Newborn Care & Bonding
Get to know your new baby in a calm and comfortable space – your private Mother/Baby suite at an Adventist HealthCare Birth Center.
First Hour of Life Bonding
Enjoy the emotional and physical health benefits of bonding with your baby right away. After your baby is born, you’ll immediately be able to hold and soothe them with skin-to-skin contact. This helps your baby feel warm, happy and safe, and boosts their immune system.
Feeding Your Baby
Practice feeding your baby in the way that works best for you, and rely on our staff for assistance when needed. If you choose to breastfeed, a certified lactation consultant can help answer questions and work with you and your infant. If you choose to formula feed, we have ready-to-use bottles available.
Newborn Screening Tests
Rely on your Birth Center care team to check your baby’s health with a physical exam and certain screening tests, which check for rare problems. Your baby may have:
- Blood tests
- Hearing tests
- Heart defect screening
Your baby’s providers will talk to you about the tests and results and connect you with resources if needed.
Advanced Care for Special-Needs Babies
If your baby is born early or needs advanced care, trust they’ll receive close attention at our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or special care nursery. You’ll be able to spend as much time with your baby as possible.
Mother/Baby Suite
You and your baby will move from the Labor and Delivery room to the Mother/Baby suite where you’ll continue to have close contact. You’ll both have access to a wide range of amenities and services. Benefit from visitor guidelines and other policies that support your healing, comfort and privacy.
Caring for Your Baby
During your stay, depend on our nurses and other professional staff to help you learn to care for your new baby, so you feel ready when it’s time to bring your baby home. Explore your role as a parent and ask questions about what to expect in the first few days, weeks and months of your baby’s life.
Your Baby’s Birth Certificate
During your stay at the Birth Center, you’ll receive a Birth Certificate Worksheet. Fill out the worksheet and give it to your nurse 24 hours before you leave the hospital. Check “yes” on the worksheet if you want your child’s social security card sent to your home.
Our staff will send your worksheet to the Maryland Department of Health. In four to six weeks, you’ll receive a birth registration notice in the mail. Submit an Application for a Certified Copy of Maryland Birth Record with payment to receive your child’s birth certificate. This form is available at the hospital or you can fill it out online.
Talk to your care team if you have questions about this process.
