Your Pregnancy Journey

What to Bring With You for Delivery

We encourage you to bring these items to the hospital for your delivery:

  • Take home outfit for baby & a blanket.
  • Faith Health will supply you with diapers/wipes, shampoo/lotion, and blankets to use while at the hospital. For mom, we supply sanitary pads, mess panties, and gowns.
  • Bring your own personal items, such as shampoo, lotion, hair and makeup items.

Admission Process

If you are on your way to the hospital to deliver your baby, please call us at (402) 644-7520 so we are prepared for you. Please enter the hospital through the Emergency Department (ED) and stop by the admission desk briefly. Someone will then escort you to labor and delivery where they will be expecting your arrival. Although you complete paperwork ahead of time, there are a few brief questions that will be asked for your safety every visit.

Once in labor, food is provided for one designated support person to ensure they are available to you at all times. After delivery, mothers are given the options for food throughout their stay, and we will continue to offer one designated support person a food tray also.

Our Labor & Delivery Areas

Faith Health's Labor & Delivery unit consists of two triage rooms and five labor suites where you can labor, deliver and recover. Your recovery will take one to two hours depending on how you and your baby are doing.

Currently, we have three labor rooms with labor tubs in them. If you are interested in this option, please let Charge Nurse know when you call to tell us you are coming in.

We also have two C-section suites. If you are a scheduled C-section, you will be prepared in the labor and delivery room and then taken to the C-section room. As long as the mother is awake for the C-section, a support person is welcome to be present. Your baby's doctor will also be there. You will return to the labor and delivery room to recover.

Make sure to bring your camera!

Private Postpartum Rooms

After recovery, you will be transferred to a private postpartum room for your comfort. These rooms feature:

  • A pull-down sofa for your support person and a rocker recliner.
  • Large bathrooms with a seat in the shower. Please let your nurse know if you need additional linens for the sofa or bathroom.
  • An adjustable room temperature.
  • Housekeeping staff to clean your room.
  • Computer in rooms are for nursing staff to chart and log medications. They do not have public access. However, Faith Health has wi-fi for your personal devices and a public computer in our family waiting area.
  • White dry erase communication board.

If there is ever anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable, please let us know. We want you to have an excellent experience!

Labor Induction

If your labor should need to be induced for a medical reason, you may be induced using one of these ways:

  • IV Pitocin
  • Cervadil
  • Amniotomy (Rupture of Membranes)

Inductions will not be scheduled before 40 weeks for the safety of you and your baby. If you are scheduled for an induction, please call Faith Health at (402) 644-7520 before you leave for the hospital to be sure that we can admit you. Occasionally, we need to reschedule inductions due to high patient levels.

Pain Management

Our goal is for you to be as comfortable as possible. Pain is different for every person, and we want you to tell us about your pain as good pain control will aid in your recovery.

At Faith Health, you will be asked to use the pain scale. Communication is important, and we ask you to report all pain to your nurse. We will help guide you with different pain therapies. Do not be afraid to try new ways.

Epidural Anesthesia

Epidurals are an anesthesia medical that blocks pain by blocking the nerves that enter your lower spine. A catheter is placed and the needle removed. A pump is then attached to the catheter to give you a constant dose as long as you need it. Risks and possible complications of epidurals are:

  • a sudden drop in blood pressure
  • severe headache after birth
  • dizziness, seizures, breathing problems, allergic reactions, nerve damage, or paralysis (very rare)

We have an epidural video available on our TIGR education channel when you come to the hospital should you wish to learn more.

Fall Prevention

Our nurses will help you get out of bed the first time or so until they feel you can safely get up yourself. We are dedicated to preventing falls by yourself or your baby, which is why we offer this guidance:

  • Transport your infant in their crib only. Do not carry them down the hall.
  • If young children come to visit and hold your baby, please ensure there is adult supervision.
  • If you get sleepy while holding your baby, put them back in their crib.
  • Do not share a bed with your baby. Please put them in the crib and on their back.
  • Never place your baby on any surface unattended.
  • Always keep your baby within your vision even when using the restroom.

Rooming-In

At Faith Health, we keep mother and baby together while in the hospital for a variety of benefits. These include:

  • Better Sleep. Babies & mothers sleep better together & it decreases the chance for SIDS.
  • Promotes Bonding. Mothers learn the specific behaviors of their baby and become more confident in caring for the baby.
  • Promotes Feeding. Mothers learn baby's cues faster and feed on demand. It also increases opportunities for skin-to-skin contact, which increases success with breastfeeding.
  • Better Weight Gain & Less Jaundice. Babies breastfeed more often so they gain weight & decrease their risk of jaundice.
  • Better Prepared. It increases your opportunities to ask questions, communicate with your nurse, and prepares you better for taking your baby home.
  • Healthier Babies. Babies feed more often, which helps with breast milk production. Breast milk contains more antibodies to help prevent infection. Babies also tend to cry less, which conserves their energy.

Faith Health also has only one nurse take care of you and your baby at a time. This nurse will work with you to prepare you to return home with your newborn.

Safety & Security

At Faith Health, we take your and your baby's safety and security very seriously. Here are ways that we ensure you and your baby are protected at all times:

  1. ID Bands
    • Two ID bands are placed on your baby at the time of their birth. Matching ID bands are placed on you or a designated other of your choice. Please keep these ID bands on at all times until you are home.
    • We take your baby's footprints and use these ID bands to record their time of birth on the footprint page.
    • Each time your baby is brought to you, their ID band will be checked against your ID band for name and ID number.
    • You and your baby will have the same last name while you are here on your ID bands. Official changes to their last name will be done on the birth certificate.
    • Upon dismissal, your ID band numbers will be verified one last time and you will be asked to sign the footprint page.
  2. Photo ID Badges
    • ALL Faith Health employees are required to wear a Faith Health photo ID badge prominently displayed. DO NOT give your baby to anyone without this ID badge. Immediately put your nurse call light on if you have any questions or concerns.
    • Our Labor & Delivery unit is a locked unit, so these photo ID badges allow our staff to move in and out of the unit if needed. However, any visitors will be required to request access to our unit before entering.
  3. HUGS Security System
    • To ensure the highest level of safety, we use the HUGS Infant Protection System.
    • This is a little ankle monitor placed on your baby once they are born.
    • If your baby leaves the Labor & Delivery unit, an alarm will sound overhead for all to hear. Our staff are trained to take action immediately if this happens.
  4. Special Care Nursery
    • In the event that your baby needs extra support after delivery, we have a three-bed special care nursery.

Newborn Screenings

After delivery, Faith Health will perform certain screenings to ensure your baby is healthy and to comply with Nebraska State Laws. These screenings include:

  • Blood-spot screen completed between 24-48 hours old. Blood is taken from the baby's heel to check for 29 different disorders.
  • A hearing screening is completed by a nurse when your baby is asleep and quiet. Responses to sounds sent through tiny earphones are counted and averaged by a computer. Remember, many newborns may NOT pass the hearing screen test. This only means further audiology testing and evaluation is needed.
  • Critical Congenital Heart Disease screening is performed by placing a pulse oximeter on your baby's foot and hand. The oximeter measures the amount of oxygen in their blood and heart rate.

Discharge

At Faith Health, our normal check-out time is prior to 2:00 PM so you can settle your baby in at home before bedtime. You will receive a discharge folder in your room after delivery. Please review the folder contents and work with your nurse during your stay to make your discharge day more efficient. The better prepared you are, the faster the discharge process will go. The folder will include information on birth certificates, Norfolk Daily News announcement, shaken baby and car seat signature sheet, discharge instructions for mother & baby, follow-up appointments, SIDS, and more.

General Instructions

Upon discharge from Faith Health, here are some instructions to follow to keep you safe and healthy:

  • Bleeding will gradually decrease over the next 3-5 weeks changing from a bright red to brown to yellow. Continue using the water bottle for 1-2 weeks. After discharge, vaginal deliveries may tub soak 3-4 times a day to help with healing.
  • No douching, sexual intercourse, or tampon use until after your check-up examination.
  • If your breasts become swollen and tender:
    • Breastfeeding mothers should breastfeed often. If nipples are flat from breast swelling, hand express some milk prior to nursing. Use ice packs between feedings. Wear a properly fitting support bra.
    • Bottle feeding mothers should avoid stimulation, wear a tight-fitting bra, and apply ice packs as needed.
  • At discharge you may do light housework and walk as tolerated. Ask a physician about any exercise programs. Most importantly, rest and relaxation are key! Sleep when your baby sleeps!

Cesarean-Section Specific Discharge Instructions

If you had a c-section, here are some instructions to follow:

  • Keep your incision clean and dry, no dressing is needed. Watch for signs of infection, such as increased redness of incision, pus from incision, or increased pain.
  • NO tub baths until approved by your physician.
  • Avoid vacuuming.
  • Limit use of stairs.
  • Avoid driving until your first post-op check-up.
  • Avoid lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds or weight of baby in a carrier (children, laundry baskets, groceries, etc.)

Nutrition

Good nutrition is a crucial part of taking care of yourself after childbirth. Follow these nutrition tips to help:

  • Maintain 2,000-2,500 calories per day if breastfeeding.
  • Eat high fiber foods, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables along with plenty of water to aid in proper elimination.
  • Over-the-counter stool softeners may be taken as directed for constipation.
  • Hemorrhoids CAN be typical after delivery. You can use over-the-counter products for pain relief and decreased swelling. You may have bleeding, itching or pay with sitting or straining. Have a game plan for going home.

When to Call the Doctor

Calling Your Doctor

At Faith Health, we are here for you if you have any concerns upon discharge. Do not hesitate to call if you are unsure about something because your health and safety is our top priority. If you notice any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

  • Foul-smelling vaginal drainage, large blood clots that are baseball size or larger, or bright red bleeding that is heavier than a period and saturates an entire pad front-to-back in 1 hours and continues for 3 hours in a row.
  • Fever greater than 100.4 degrees two or more times in a row.
  • Frequency of burning during urination
  • Isolated painful lump, redness or streaks in the breast.
  • Unable to care for yourself and/or baby or an overwhelming feeling of sadness. Baby blues are short term, but symptoms that persist could be considered postpartum depression. We encourage you and your family to know the signs and symptoms.

Calling Baby's Doctor

Anytime you have questions or concerns about your baby, please call your baby's doctor. Other symptoms to always call your baby's doctor for include:

  • Jaundice. This is a yellowing of baby's skin and eyes. All babies have a skin screening for jaundice before going home.
  • Bronchiolitis/RSV. Call your baby's doctor immediately if your baby has trouble breathing, breathing more than 60 breaths/minute, has blue lips, wheezes, or is working hard to breathe.
  • Fever. If your baby's temperature is 100 degrees or higher taken under their arm for a baby younger than 3 months. Normal under arm temperature is 97.6-99.4 degrees.
  • Vomiting. If your baby vomits frequently or forcefully.

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Postpartum Depression is a constant intense sadness and empty feeling that lasts two weeks or more. It can affect you during pregnancy and up to the first year after delivery. Remember you are not alone and this is a medical condition that requires medical help. Three out of four mothers have some symptoms of PPD. Make sure to consult your provider for help!