How To Care For A Newborn Baby At South Shore Hospital

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1 Table of contents Welcome...2 Family-Centered Care...3 Important Information for Expecting and New Mothers...4 Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss...4 Privacy of Patient Information...5 Our Maternity Services...6 The Maternity Team...6 Areas of Care...7 Maternal Fetal Medicine Program...7 Certified Nurse Midwife Program...7 Birthing Center...7 Mother and Infant Unit...8 Maternal Special Care Unit...8 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit...8 Childbirth and Parenting Education...9 Preparing for Your Admission...10 Your Insurance...10 Financial Arrangements...10 Health Care Proxy...11 Admission...11 Cellular Phones...11 Suggestions for Labor Bag...12 Support Persons and Visitors During Labor...12 Your Birth Experience An Overview...13 Photography and Video Records...13 Visiting After Baby Is Born...14 Mother s Choice...14 Non-Smoking Institution...14 Family Area...14 Other Services...16 Educational TV and Videos...16 Television Service...16 Telephone Service...16 Meals...16 Worship...16 Birth Certificates...17 Photography and Web Photo Services...17 Social Security Cards...17 Birth Announcements...17 Gift Shops...18 Going Home...19 Leaving the Hospital...19 Infant Car Seats...19 Satisfaction Surveys...19 Quality Service...19 Home Care Options...20 Newborn Screenings...21 New England Newborn Screening Program...21 Optional Newborn Screening...21 Newborn Hearing Screening...22 Vaccines...23 Newborn Vaccine...23 Maternal Vaccines...23 Obstetrical Services Statistics...24 Important Phone Numbers...26 Helpful Phone Numbers...27 About South Shore Hospital...28 Breastfeeding...15 SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 1

2 Welcome Congratulations on your pregnancy, and thank you for choosing South Shore Hospital for the birth of your baby! All members of the South Shore Hospital staff are dedicated to providing the highest standard of maternity care with a family-centered approach. This guide has been prepared to familiarize you with the many important aspects of your hospital care. Reviewing this information will provide you with an idea of what to expect when you come to the hospital, as well as give you some important information about services we provide. Please read through the information carefully. We have included important documents for you to complete and mail in ahead of time to assist us during your admission and hospitalization. These are located in the front pocket of this booklet. Please complete the Birth Certificate Worksheet and mail back to us within two weeks. We recognize that each birth is a unique experience, one which affects the entire family. Our goal is to understand your individual expectations so we can best meet your needs. We look forward to sharing this important time with you and your family, and we wish you a healthy and memorable birth experience! THE MATERNITY CENTER 2

3 At South Shore Hospital, our family-centered care is the primary reason why we ve become the region s number one choice for maternity care. Familycentered care Family-centered care means working together with you and your family to make decisions regarding your individualized care. When you add this philosophy to medical and nursing expertise and partnerships with world-renowned academic medical centers, you have an ideal blend of skill and compassion. OUR MATERNITY CENTER STAFF BELIEVES: Birth is one of life s most extraordinary experiences. Responsibility for decisions is shared among patients, families and the health care team. The experiences of our patients and families provide an opportunity for our continuous learning. Our patients and families deserve a safe and trusting environment where they are encouraged to share ideas, express their thoughts, and participate in their care. Lifelong memories are created during your birth experience. SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 3

4 Important information for expecting and new mothers QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS WHEN YOU HAVE A BABY How long may I stay in the hospital after I give birth? The federal Newborn s and Mother s Health Protection Act of 1996 requires that insurers provide coverage for stays of up to 48 hours after a vaginal birth and stays of up to 96 hours after a Cesarean birth. Your care provider may determine a medical reason for a longer stay. For more information If you have questions about your rights when you have a baby, talk to your doctor, nurse, or midwife, or call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at (617) or (800) MISCARRIAGE, PREGNANCY AND EARLY INFANCY LOSS SERVICES South Shore Hospital offers a comprehensive program to support families who have experienced a miscarriage or pregnancy loss. Call (781) for information. THE MATERNITY CENTER 4

5 WHAT FAMILIES AND FRIENDS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PRIVACY OF PATIENT INFORMATION Important information for expecting and new mothers What Is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)? HIPAA is a federal regulation that protects the privacy of your health information as well as that of your baby. It gives you, the patient, more control over and knowledge about who is using or disclosing your information and for what purpose. Notice of Privacy Practices Upon admission to South Shore Hospital, every patient will receive a document called the Notice of Privacy Practices. This notice: Informs you of your rights with regard to your medical information. Discloses South Shore Hospital s privacy practices and responsibilities. Informs you about the uses and disclosures of your information as required by law. Informs you of your right to file a complaint with South Shore Hospital or the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights. Any person may request a copy of this notice. It is available on the South Shore Hospital website (southshorehospital.org), in the patient access services office, or by calling South Shore Hospital s Privacy Officer at (781) What does this mean to my family or friends? Being a family member or friend does not automatically entitle one to information about you or your baby other than that contained in the hospital directory. Your physician, midwife, or nurse may discuss relevant issues with your family or friends as long as you give verbal consent. Confidentiality and privacy are a priority for hospital staff. All information surrounding labor and birth is confidential. Please make your preferences regarding sharing of information known to the staff at South Shore Hospital. Consider appointing one family member to be a liaison or information point person. The staff will honor your decision regarding the amount and nature of information you wish to be shared. Please tell family and friends your individual preferences before your admission. We understand this entire process may cause a slight inconvenience, but it allows South Shore Hospital to better protect the security of your health information and to respect your wishes. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please call the Privacy Officer at (781) SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 5

6 Our maternity services THE MATERNITY TEAM AT SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL There are many members of our maternity team who will care for you: Physicians and midwives will assist you during labor, birth and after delivery. South Shore Hospital s department of obstetrics and gynecology provides 24/7 on-site physician and midwife coverage. Nurses in the Birthing Center provide care, support, coaching, and monitoring during your labor and birth. Anesthesiologists are available on-site 24/7 for assistance with your pain management during labor and birth. Neonatologists (physicians specializing in the care of newborns experiencing complications) are on-site 24/7 should your baby need immediate medical intervention and stabilization. The nursing leadership team includes the director who oversees the birthing center, maternal special care, the maternal-infant unit, the neonatal intensive care unit, the special care nursery, the pediatric unit, the pediatric emergency department; and the nurse managers of each unit. Please see pages 26 and 27 for important phone numbers. Nurses in the mother/infant unit will provide comprehensive care for you and your baby. Pediatricians and pediatric hospitalists care for your baby during your hospital stay and beyond. Lactation specialists, in addition to your maternity nurse, support you with breastfeeding issues. Social workers are available for your emotional support and to advise and assist you by making community referrals as needed. Miscarriage and pregnancy loss coordinators are available if needed to offer resources or support for loss at any stage of pregnancy and early infancy. Patient advocates respond to any patient or visitor concerns or issues. Concierge personnel are a valuable resource for both patients and visitors. They monitor entry into the maternity units and will issue visitor tags to all visitors for security purposes. These tags must be worn and visible at all times. Birth registrars will assure completion of your baby s birth certificate information in compliance with state law. Childbirth educators at South Shore Hospital offer educational programs that are designed to fully inform you about all aspects of labor, birth, and infant parenting. Unit coordinators provide all clerical services. Unit nursing assistants support the professional staff to assure that your hospital stay is as comfortable as possible. Financial counselors are available prior to or during your maternity stay to answer any insurance or financial questions you may have. Volunteers work throughout the hospital, in the gift shops, transporting patients, and in many other capacities. All members of our professional staff are highly skilled in managing both planned circumstances and unanticipated, emergency situations in a caring and compassionate manner. THE MATERNITY CENTER 6

7 Areas of care MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE PROGRAM The Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program at South Shore Hospital is designed specifically for women with high-risk pregnancies. We have the expertise and advanced technology to care for pregnant women with a full spectrum of special needs. The team includes maternal-fetal medicine physicians, a nurse coordinator, ultrasound technicians, and genetic counselors. CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE (CNM) PROGRAM The CNM Program is designed for women with low-risk pregnancies. The certified nurse midwives work with our laborists (OB/GYN physicians who work in the hospital setting only) and the private practices to offer midwifery care to patients in our region. Although there are important differences between obstetricians and midwives, the professions share much common ground and overlap in the knowledge and care of our patients. When it comes to maternity care, our medical and nursing staff s main objective continues to be: delivering the childbirth experience each family envisions, with the health and safety of each maternal/newborn patient being at the forefront of every decision. BIRTHING CENTER OB Prenatal Testing (Triage) Evaluations of many pregnancy-related issues are performed in this area at the direction of your physician/midwife. If you are in labor, you will be transferred to a birthing room. Birthing Rooms We have birthing rooms for labor, birth, and recovery. There are four operating rooms to accommodate Cesarean births. A board-certified/board-eligible obstetrician is in the hospital 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; board-certified anesthesiologists are also on-site 24/7. Tours You may arrange for a tour of our obstetrical unit by calling our concierge services at (781) SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 7

8 Areas of Care MOTHER AND INFANT UNIT While your physical and emotional needs are always of importance and being addressed by our staff, family education is the cornerstone of the care provided in our mother and infant unit after the birth of your baby. We encourage you to keep your baby with you as much as possible during your hospital stay, so that you may feel comfortable caring for your baby when you go home and take advantage of your educational offerings during your stay. MATERNAL SPECIAL CARE UNIT Patients requiring specialized nursing care before or after childbirth are cared for in the maternal special care unit within our mother and infant unit. This unit has ten dedicated, monitored beds. NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT/ SPECIAL CARE NURSERY The Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is designed to care for infants requiring a higher level of medical and nursing care immediately after birth. It is staffed by a neonatologist (physician specializing in the care of complicated newborns) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These physicians are also on staff at Boston Children s Hospital. The special care nursery (SCN) provides care to infants requiring close, continuous observation as their condition improves and preparations for going home begin. The NICU/SCN staff consists of nurses, a clinical nurse specialist, clinical dietician, pediatric pharmacist, respiratory therapists, lactation consultants, and rehabilitation specialists who have received special training in the care of ill or premature babies. THE MATERNITY CENTER 8

9 South Shore Hospital was informed on January 15, 2014, that our Childbirth Education partner Isis Parenting is no longer in operation. As a result, South Shore Hospital has developed a plan to make sure you receive the necessary preparation to welcome your newborn. Childbirth and parenting education South Shore Hospital offers services to support women and their families through pregnancy and birth. Services include childbirth classes, parenting instruction, and breastfeeding support, as well as home health services to ease the transition home. Helpful resources are also available for women and families who experience a pregnancy loss. Our childbirth and infant parenting program offers a wide variety of interesting and useful classes and beneficial support services, including: Breastfeeding Support Group Lactation Clinic New Mom Support Group Pre- and Postnatal Exercise Pediatric CPR Please call (781) for information about our childbirth and infant parenting program. SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 9

10 Preparing for your admission YOUR INSURANCE Prior to your hospital admission, it is important to check with your insurer for coverage details of your maternity benefits. Each insurance provider will have different benefits so we advise that you become informed of them prior to your baby s arrival. After your baby s birth, please be sure to contact your insurer and/or your employer to have your new baby added to your health insurance policy immediately. There is a 30-day time limit to have your child added as a member of your policy, however, it could take six weeks for paperwork to be processed. Once we complete insurance verifications, you will be notified of the co-pay amount. Payment of your co-pay will be required prior to your discharge from the hospital. Financial counselors may visit you during your hospital stay or you may contact them prior to admission should you have specific questions. Please call (781) or (781) for assistance. Remember to complete and mail: Birth Certificate Worksheet FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS If you do not have insurance or have other questions or concerns about financial arrangements, please call our financial counselors at (781) for assistance. If you do not have insurance you may be eligible for financial assistance such as Commonwealth Care, MassHealth or Health Safety Net. Please call (781) for eligibility information and verification requirements. Billing Information The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) also applies to billing information. Refer to page 5 for more information on HIPAA. If at any time you would like us to discuss this information with a family member or friend, you will need to sign an authorization form. This form may be obtained through the Health Information Department (Medical Records) either in person or by calling (781) THE MATERNITY CENTER 10

11 HEALTH CARE PROXY Preparing for your admission South Shore Hospital recognizes our patients rights to name someone they know and trust to make health decisions for them if, for any reason and at any time, they become unable to make or communicate such decisions. These Advanced Medical Directives include a Health Care Proxy, Living Will, and/or Durable Power of Attorney. For more information or to get a copy of a Health Care Proxy, please call our concierge at (781) or visit our website, southshorehospital.org. If at any time you are unable to give consent for your own care, and South Shore Hospital has a copy of your health care proxy, the staff will provide all relevant information to the person named in the proxy. If you have a health care proxy, please give a copy to the nurse upon your admission. If you are unable to give consent, and do not have a health care proxy, the physician, midwife, or nurse will use their best judgement to determine to whom information may be released. ADMISSION When it is time for you to come to the hospital, your physician/midwife may may request that you call them before coming to the hospital. They will then notify us that you are coming which allows our birthing center staff to have paperwork and records ready when you arrive. The Birthing Center is located on the 2nd floor of the Emilson Building. Follow the signs to Maternity on the second floor (use Emilson elevators). The Birthing Center is left off the elevator. From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., you may use our free valet parking at the McKim Family Main Entrance. Volunteers will direct you to the McKim Family Birthing Center. After 8 p.m., please enter through the South/Emergency entrance. CELLULAR PHONES Patients, families, and visitors are requested to put their wireless communication devices in the silent mode in respect of others. SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 11

12 Preparing for your admission SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR LABOR BAG Extra pillows, if desired Hand fan Lip balm Snacks for support person Cards, books, other time-passers Pair of socks Camera (be sure to check batteries) Slippers, nightclothes, bathrobe Change of clothes for support person Reading and writing material Small amount of cash Personal care products (toothbrush, shampoo, hair dryer, etc.) Please do not bring any valuables with you. (wallet, jewelry, purse). We cannot be responsible for lost personal items. SUPPORT PERSONS AND VISITORS DURING LABOR Individual preferences regarding labor and support vary widely. We encourage you to share your wishes with your South Shore Hospital care providers and family. We request that you choose one to three individuals who will support you during labor as well as birth, and share information with your other friends and family as you allow. Your support persons will wear pink wrist bands to identify them to our staff. We request that overnight support people bring appropriate attire (e.g. pajamas, pants, shirts, shoes or slippers) to be respectful of staff, other patients and visitors. Other suggestions for your support people to bring include snacks, change of clothes, small amount of cash, and personal care products. We ask that all other family and visitors wait in our waiting room, dining room or in the Main Lobby, where your support persons can keep them updated. To assure privacy and safety for all patients and visitors on the unit, waiting is not allowed in the hallways outside your birthing room or in unit desk areas. Your family may visit with you approximately one hour and a half after your delivery, which allows us time to provide appropriate nursing care. Should you require a Cesarean birth, you will be transferred from the Birthing Center to our Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Visitors to the PACU are limited. Our nurses can make the determination on whether to allow visiting on an individual basis. No one under 16 is allowed in the PACU. THE MATERNITY CENTER 12

13 YOUR BIRTH EXPERIENCE Your birth experience an overview Each birth is unique and every labor is different. We want you to know that South Shore Hospital staff will assist you in individualizing your labor, birth and postpartum experience. Once you have spoken with your physician/midwife, and you are instructed to come to the hospital, your physician/midwife may notify us that you are on your way. Upon admission to the Birthing Center, the labor nurse will assess your medical and obstetrical history, vital signs and labor pattern, and orient you to the Birthing Center. Fetal monitoring is done intermittently or continuously during your labor to assess the health of your baby. We encourage walking around and/or taking showers to assist in your comfort as your condition allows. Your care team, consisting of physician or midwife and nurses, will monitor your labor carefully and provide support and a variety of comfort measures according to your choices. A board-certified anesthesiologist is always on site to assist you with pain management such as epidurals in labor. Occasionally a family will decide to include an older sibling in the birth experience. Because the birth experience can be unpredictable, we request that you call the Birthing Center, (781) and ask to speak with the Nurse Manager to discuss your plans ahead of time. An adult other than the patient and their support person must always be present to support the sibling. Once the baby is born, he/she will stay with you as long as there are no immediate medical concerns. The staff will dry and assess the baby. Staff encourage skin to skin contact and the opportunity to breastfeed, if you choose. An injection of Vitamin K will be given to assure that his/her blood clots normally. The infant will also have Erythromycin eye ointment applied to each eye to prevent infection after passing through the birth canal. Within a few hours following birth, you will be transferred to a room on the Mother/Infant Unit where you and your baby will be cared for by our experienced Maternity staff. If you are breastfeeding, the staff will assist you with any needs you may have. It is important to take advantage of all opportunities to learn about caring for your new baby while you are here. We encourage and support rooming in with your infant as a way to learn his or her cues and newborn sounds and to begin to establish your routine together. We provide instruction in newborn care, baby baths, breastfeeding, and how to care for yourself. Please ask your nurse what is available to you. PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO RECORDS Photographs during your labor and birth can be important momentos. Videos of the birth are not permitted. The nursing staff will share with you when you may use your camera or camera phone during your experience. The staff may ask you not to photograph at certain times to assure safety and privacy of patients and staff. Photographing or videotaping other patients is not allowed. SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 13

14 Visiting after baby is born MOTHER S CHOICE Our Mother s Choice visiting policy is based upon each new mother s personal needs and wishes. At South Shore Hospital, you determine who visits and when. Often new mothers are exhausted, but too excited to sleep. Many find themselves torn between wanting to entertain visitors and needing time to rest or concentrate on feeding and learning to care for their new baby. You will have the opportunity, in consultation with your nurses, to make a plan for your hospital stay that includes time for rest and recovery, support for infant care and feeding, new parent bonding, and for introducing the newest member of the family to extended family and friends. Please share your desires regarding visitors with our maternity center staff, as well as with your family and friends. We will do our best to honor your requests and help meet both your need for rest and privacy as well as your desire to share your joy with those close to you. While families are important to us, siblings may not visit without a responsible adult and are not allowed to stay overnight at the hospital. We want to assure that you receive adequate rest during your stay. Visiting is restricted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to visitors above the age of 16. The NICU reserves the right to limit sibling visits. We offer a maternity concierge service available from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. to assure that your visiting preferences are respected. Please call the concierge desk (at ext. 4354) with your daily visiting requests. The concierge will call you when your visitors arrive. You may request that no visitors be allowed during a designated time. For visits that are declined, we will provide the opportunity for the visitor to leave a brief note. Family or visitors who have been exposed to or have manifestation of communicable diseases for which the newborn is at particular risk (influenza, cold sores, impetigo, rash, fever, active tuberculosis, acute respiratory disease, as well as vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly measles, mumps, whooping cough, and chicken pox) are not permitted to visit. Massachusetts Department of Public Health Law D NON-SMOKING INSTITUTION South Shore Hospital is committed to providing a healthy, safe environment, free from irritants caused by smoke. There is no smoking permitted by patients or visitors anywhere in the hospital or on the hospital grounds. FAMILY AREA Visitors and supervised siblings are invited to relax in our West Solarium. THE MATERNITY CENTER 14

15 Breastfeeding IF YOU CHOOSE TO BREASTFEED The maternity center at South Shore Hospital, offers extensive educational programs and support services for breastfeeding mothers: A South Shore Hospital warm line phone support for breastfeeding mothers. Follow-up care in our Lactation Clinic with a medical referral. All of our nursing staff are educated to help you establish breastfeeding. Should you require additional support, our lactation consultants are available to provide additional help to you. After discharge, we offer a breastfeeding support group free of charge. Please ask your nurse or call (781) for more information. While we encourage and support breastfeeding as the optimal choice for your baby, we also support a mother's decision to use formula for feeding. We strive to provide education so you can make an informed decision. Breast pump sales and rentals are available at South Shore Hospital through Dartmouth Medical. For more information, please call (781) See the Breast Pump Sales and Rentals pamphlet for additional resources. SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 15

16 Other services FREE EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION AND VIDEO-ON-DEMAND We offer the Newborn Channel in our patient rooms. This is television programming on baby care and postpartum topics, available 24 hours a day. In addition, we offer educational videos that are available for patients through their hospital television. Patients may specify which programs they wish to view and when they wish to view them by using their touchtone bedside phone. Videos relevant to maternity and childbirth include: Baby Basics Newborn Care Breastfeeding Self Breast Exam Epidural Update Prematurely Yours for NICU Families Kangaroo Care for NICU Families More than Baby Blues Postpartum Depression Information Back to Sleep Sleep Positioning Infant Car Seat Safety GM Buckle Up Car Seat Safety for Your Family Raising Readers RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) in infants TELEVISION SERVICE In labor and delivery, TV service is provided free of charge. Once delivered, patients have access to a wide selection of television stations, as well as the opportunity to have daily activation charges for TV and phone service billed to your residential phone service. Among the stations that are available on patient television are USA, Fox Family, NESN, Disney and A&E. Patients may also view the hospital s closed-circuit educational channels. Patients may view current films on their in-room televisions at no cost. You may choose among six films, shown twice each day. TELEPHONE SERVICE Bedside telephone service is free for all incoming calls. There is an one-time $4.25 activation fee, and a $7 daily TV/phone fee, which will be billed directly to your home. TV/phone fees apply for each of the first seven days a patient is in our care; no TV/phone fees are charged after day seven. To make long distance calls, the operator will assist you with call connection and payment. Telephone operators are always available to address patient questions. MEALS Nutritious meals play an important role in your recovery and are of particular importance for breastfeeding mothers. You will receive a restaurant-style menu each day that offers many hot and cold entrees, as well as chef s specials. Kosher and vegetarian meals are also available. WORSHIP South Shore Hospital s Conren Prayer Room offers a place for quiet contemplation and prayer for people of all faiths. The chapel is always open to you, your family, and visitors. Pastoral care staff members are here to address your spiritual needs. Community clergy may visit with parishioners if they know you are in the hospital. THE MATERNITY CENTER 16

17 BIRTH CERTIFICATES Birth certificates and photography services Massachusetts law requires that a birth certificate worksheet be completed prior to your going home. A hospital representative will visit during your stay to obtain information for the worksheet, including the child s name and parents names, their ages, birthplaces, and residence. Medical information, which is required and confidential, is completed by your physician/midwife. South Shore Hospital s birth registrar will send this information to the town clerk s office of your town of residence and to the town of Weymouth. Your baby s birth certificate will be available at the town clerk s office of Weymouth in approximately two weeks and at your town of residence s clerk office in approximately six weeks after this information is submitted. Please complete the Birth Certificate Worksheet provided in the front of this admission package and return it to the hospital as soon as possible. If you need more assistance please call our birth registrar at (781) SOCIAL SECURITY CARD If you would like us to apply for your baby s Social Security card, please check the appropriate place on the birth certificate worksheet, and the request will be automatically submitted with the birth certificate application. Your baby s Social Security card will be mailed directly to you, from the Federal Government, in approximately three to six weeks. WEB PHOTO SERVICES We have photographers on-site that will creatively and professionally capture your baby s first photos. One-of-a-kind keepsakes are available; the official first photo with baby s details imprinted, birth announcements, key chains or specialty birth certificates. Not only will you have an opportunity to order a photo package, you may also place your baby s photo in our web nursery for family and friends to view. Photos can be accessed through the hospital s website: southshorehospital.org. To schedule an appointment, please leave a message at ext Remember to complete and mail: Birth Certificate Worksheet Note: The birth certificate worksheet is found in the front of this book. BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS Some families publicize the birth of their baby in local newspapers. Some families choose not to publicize the birth because they want to protect their privacy and their infant s privacy. South Shore Hospital is not responsible for baby announcements. If you would like to announce the birth of your baby, you must call your local newspaper for information about birth announcements. SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 17

18 Gift shops GIFT SHOPS A gift for you The Friendly Gift Shop is located in our main lobby and is operated by The Friends of South Shore Hospital and is open Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. - 8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. A large selection of infant gifts, novelties, greeting cards, toys, candy, reading material, and disposable cameras are available. The Friends of South Shore Hospital also operates The Cottage Shop, located across from the South entrance on Fogg Road. It is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Sunday (seasonal). Infant and children s clothing, furniture, prints, cards, decorative items, fragrances, Vera Bradley, jewelry, Crabtree, home decor, and more are featured. All proceeds benefit South Shore Hospital patients and their families. Bring this coupon for a discount at The Friendly Shop or The Cottage Shop 10% off any one baby item.* *Cannot be combined, one coupon per customer, excludes prior sales. THE MATERNITY CENTER 18

19 Going home GOING HOME LEAVING THE HOSPITAL Your physician/midwife will discuss with you when you will be going home. Following a vaginal birth, patients usually will go home the second morning after birth. Following a Cesarean birth, patients customarily go home the third or fourth morning after delivery. Written discharge instructions are provided to help you care for yourself and your newborn. If you and your infant are medically stable, you may request an early discharge with your care provider. An early maternity discharge home visit will be offered to you. For information about home care options, please call South Shore Visiting Nurse Association at (781) INFANT CAR SEATS Massachusetts law requires that all babies be transported in an approved safety seat. Infant car seats are to be secured in the back seat of your vehicle, facing the rear. Familiarize yourself with the car seat. Follow the manufacturer s instructions for newborn installation and adjustments. Plan ahead as your child safety seat must be properly installed. Please have this done before your day of discharge. Websites for car seat information and locations where certified car seat technicians are available are: American Academy of Pediatrics, keyword car seat; or The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, SATISFACTION SURVEYS After returning home from the hospital, you may receive a questionnaire asking about your care and our services. Please take a moment to complete and return it so we may continue to serve you better. We take all feedback seriously to enhance our services and to highlight our top performers. If you feel comfortable doing so, please identify your health care provider and nurses on the survey. We strive for 5. If at any time during your stay we are not meeting expectations, please let your nurse manager or patient advocacy know. QUALITY SERVICE At South Shore Hospital, our family-centered care is the primary reason why we ve become the region s choice for maternal care. Our maternity team welcomes questions and comments from patients, their families, and visitors. Comments are used as opportunities to enhance our services. If your needs are not being met to your satisfaction at any time while you are here, please let your nurse know immediately so that we can work to better meet your expectations. SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 19

20 Home Care HOME CARE OPTIONS South Shore Visiting Nurse Association, the home health care division of South Shore Hospital, offers programs to help you care for yourself and your new baby, and gain confidence in your parenting skills. The parent/child health program provides prenatal health care, monitoring, and counseling. After childbirth we can address issues such as breastfeeding, postpartum depression, parenting skills, and infant/child safety. Call South Shore VNA at (781) for more information. Home & Health Resources, the private duty department, is the region s most comprehensive private-duty home care program for mothers and newborns. Our knowledgeable, compassionate professionals are available 24 hours a day to help you care for your newborn when you arrive home. New mothers should consider Home & Health Resources if: this is your first baby you have multiple births you need assistance with other children relatives or friends aren t available for ongoing support you need an uninterrupted night s sleep Private duty home care services provided by Home & Health Resources are generally not covered by health insurance. We invite you to call our office at (781) for more information. Gift certificates are available for Child Care Aide services. THE MATERNITY CENTER 20

21 Newborn screenings NEW ENGLAND NEWBORN SCREENING PROGRAM It is a requirement under Massachusetts law that all newborns be tested for disorders that are believed to be treatable. Testing all babies is important because most babies appear healthy at birth but may have diseases only detected by newborn screening. The purpose of the New England Newborn Screening Program is to test all newborns in Massachusetts for early signs of these diseases. The chance that your baby will have one of these disorders is very small. Newborn screening tests provide an early opportunity to detect certain disorders before symptoms appear. In the rare cases when a disorder is found, early diagnosis and treatment can usually prevent problems associated with these disorders. For the small number of babies who do have one of these diseases, newborn screening can make a lifetime of difference. How are the tests done? At about 48 hours after the birth, or just before you bring your baby home from the hospital, a small blood sample will be taken from the baby s heel. Only a few drops of blood are needed. If testing shows that your baby has signs of one of these treatable diseases, your baby s physician will call you to arrange appropriate follow-up care for your baby. OPTIONAL NEWBORN SCREENING For your benefit, Massachusetts offers optional newborn screening for additional disorders. There is no extra cost and no extra blood required for your baby to participate. Under Massachusetts guidelines for this optional program, after your baby is born, you will be asked whether you want to take advantage of the OPTIONAL NEWBORN SCREENING. If you decide you do not want to participate, your baby will still have all the benefits of routine newborn screening. Most states have specific laws regarding newborn screening. In Massachusetts you may refuse for religious reasons. If you do so, you will be asked to sign a refusal form. This form relieves your physician of liability for damages that result from a disorder that could have been detected by screening. SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 21

22 Newborn screenings NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING At birth, your baby begins an intensive period of development that establishes the basis for lifelong language, thinking, and social skills. The most critical years for development of speech and language are from birth to age three. Because babies must be able to hear in order to speak, undetected and untreated hearing problems can lead to speech and language delays and learning disabilities. Babies who are found to have a hearing loss early and receive intervention services before six months of age have better language, speech and social skills. Early identification and treatment are essential to provide your child with the fullest opportunity for normal development. The Newborn Hearing Screening Program offers a hearing screening test to every baby born at South Shore Hospital. The test is easy, painless and reliable. Your baby's nurse or audiologist will report the screening results to you and arrange appropriate follow-up care if necessary. Most health insurance plans cover the cost of newborn hearing screening. Call your insurance company with any questions. Patients that do not have a health insurance plan that covers the cost of a newborn hearing screening should call (800) for more information. THE MATERNITY CENTER 22

23 Vaccines NEWBORN VACCINES Since January of 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended the routine administration of the Hepatitis B vaccine to all newborns before discharge from the hospital. The vaccine is given in a series of three, with the second and third doses given at two months and six months during your baby s well-child exam. Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver which can cause liver failure, cirrhosis, and also can predispose infected individuals to liver cancer. In Massachusetts, Hepatitis B vaccine is required for child care, kindergarten and seventh grade attendance, as well as all health science students (full-time and part-time, undergraduate and graduate) and freshmen in college. The vaccine currently used by all hospitals is preservative-free and does not contain any mercury-containing preservatives. MATERNAL VACCINES Sometimes the best way to protect your baby is by protecting yourself. You may be asked by your obstetrician about receiving TdaP or seasonal influenza vaccines prior to discharge. Babies whose mothers have received these vaccines have been shown to have a lower risk of contracting whooping cough (pertussis) or influenza. SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 23

24 Obstetrical services The following information is provided to help you become more informed about childbirth at South Shore Hospital. This information complies with state law, which requires hospitals to make obstetrical information available to the public. The numbers by themselves cannot be used to say one hospital is doing a better job than another. If a hospital has less than 500 births a year, just a few births can change the numbers drastically. If a hospital has more high-risk births (those with complications), it may have higher rates of many of the interventions listed. The figures also do not tell you about your own provider s practices. We urge you to discuss all aspects of your care with your own physician/certified nurse midwife. You can ask them if their own practices are similar or different. In this way you can use this information to discuss your choices and wishes for your childbirth experience. We also encourage you to take childbirth preparation classes and to read books about childbirth to learn more about your options regarding the birth of your child. Our goal is to meet your individual needs during your birth experience. STATISTICS AND DEFINITIONS There were 3,409 births at South Shore Hospital from January 2012 to December % Cesarean births: the percentage of all births that were by Cesarean section. A Cesarean birth is when the doctor takes the baby out through the mother s abdomen by surgical operation. 21% Primary Cesarean births: the mother s first Cesarean, regardless of whether she has given birth vaginally before. 17% Repeat Cesarean births: a Cesarean when the mother has had one or more Cesarean births before. 9% Vaginal birth after a Cesarean (VBAC): percentage of mothers who were eligible to attempt VBAC who gave birth vaginally. 100% Labors which were externally monitored: an external monitor is a machine that measures the baby s heart rate and mother s contractions by two belts that are fastened around the mother s abdomen. The heart rate, which can be a sign of the baby s well-being, may also be checked by listening through the mother s abdomen. THE MATERNITY CENTER 24

25 Obstetrical services 9% Annual percentage of births which were both internally and externally monitored. 9% Annual percentage of births delivered by certified nurse-midwives. 18% Labors which were induced: inductions are done when labor is started by artificial means rather than beginning naturally. Usually, a drug called Pitocin is given through an intravenous line in the mother s arm. The membranes (bag of water) may also be broken. 63% Women who received epidural anesthesia: when a drug is injected into the mother s back so she will not feel pain below her breasts or waist, yet she is still awake. It is used in active labor and for Cesarean births. 1% Women who received general anesthesia: when the mother is put to sleep for the birth, necessary for very rare, severe emergencies. 85% Percentage of women breastfeeding on discharge: the percentage of all mothers who are breastfeeding when they go home from the hospital. Breastfeeding, even for a short period, has many health benefits for babies. Annual percentage of births utilizing: 98% Intravenous access and fluids 27% Spinal anesthesia 23% Augmentation of labor 7% Episiotomy less than 1% Forceps 4% Vacuum Assist If you have questions about South Shore Hospital s obstetrical services, please call (781) SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 25

26 Important phone numbers Classes and support groups Lactation Support Warm Line (781) Miscarriage, Pregnancy and Early Loss Support Program (781) Help while in the hospital Concierge (Main Lobby) (781) Maternity Concierge (781) Patient Relations (781) Forms and financial questions Billing Questions (781) Birth Certificate Registrar (781) Financial Arrangements (781) Health Care Proxy Questions (781) Health Information Services (Medical Records) (781) Insurance Questions (781) Help at home Home & Health Resources (781) Maternal/Child Social Workers (781) South Shore Visiting Nurse Association (781) Additional resources Director, Parent/Child Services (781) Nurse Manager, Inpatient Pediatrics/NICU/SCN (781) Nurse Manager, Maternal/Newborn/Lactation (781) Nurse Manager/Birthing Center/Maternal Special Care (781) For more information about South Shore Hospital, visit our website at southshorehospital.org. THE MATERNITY CENTER 26

27 Helpful phone numbers Other Resources Breastfeeding LaLeche League (800) Depression after Delivery (800) 944-4PPD DOVE Domestic Violence Ended (888) Healthy Child Development United Way of Massachusetts Bay (children s school readiness) (617) Insurance Information Institute MassHealth (800) Mass. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (617) Parental Stress Hotline (Parents Helping Parents) (800) Poison Control (800) Product Safety (800) Public Health (617) Smoking Cessation You Can Quit (781) Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (First Candle) (800) WIC (Women, Infants, Children nutrition) (800) Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program (800) SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL 27

28 About South Shore Hospital South Shore Hospital is a charitable, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, regional provider of acute, outpatient, transitional, home health, and hospice care for the 600,000 residents of Southeastern Massachusetts. South Shore Hospital s home health care division, South Shore VNA, includes South Shore Visiting Nurses, Hospice of the South Shore, and Home & Health Resources. South Shore Hospital is a subsidiary of South Shore Health and Educational Corporation. Both are charitable, not-for-profit, tax-exempt organizations, governed by a volunteer board of directors. South Shore Health and Educational Foundation generates philanthropic support for South Shore Hospital and its not-for-profit programs. For the latest information on South Shore Hospital programs and services, call our concierge at (781) or visit our website at southshorehospital.org. For a physician referral call (781) WAYS YOU CAN HELP Friends of South Shore Hospital The Friends of South Shore Hospital is a group of caring, committed volunteers actively engaged in making more health and wellness services available to residents throughout the region. Through its fundraising, volunteering and community outreach activities, this non-profit, all-volunteer organization ensures that top-quality health care remains available to South Shore residents from all walks of life. The Friends of South Shore Hospital is the leading social network for people who are passionate about health and wellness. From purchasing specialized equipment for the neonatal intensive care unit to funding support groups for cancer patients, The Friends plays a vital role in ensuring that South Shore Hospital has the critical resources necessary to provide the community with the most advanced medical care available. In return for their involvement and support, Friends enjoy a deeper connection to South Shore Hospital. Behind-the-scenes tours, conversations with doctors and clinical staff and a host of member benefits assure that Friends appreciate the integral role they play in making South Shore Hospital the community s finest health care facility. To join The Friends or for more information, contact us at (781) or visit the website southshorehospital.org/friends. THE MATERNITY CENTER H-3 28