The labor and delivery suite at Johns Hopkins Bayview.

The expert team at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center provide compassionate care through labor, delivery and beyond.

Becoming a Mother

Once you arrive at Johns Hopkins Bayview, our labor and delivery nurses are with you and your labor coach every step of the way.

You will deliver in a private labor and delivery room (LDR). Here, mothers and their care partners stay in one room to labor, deliver and bond with their newborns during the initial period after delivery. Each LDR room has a television and seating area, and is connected to a bathroom and shower.

Once your baby is born, you will stay in a postpartum room, designed for the special needs of new mothers and their babies. Our family-centered approach encourages baby "rooming in" so you and your newborn can get to know each other. For your little one's safety, the Medical Center has a security system which you will learn about upon admission.

As you recover and bond, our nurses teach you how to care for your newborn. You'll learn about:

• Feeding
• Bathing
• Changing diapers
• Umbilical cord care
• How to take a temperature
• How to use a bulb syringe when baby's nose is congested
• Circumcision care, if you chose this for your baby

You'll have an opportunity to ask questions about your baby so that you are better prepared once you return home. If you choose to breastfeed, our lactation consultant (breastfeeding expert) can answer your questions and provide support. Just as important, you can use this time to discuss the extraordinary change in your life.

Newborn Care after Delivery

Nurse cares for premature baby in the neonatal intensive care unit.

During the first few hours after your baby's birth, specially trained caregivers perform a thorough examination, called a Newborn Assessment. Your baby is examined from head to toe. Your baby's temperature is monitored and your care team checks vital signs such as heart and respiratory rates. Your baby will also receive his or her first sponge bath. In addition, you can take comfort in knowing that pediatricians and neonatologists are available around the clock.

Babies who need specialized attention because of premature birth or medical conditions are lovingly cared for in our state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A regional leader, Johns Hopkins Bayview's NICU has sophisticated equipment and the most modern technological advances to treat infants. Parents can visit anytime and are encouraged to gently touch and caress their baby. This support helps infants grow and thrive.

Continuing Support for New Moms and Babies

Having a new baby is a monumental adjustment, but one that brings its own set of special rewards.

Questions don't stop once you leave the hospital. For many moms, that's precisely when questions begin. That's why Johns Hopkins Bayview continues caring for new mothers, even when they return home.

• Six week follow-up: For your health, be sure to schedule a six week follow-up visit with your obstetrician to ensure that your recovery is progressing well.
• Lactation support: Our lactation expert will contact you to assist with breastfeeding or baby care issues.
• Pediatrician: If you need a pediatrician, we can help you find one at the Children's Medical Practice at Johns Hopkins Bayview.

Our Multidisciplinary Care Approach

Bringing new life into the world is an honor. Doctors, certified nurse midwives and nurses agree that with this honor comes a responsibility to provide the highest standards of care, using sophisticated technology and expertise. This is the reason each member of our medical team constantly takes the initiative to learn more through earning board certifications, achieving advanced professional training and mastering state-of-the-art equipment.

Combined Expertise

This expertise, which spans many medical disciplines, means comprehensive care for all expectant moms. It also means exacting attention, including extensive monitoring, frequent scheduled appointments and a personalized care plan, for the healthiest outcomes possible. If the need arises, our doctors and nurses have the knowledge to help tiny babies in the NICU breathe independently earlier, learn to eat sooner, and grow faster. Complementing this care, the obstetrical staff knows the importance of touch, whether through a reassuring hug for an anxious mother or by encouraging parents to caress their newborn.