You are currently using an outdated version of Internet Explorer.
This website will not display properly without IE 8 or above. Click here to update your browser.
You are currently using an outdated version of Internet Explorer.
This website will not display properly without IE 8 or above. Click here to update your browser.
General Information: (434) 654-7000 OR 1-800-633-6353
We recognize that having a baby is a very important event in your life, and want you to be able to share your joy with family and friends. While you are in labor, you may designate two to three primary support people, who will receive identification bands allowing access to labor and delivery. Large numbers of people in the room while you are laboring can make it difficult to relax and focus on labor. Once you are on the postpartum unit, we encourage visitors to visit between the hours of 11:00 am and 9:00 pm, and all visitors must check in at the front desk of our secure unit. Personnel at the desk will contact you on your room phone to verify that you are currently ready for visitors. Your stay with us is relatively short and you will want time to rest and recover from the birth experience. You will also need time to bond with your new baby and spend time learning to feed and care for your infant. If you have older children at home, your stay in the hospital offers you a chance to get to know your newest baby and rest before going home. You may wish to ask that only your closest family and friends visit you in the hospital, and that co-workers and other visitors wait until you are home to visit. Healthy siblings are always welcome on the unit. We want to do all that we can to prevent exposing mothers and babies to any contagious illnesses, and children are quite often contagious before they show any signs of sickness. Therefore, together with our pediatricians, we request that children younger than 14 years of age who are not siblings of the baby wait until you are home to visit with you and the baby.
When arriving to MJH in labor or a scheduled procedure, please use the main entrance. If we have guest services personnel outside, they will park your car for you and bring the keys to the unit. If it is after their hours, then leave the car locked in the circle and drop car keys with security at the main desk. Security will park your car and bring the keys to the unit. If labor has not progressed to the point of strong discomfort, you are welcome to park the car yourselves and walk into the hospital through the main entrance.
We will provide sanitary supplies for you and diapers and wipes for your baby to last throughout your stay. You may want to bring comfortable clothes for you and your support person, and will need an outfit and blanket for your baby when going home. You should bring shampoo and other personal toiletries. Meals are provided for the patient during her stay; however, many people like to bring extra items such as favorite snacks, music, and other items that aid relaxation. A small cooler can be brought in for storage of personal food items as there is nowhere to refrigerate those items on the unit. Please leave your medications at home as our pharmacy will provide them for you.
We have dedicated space located in the Martha Jefferson Marketplace, Main Lobby called The Lactation Corner, (434) 654-4414 or 654-7042 and hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 am – 7:30 pm and Saturday – Sunday 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
We welcome your labor support companions. In order for us to give you the best possible nursing care, we have guidelines for you to consider. Please click on this link for more information.
Following are the ways a labor companion can be helpful:
Following are the things a labor companion may never do:
Health Connection is the number to call for physician referral questions and registration for classes. The number is: 434-654-7009 or 1-888-652-6663
Please limit it to 1-2 people, as the more manageable the group, the better for questions and answers.
We are now a secured unit and only allow siblings of the new baby to visit on the unit after the baby is born. If your children are age 4-7, and you are planning on delivering at MJH, we have a designated Sibling Tour Class that will bring them onto the unit accompanied by a staff member trained to work with preparing your children for the new baby. Children over 12 yrs of age are allowed to accompany their parents on the Tuesday night tours. Children under the age of 12 cannot accompany you on the tour as space is limited and we want to provide uninterrupted time for staff to answer questions and provide information for all attending the tour. Therefore, please arrange childcare for siblings younger than 12 and do not bring them with you to the hospital for the tour.
Much coordination is involved with bringing groups onto our secured birthing unit. We are prepared for this tour group once a week.
We are not prepared to care for other children while the mom is an inpatient. They are welcome to visit but there are not accommodations for overnight stays.
We do not.
Yes.
No, but welcome your own into the birthing and postpartum rooms.
The remaining diapers and wipes from the crib.
Our nursing staff is dedicated to helping you recover physically from birth while teaching you how to care for yourself and your new baby. At Martha Jefferson Hospital, we use the Mother-Baby Care Model, which means that one nurse cares for both you and your baby in your postpartum room. We encourage 24-hour rooming in for your baby, as this offers the most opportunity for you and your partner to learn about newborn care and feeding. The nurses are available to answer your questions and will help you learn to feed and care for your baby. One support person is welcome to stay overnight with you in your postpartum room.
Once your baby is born, you can usually plan to stay for two nights after you have a vaginal birth or three nights after a Cesarean birth. If either you or your baby has any medical problems, your stay may be longer if your doctors think that is needed. Discharge time at Martha Jefferson Hospital is 11:00 am, and on most days we host a Discharge Brunch at this time. At the Brunch, facilitated by one of our Registered Nurses, you and your support person are served a full meal and will have a chance to ask any questions you have regarding your care or the care of your baby. The nurse will go over information that is helpful in soothing crying babies, and send you off well-fed and ready to go home and rest. While attendance at the Brunch is not required, we strongly encourage all of our patients to attend. If you do not attend the Brunch, you should plan to leave the hospital by 11:00 am, and may leave earlier if you need to.
Feel free to contact Health Connection at 434-654-7009 or 1-888-652-6663 and they will have our OB Health Navigator contact you.
