress. If it is time to be admitted, remember to bring any personal items that you may need, and, of course, your camera!

Upon arriving at the medical center, you may report to the Labor and Delivery Department. If you arrive between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., please report to the Emergency Department, which is open 24 hours a day.

Your labor and delivery will take place in one of our labor-delivery-recovery (LDR) suites. Your physician-nurse team or midwife-nurse team will work closely together throughout your birthing experience.During the early stages of labor, our nurses will frequently check your progress and assess your needs. Depending on your condition and your physician's orders, you may be able to walk around during this phase of labor. Since the rest of the family is eagerly awaiting news about the birth, we encourage parents-to-be to keep in contact with loved ones during this time. Due to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the information that staff can share with family and friends without your permission is limited. We encourage that you or your family use cellular phones to keep everyone updated about your progress.

As your labor progresses, the nurses will help coach you through breathing patterns. Pain management options are reviewed upon admission. If epidural anesthesia is requested, an anesthesiologist is available 24 hours a day.

If you require a Caesarean delivery, the procedure will be performed in our onsite surgical delivery suite within the Baby Suites. A specially trained intermediate care nurse and neonatologist participate in every Caesarean delivery.

After Delivery
The birth of a child is an experience of wonder and joy. After your baby is born, you and your partner will have an opportunity to share quiet, private moments together – a very personal time for bonding with your new son or daughter. He or she will be given a bracelet that includes the time of birth, date, mother’s name and identification number that corresponds to Mom and Dad’s bracelets.

During your recovery period, which lasts approximately an hour, nurses will continue to monitor you. These checks will be performed frequently to ensure that your recovery is normal. This is a great time to begin breastfeeding. When you are ready, you will be transferred from the LDR suite to your postpartum suite. Your care provider will visit you to monitor your recovery and answer questions. Typically, your maternity stay will probably be no longer than two days, although stays after Caesarean delivery are usually three to four days, depending on the mother’s recovery.

Nursery
All newborns are officially “admitted” to the Nursery, where their vital signs are recorded and they are bathed, placed in bassinets and kept warm under a warmer. ID bracelets are carefully checked to ensure that the mother’s name is spelled correctly and that the date, time, gender and hospital numbers correspond. As soon as your baby’s temperature is stable, he or she will join you in your postpartum suite.

The medical center’s Baby Suites employs a state-of-the-art infant security system to protect our smallest patients from harm. If you would like more information about this system, please speak with your caregiver.

Babies who require intermediate care will not join you in the postpartum suite. However, parents are encouraged to visit their babies at any time to bond.

Television
Free color television service is available in all postpartum suites. Our Maternity Television Channel (Channel 14) offers informational and educational programs. General information about Somerset Medical Center is available on Channel 3.

Telephone
Free telephone service is provided in each Labor-Delivery Recovery suite for calls anywhere in the continental United States. However, you will be charged for telephone service in your postpartum suite. To activate your telephone service, dial “0.” There is a charge of $3 per day, which will appear on your home telephone bill. You may use your own cellular phone at any time.

Meals
Breakfast - 8 a.m. • Lunch - 11:30 a.m. • Dinner - 4:30 p.m.

Medications
Hospital regulations prohibit medications at the bedside. During your hospital stay, your attending physician must order all medications, even non-prescription medications. If you chose to bring your own medication, we will store it in our pharmacy and you will get a receipt. Once you are ready for discharge, you can collect the medication by showing the receipt.

Pastoral Care Services
Chaplaincy services are available for patients of all faiths through our Pastoral Care Services Department by dialing ext. 2425. A Catholic priest is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You also may ask your nurse for assistance locating a chaplain.

Discharge Planning
In addition to your doctors and nurses, you also may be seen by a dietician, clinician, physical and/or occupational therapist, social worker and/or case manager, depending on your specific needs.

After You're Home
Our interest in you and your baby continues after you are discharged. If you have any questions, please call 908-685-2863 to talk with one of our nurses.

Finding a Doctor for Your Baby
Somerset Medical Center’s medical/dental staff includes board-certified pediatricians and family medicine specialists. To locate a physician, visit our online Physician Directory or call 800-443-4605. Should your child require hospitalization at Somerset Medical Center in the future, it may comfort you to know that Somerset Medical Center’s pediatric hospitalists – on staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week – work in conjunction with your child’s physician. Their availability provides timely action and answers for you and your family.