Congratulationson choosing Winchester Hospital’s Maternal Child Health Services for the birth of your baby.

Winchester Hospital is considered one of the most prominent obstetrical facilities north of Boston,

and includes Maternal Fetal Medicine, the Labor and Delivery Unit, the Mother Baby Unit (where

you and your baby will stay after delivery), the Special Care Nursery (should your baby need these

services) and Pediatrics.

Maternity Services Information

Winchester Hospital has more than 200 beds and delivers approximately 2,200 babies annually.

Our maternity program offers a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Specialized nursing and medical care

– Winchester Hospital obstetrician on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week

– Perinatologist consultation

– Neonatologist and anesthesiologist on-site 24 hours a day

– Social Services, if needed

• Medical affiliations providing access to the specialists and technology

found at leading Boston hospitals

• Level IIB Special Care Nursery

• Labor, delivery and recovery rooms (LDRs)

• Mother Baby Unit

• Tours of Maternal Child Health; to learn more, visit WinchesterHospital.org/Events

or call 781.756.2625

• Childbirth and family education, including lactation consultants

• Patient spiritual needs can be addressed by our hospital chaplains

We are pleased you have chosen Winchester Hospital and look forward to serving you in the near future.

Preparing for Your StayThis preadmission packet provides you with a variety of information regarding our maternity services. Please pay particular attention to the following:

What to BringPreregistration FormPlease fill out and return the hospital pre-registration form

in the postage paid envelope as soon as possible. This will

speed up your admission process.

Healthcare ProxyPlease read and complete the Massachusetts Healthcare

Proxy form that is enclosed at the back of this packet.

After completion, you can either bring a signed copy to the

hospital with you when you come to deliver or mail in a copy

of the proxy with your hospital pre-registration form.

Birth Certificate WorksheetPlease complete the enclosed Birth Certificate Worksheet

and bring it with you to the hospital when you come

for your delivery.

Packing Your Overnight BagWe suggest that you pack a bag in advance with overnight

necessities and going-home clothes for you and your baby.

We recommend that you do not bring large amounts of cash,

credit cards or jewelry. You may wish to bring the items below.

Newborn Pacifier UseThe American Academy of Pediatrics recommendationsAvoidance of pacifiers and artificial nipples is one of the

“Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” that forms the basis

of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative created by the World

Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Pacifier use is best only after breastfeeding is well established

and should be avoided during initiation of breastfeeding.

If you want your newborn to have a pacifier, you may bring

the pacifier with you to the hospital.

For mother: ▫ Health and beauty items, including

deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, bras and nursing bras for breastfeeding. We will provide you with sanitary napkins and stretch panties after delivery.

▫ Sports bra or two-piece bathing suit – optional for hydrotherapy tub

▫ Nightgowns, robe and slippers

▫ Pen and paper

For baby’s trip home: ▫ 1 undershirt

▫ 1 outfit

▫ 1 light blanket (summer)

▫ 1 bunting or heavy blanket (winter)

▫ Car seat

For partner or support person: ▫ Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb,

deodorant, razor and shaving cream

▫ Pajamas, sweat suit, robe and slippers

▫ Change of clothes – rooms may be cool in some areas of the hospital

▫ Money for daily paper, meals

▫ Phone numbers of friends and relatives

▫ Cell phones are allowed

▫ Wireless access is provided

Admission to the Hospital for the Birth of Your Child

• After your health care provider instructs you to come to the hospital, please stop

in Admitting before proceeding to Labor and Delivery on the second floor.

• If you arrive before 6 a.m. or after 8 p.m., please enter the hospital through

the Emergency Department entrance, and don’t forget to stop in Admitting.

If You Are Being Induced• A medically indicated induction means there is a medical reason to induce

your labor: some are more urgent than others. Prioritizing inductions is done

throughout the day by the in-house obstetrician and the charge nurse, in

collaboration with your physician.

• An elective induction means there is NO medical reason to induce labor.

– During high-volume periods, elective inductions may have to be delayed

or canceled because laboring patients and medically indicated inductions

are a higher priority. This is not an unusual occurrence.

Please call Labor and Delivery at 781.756.2242 before you arrive for scheduled

induction to confirm there is room for you.

• For morning inductions: Please call at 6 a.m. the day of your induction.

• For evening inductions: Please call one hour before your scheduled induction time.

ParkingValet parking is available at Winchester Hospital’s main campus for patients

and visitors. The service is offered 7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.,

except on some holidays. Drivers may access the valet parking service via

the west entrance from Fairmount Street and then follow the orange signs

to the drop-off/pick-up area (near the hospital’s Emergency Department).

Insurance InformationIn most cases, you need to inform your insurance company of your pregnancy

for preapproval of your hospital stay. Your insurance company could deny your

coverage if you fail to do this.

Under normal circumstances, most insurance providers allow for a 48-hour, or two-

day hospital stay after vaginal delivery, and 96 hours, or four days, after a cesarean

birth. If you have any questions, please contact your individual insurance carrier.

Before admission, contact your insurance company/HMO so you can choose

a pediatrician in your health plan. You will need your pediatrician’s name

upon admission.

If you do not have insurance, feel that you may have trouble managing hospital

expenses, please contact our Patient Financial Services office at 781.756.2427.

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Enroll in Our Patient Portal • Access your health summary

• View lab results

• Update personal information

• View medications, care instructions and more

• Link to educational resources

• View your radiology reports

• Pay your bill

To learn more, stop by Medical

Records (next to the cafeteria) or visit

WinchesterHospital.org/MyHealth.

Looking for a physician for your new babyWinchester Hospital offers more than

80 pediatricians, more than 30 family

medicine doctors, and locations in more

than 15 cities and towns — providing

you with great care close to home.

Learn more at WinchesterHospital.org

or call 866.946.4677 24 hours a day,

7 days a week!

Maternity ToursTwo tours of the maternity unit occur

every Tuesday.* The first tour begins

at 6 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m.

Registration is required by visiting

WinchesterHospital.org/Events.

* Tours will not take place on the fifth week

of the month when applicable.

Smoking PolicyPlease remember, for your health and

the health of others, Winchester Hospital

is a smoke-free environment.

Labor and Delivery You will begin in Labor and Delivery, located on the second

floor. Labor and Delivery has private rooms, in which you

will labor and deliver your baby.

Each room offers accommodations for your support person’s

overnight stay, a private bathroom with shower, telephone,

and television service. If a cesarean section is needed, you

will be moved to an operating room located on the Labor

and Delivery unit.

Throughout your childbirth experience, a highly qualified

nurse specializing in maternal child care will be with you to

provide expert clinical care, guidance, noninvasive comfort

measures and emotional support. In addition, for your

safety and comfort, Winchester Hospital provides an in-

house obstetrician should your primary obstetrician not be

immediately available. Doulas are welcome. Your number of

support attendants will be decided by you and your health

care providers.

Hydrotherapy/Therapeutic TubFor your comfort, we have a hydrotherapy tub available in

Labor and Delivery. The tub is located in a private, relaxed

setting with light dimmers and a variety of music for comfort

and relaxation. The hydrotherapy tub promotes muscle

relaxation and decreases discomfort. It enhances cervical

dilation, increases the rate of fetal descent, decreases the use

of pitocin augmentation, and reduces the use of medication

and epidurals.

AnesthesiaPain-relieving medication and various forms of anesthesia

are available. Members of our anesthesiology staff are on-site

24 hours a day. We urge you to discuss plans for anesthesia

with your doctor prior to admission; however, the final decision

can be made during labor. Your options for anesthesia include:

y Local

y Epidural – vaginal birth and cesarean sections

y Spinal – cesarean sections (scheduled)

y General anesthesia (in the event of an emergency)

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Accommodations for Your Childbirth Experience

Phone CallsInformation about your condition will not be given to anyone.

We recommend that you make arrangements and identify one

person for all your relatives and friends to call for updates about

your labor or delivery status. This way, only one person will be

checking in with you during your labor.

VideotapingVideotaping and photography (even on cell phones) are NOT

permitted during the delivery process. To protect the privacy of

other patients, no videotaping or photography are permitted

at the nursery window or in the hallways. Videotaping and

photography are allowed in the privacy of your own room

after the birth of your baby.

Immediately After BirthOur family-centered care concept allows for parent-newborn

interactions in the early recovery period so you can get

acquainted with your baby in the privacy of your room. Initial

skin-to-skin contact is encouraged at birth and in the operating

room for a minimum of one hour. Support for your initial and

ongoing breastfeeding experience is provided. We recommend

that you and your significant other take the time in the initial

hours after birth to bond with your newborn alone.

When you hold your newborn skin to skin you can:

y Warm your newborn

y Soothe your newborn

y Release “mothering hormones” that assist with bonding

and healing

When mothers keep their newborns with them:

y Newborns cry less

y Newborns feed better

y Newborns feel less pain when held skin to skin for at least

20 minutes before painful procedures

The physical and emotional needs of newborns and their mothers

are met when they are kept together as much as possible.

Feedings should begin during the newborn’s alert stage, which

is usually the first one to two hours after birth. Peak sucking

movements have been noted from 45 minutes to two hours of

age and are mostly absent at 2½ hours of age. Keeping your baby

with you during your stay is the best way for you to learn how

to care for yourself and your newborn. Your caregivers will help

you learn how to care for your baby and will offer assistance as

needed. We encourage you to ask your family for help as well.

A minimum of one hour of uninterrupted

skin-to-skin contact is recommended

immediately after birth, or as soon as

possible. We also encourage skin-to-skin

contact throughout your stay.

After your deliveryOnce you have recovered, you will be transferred to the

Mother Baby Unit, also on the second floor, where you are

encouraged to have your baby in the room with you. Research

shows it is best for you and your baby to stay together in

the same room. Parent-newborn interactions are vital to

your newborn’s development. During this time together you

get to know your baby’s unique personality and needs, and

caregivers are there to assist and support you. Under normal

circumstances, you will have a private room. We provide cots

for your support person to spend the night, if desired. On

occasion, because of the number of women in labor, we

may have to utilize our semiprivate rooms.

Inpatient Lactation ServiceAll our nurses are capable and qualified to assist and support

you with breastfeeding. International Board Certified Lactation

Consultants are available to provide information, answer

questions and offer one-on-one assistance to patients

requiring more comprehensive assistance and support.

It is expected that all breastfeeding mothers will attend

one of the breastfeeding classes while in the hospital.

Newborn pacifier use: According to the American Academy

of Pediatrics, “Pacifier use is best avoided during initiation

of breastfeeding and used only after breastfeeding is well

established.” Winchester Hospital does not provide pacifiers

for healthy newborns.

Visiting Hours

We recommend limiting visitors while in the hospital

to allow you and your newborn to recover. This time

is also important for you to bond and learn how to care

for yourself and your newborn prior to going home.

y Visitors should be free of any illnesses

(colds, flu, contagious diseases, etc.).

y We recommend you plan a quiet time each day

and ask visitors not to come during that time.

y Please note: Siblings are welcome to visit you and

your baby in the hospital when accompanied by a

responsible adult at all times. To ensure you and your

baby have adequate time to bond and receive care,

no siblings are allowed to remain at the hospital under

your supervision alone. Additionally, for the health

and safety of all our families, no children are allowed

to spend the night.

CircumcisionCircumcision is a personal choice that you should discuss with

your partner, obstetrician and pediatrician before your son is

born. Since circumcision is a surgical procedure, you will be

asked to sign a consent form before the procedure.

Stork Dinner to CelebrateThis joyful occasion is cause for celebration! You can do that

right here by ordering a gourmet dinner for two served in the

privacy of your room. There is a charge for this meal. Please ask

your diet aide for more information. We recommend you order

this meal in the morning on the day before you are discharged.

In collaboration with your physician, the Massachusetts

legislation regarding maternity stays gives you the right

to stay in the hospital with your baby for:

• 48 hours after a vaginal birth

• 96 hours after a cesarean section birth

• You cannot be discharged between the hours of

8 p.m. and 8 a.m.; however, you may choose to

leave during these hours.

If you choose to leave early

If you and your physician determine that you and your baby are

stable and decide on discharge prior to 48 hours, you have the

right to at least one home visit by a nurse. Winchester Hospital

will help ensure the home visit is within 48 hours after you leave

the hospital. This home visit is voluntary. If you do not want it,

please let your nurse know.

If you have out-of-state insurance, please check with your

individual insurance company for its guidelines on maternity stay.

If You Decide to Stay Longer Than Your Insurance and Rights Allow

• Your employer which determines your maternity benefits,

may not cover the extra day(s).

• You will be billed for each additional day your maternity

benefits do not cover.

Please note that some employers are self-funded and some

employers are federally regulated. These are not mandated

to abide by the state maternity-stay law.

For More Information

If you have any questions about your legal rights, talk to

your doctor or nurse, or call the Department of Public Health

at 617.624.6095 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday

through Friday.

For Complaints

If you feel your rights have been denied under this law, you

may call the Department of Public Health at 800.436.7757

or TDD/TTY 800.439.2370, 24 hours a day.

Preparing for DischargeNotice of Your Rights

You and your baby usually will be seen by your individual

health care providers typically between 7 and 9 a.m.

Once they have deemed you both ready for discharge,

your nurse will complete the necessary paperwork and

go over discharge instructions with you.

Massachusetts state law requires that all children be

restrained in a car seat. You must have an appropriate car

seat for your infant prior to discharge. This car seat must

be less than six years old. Since there are many car seat

models, we recommend you read the instructions and

practice installing the car seat in your vehicle prior to

your baby’s birth. For additional information, we

recommend the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau

website at Mass.Gov/GHSB.

Don’t forget you will need weather-appropriate

clothing for both you and your newborn

(T-shirt, stretch suit, sweater, coat, hat, blanket, etc.).

On the Day of Discharge

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Safe Sleep Guidelines for Baby • Always place your baby on his or her back

to sleep.

• Keep your baby close by, but in his or her own crib, with a firm mattress and a tight-fitting sheet.

• Don’t place toys, blankets, pillows or bumper pads in your baby’s crib.

• Don’t smoke.

• Keep your baby cool; don’t overheat the room.