Consider taking a breastfeeding class if you are planning to breastfeed.
Discuss hospital procedures with your physician and your preferences regarding
medication and delivery.
By 9 months:
Congratulations, it's your baby's birthday! When the time comes, have someone
drive you to the main entrance of the
Women & Infants Pavilion, which is a separate building from the hospital. A nurse will help you
prepare for the birth of your child.
Preparing for Your Hospital Stay
We recommend packing for your hospital stay at least 2 weeks prior to your
scheduled delivery so there is no last-minute rush. Here are some suggestions
for items you may need during your hospital stay and your trip home.
For yourself, remember to pack:
Toothbrush
Supportive nursing bra
Clothes for going home
For your baby, bring:
Clothes for going home
Car seat
Receiving blankets
Special services are available to teenage mothers. The hospital’s
Social Services Department can provide extra help with resources and offer
advice for financial assistance.
If you are unable to care for your baby, Antelope Valley Medical Center
is an LA Safe Surrender location. For more information please see
English /
Spanish versions of the Baby Safe handout.
What to Expect
Pre-Admission
When labor begins go directly to the Women & Infants Pavilion for registration
and admission.
When you feel the first labor pains or your water breaks, stay calm and
relaxed. Contact your partner or birth coach, and have someone drive you
to AVMC’s Women & Infants Pavilion’s main entrance. If
you feel you are going to deliver right away, call 911. If you are on
your way to the hospital and feel like the baby is coming quickly, go
directly to the Emergency Department. Our specially-trained staff members
can help you immediately upon your arrival. Mothers-to-be may quench their
thirst with ice but should not eat or drink during labor.
Delivering Your Baby
When your baby is ready to be born, you will be taken to a special labor/delivery/recovery
room. You will remain in this single room through your labor & delivery
and following delivery; before being transferred into the postpartum area.
Your physician will continue to monitor the condition of you and your
baby, and your partner or support person will remain by your side during
the birth if you desire.
Specially trained nurses will assist you and your doctor during these final
moments. Video cameras, digital or traditional A/V equipment, are not
allowed in any area of the Pavilion. Filming is prohibited during the
delivery, however once mother and baby are stable, your partner may take
pictures.
Recovery
During the first hour following birth, the nursing staff will check you
periodically for bleeding. They will also measure your blood pressure
and perform a fundal massage. After this period of recovery, you will
be taken into your own room. A nurse will assist you with personal care.
Welcoming Your New Addition
After delivery, you and your baby will recover in the delivery room for
approximately 1-2 hours so that you and your partner, or support person
can share this special time with your new baby. If you plan to breastfeed,
the nurses are trained to assist with latching and positioning.
Please note, Antelope Valley Medical Center does not perform circumcisions.
Your baby’s pediatrician may perform this procedure in his or her
office. Please check with your insurance carrier about coverage of this
procedure.
Security
Upon arrival, you and your newborn will receive ID bracelets. We ask that
you check the ID bracelets you and your infant receive after delivery
to verify that they both have the same numbers and information. When you
are ready to go home, check the baby's ID band with yours again.
Maternal child health employees wear special identification badges with
a distinctive bright pink square. Do not allow anyone not wearing the
special badge to remove your infant from your care. We also utilize an
electronic band system for added security.
Medications and Blood Tests for Baby
During the first 6 hours of life, your baby will be given a shot of Vitamin
K to begin the clotting mechanism. In addition, by state law, an antibiotic
is placed in the eyes to prevent infection. Law also requires newborns
to be screened for rare metabolic conditions in the first few days of
life. These conditions can be treated if detected early. A blood sample
is taken from the baby’s heel for this screening test.
Neonatal
When babies are born prematurely or with serious health conditions, they
may be placed in the
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where they will be cared for by highly trained nurses and neonatologists.
After the child's health is entirely stable, he or she can go home.
Family Centered Maternity Care
Soon after recovery, you and your baby will be moved to a postpartum/couplet-care
room, where your baby's crib, will be stocked with infant care items.
This "family-centered maternity care" gives new parents many
opportunities to learn how to care for their baby, and promotes bonding
with their new baby. Nurses will be in attendance to help with and teach
you about infant care. We also have certified lactation specialists available
to assist you with breastfeeding.
Caring for Your Baby
Our maternal-newborn nurses receive special training to give you the best
care possible. Many are certified in their specialty by a national accrediting
agency for their extra effort in seeking specialized education. Each shift,
a nurse is assigned to care for you and your baby. Feel free to ask them
questions or call them should you need assistance.
During your stay, you will have the opportunity to watch videos in your
room. These videos cover infant care, what to expect during the first
days at home, and CPR techniques for infants. They are shown several times
a day on one of the TV channels. You may obtain a Patient Guide with TV
listings from your nurse or a volunteer.
During Your Stay
Recovery Care
Throughout your stay, nurses will check your vital signs, both day and
night. If you are asleep, the nurse will have to awaken you to make these
checks to assure you are recovering properly. If you had a regular vaginal
delivery, you may resume eating when you are ready. If you are staying
in the hospital for more than one day, you will have the opportunity to
select your meals from a broad menu offered by the hospital. Visitors
may bring food in for you if approved by your physician. The hospital
cannot provide food for your visitors, but they are invited to eat at
the cafeteria located in the Women & Infants Pavilion or the
Café on J inside the main hospital.
There is a phone beside each bed for your convenience. Local calls require
dialing "9" before the phone number. For a long-distance call,
dial "0" for assistance. They must be collect or billed to your
calling card. Calls from the hospital may be made at any time. As a service
to our consumers, we provide family members or friends with the ability
to call patients directly without going through the switchboard or nurse's station.
Please follow the directions below to make calls:
Call
661-949-5000. You will receive a message prompting you to dial 1 to reach a patient.
At the prompt, please say the patient’s first and last name.
Please remember that our patients need their rest. Try to avoid making
or receiving calls after 9:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m.
Smoking
As a health care provider, Antelope Valley Medical Center is concerned
with the health of all occupants of our facility. Therefore, there is
no smoking allowed anywhere in the building or on hospital property.
Footprints of the Future
Footprints of the Future, a program of the
Antelope Valley Medical Center Foundation, is designed to allow family members to commemorate the birth of a baby
while contributing to the needs of Antelope Valley Medical Center. For
a contribution of $200, the baby's actual footprint is deeply etched in
a satin silver medallion, with the complete name and birth date. This
medallion permanently adheres to the Footprints of the Future wall near
the entrance to the Women & Infants Pavilion. The donor receives a
duplicate of this beautifully crafted 3-1/8th-inch diameter medallion,
including a Lucite display easel.
Time to go home
Once your physician and pediatrician have approved you and your baby's
discharge, a nurse will help you get ready to leave the hospital. Arrange
for a family member or friend to park in the discharge area. A hospital
employee will transport you in a wheelchair to the car and help you get
settled. State law requires that you restrain young children in approved
safety seats every time they are passengers in any vehicle.
