Family Birthing Center FAQ
Visiting Policy for Labor and Delivery and Mother Baby Units
Visiting is allowed 24 hours a day to the support people you choose. Your support people will get a bracelet. Please notice: Visiting rules are different on each unit.
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Labor and Delivery Triage area (2 East) – When you arrive in the Triage Unit, you can choose one (1) support person to stay at your bedside. Your chosen support person cannot be changed during your stay in triage, for your safety and privacy.
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Labor and Delivery (2 East) – You can choose two (2) support people to attend your labor, delivery, and recovery. These are the only visitors allowed in your room. Your chosen support people will get a bracelet, and they must wear it while you are in labor and delivery.
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Mother Baby – You can choose one (1) support person per stay who is allowed overnight. Visitors and siblings (to the new baby) can visit from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. No more than four (4) people can be in the room at any one time.
Please Notice: Visitor information is subject to change.
What to Expect
As you get closer to or past your pregnancy due date, your doctor and you may plan to induce labor. Inducing labor means using medicine or other medical methods to put you in labor. Your doctor or office staff will call our Family Birthing Center scheduler for a date and time for you to arrive at the hospital. The Family Birthing Center asks that you call (559) 624-6701 two hours before your scheduled admission and ask the charge nurse for bed availability.
Please remember the following rules about photos as you get ready to visit the hospital:
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Cameras, cellphones, and video cameras are allowed but may not be used during the actual vaginal delivery or cesarean section procedure. Pictures/videos are allowed after birth when your doctor or nursing staff says your baby is stable.
Labor Comfort Choices
We encourage patients to take steps to help with labor. The following choices can help with your labor comfort:
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Labor Support Person: We encourage you to choose someone to support you through the labor process, as part of your plan of care. If your chosen person gets overwhelmed or stressed out during your labor, the nursing staff will be there to help you.
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Intravenous (IV) Medication: Pain medication, also called opiates, is considered the first option after natural methods for pain relief. Opiates are given in small doses, usually during the early stages of labor. Opiates help to lessen the pain. Opiates can help lower anxiety and improve your ability to cope with painful contractions.
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Epidural: There are many medications available to women during labor and childbirth. However, some pain relief choices may be unavailable due to your pre-existing medical conditions or stage of labor. Our anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) can provide you with an epidural, which is the most common anesthesia with the fewest side effects. This may cause some loss of feeling in the lower areas of your body, but you remain awake and alert. The medication is provided continuously to minimize your pain.
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Yoga Balls and Squat Bars: We have both yoga balls (also called birthing balls) and squat bars to help you during labor. Both yoga balls and squat bars provide options to move and change positions during labor, which can increase comfort, promote progress, and potentially lead to better birth outcomes.
Pre-Baby Checklist
Pre-Registration
We suggest that you pre-register for hospital admission before your eighth month of pregnancy. Pre-registering for your hospital visit simplifies checking in, when you might be in labor and uncomfortable. You can pre-register online at KaweahHealth.org/Preregister.
To register for prenatal classes, visit KaweahHealth.org/BirthingClasses to register. There is registration cost per couple. You should sign up for classes by your fifth or sixth month of pregnancy. Your goal is to complete the classes 5-6 weeks before your due date. Some classes are only offered every other month. In the class, you will have the chance to ask any questions about your stay and what to expect during your labor and postpartum times.
Sign up online at KaweahHealth.org/BreastfeedingClass for a free class with a lactation specialist. This class is designed for new parents and their support people. It will provide information on the benefits of breastfeeding and how to do it. You will learn about breastfeeding positions, establishing a good milk supply, proper latching techniques, knowing when your baby is getting enough to eat, and pumping and storing breastmilk.
Car Seats
All infants discharged from Kaweah Health must be in a federally-approved car seat per California law. Make sure the car seat you choose is approved. Kaweah Health's team of licensed child passenger seat technicians offers free checks. This appointment can take up to an hour. For the safety of your child, have your car seat checked before your delivery date. To make an appointment, call 559-802-7520.
Labor and Delivery
When it is time to have your baby, you can trust your birthing team. Your team includes your doctor or certified nurse midwife (CNM), labor and delivery registered nurse specialist, nursing assistant, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) or anesthesiologists.
Other Services Available
We observe the golden hour of bonding after birth, where you will spend time bonding with your baby skin-to-skin. The initial breastfeeding latch often occurs in the first hour after birth.
Cord blood banking is the process of collecting and storing your baby’s umbilical cord blood stem cells for potential medical use for the treatment of genetic disease, blood disorders and a wide range of cancers. There are a variety of companies that process cord blood for banking. The company you choose will provide you with a cord blood banking kit, so make sure you bring this kit with you when you are admitted to the hospital. The Family Birthing Center staff and your obstetrician will collect all items needed for your kit following delivery.
Cesarean Sections (C-sections)
If you have had a previous C-section, your obstetrician may determine that you need to schedule another c-section or participate in a trial of labor. If you are planning a c-section delivery, your obstetrician's office will call the Family Birthing Center and schedule your first time (primary) or repeat C-section.
Our scheduling office staff will call you the day prior to your scheduled surgery and provide you with the following instructions:
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No liquids, water, or food by mouth after midnight.
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Shower the night before and the morning of your surgery. It is recommended you use an antibacterial soap such as Dial, but any soap that has antibacterial on the label is acceptable.
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Arrive at the Family Birthing Center two hours before your scheduled C-section.
Overnight Bag
Before your labor begins, have a bag packed so you are ready when it’s time to go to the hospital. We suggest pacing the following items:
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Camera
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Hair care products
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Cellphone charger
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Nursing bra
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Glasses (if you wear contacts)
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Shoes/slippers
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Nutritious snacks for designated visitors
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Robe
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Lip balm (for labor)
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Going home outfit for mom and baby
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Lollipops (for labor)
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Makeup
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Toothbrush and toothpaste
Reasons to come to the hospital
Come into Labor and Delivery if you have any of the following:
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A sudden gush or ongoing trickle of fluid (blood or water) from the vagina. Please note the color of the fluid and the time leakage started.
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Regular contractions that increase in intensity.
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Any bright red vaginal bleeding, especially any bright red bleeding that resembles a menstrual period or greater in amount. You may have spotting if you had a vaginal exam.
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Any sharp, constant pain in the abdomen especially if occurring with bleeding.
Signs and Symptoms Associated with High Blood Pressure
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Severe/persistent headaches
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Visual disturbances (blurred vision, flashes of light, see spots)
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Upper right side abdominal pain (epigastric pain)
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Nausea and/or vomiting
Urinary Tract Infection Signs/Symptoms
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Pain with urination
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Urinary frequency and urgency
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Lower back pain
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Lower abdominal pressure
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Temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
If you notice a decrease in your baby’s fetal movement:
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Eat a light meal
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Lie on your side and count movements. Any movement counts.
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You can stop once you feel ten movements. This process should not take more than two hours.
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If your baby doesn't move ten times in two hours, or if you are worried, contact your doctor or midwife, or come to the hospital.
Selecting a pediatrician
Your baby will need to follow up with a pediatrician within one to two days of discharge. It is necessary to have selected a pediatrician before you go home, and we strongly suggest that you select one before coming to the hospital.
If you have any questions, please call 624-5300.
Contact us
If you have questions about Kaweah Health’s Family Birthing Center, please contact us at one of the numbers below:
Labor and Delivery Nurse Manager
Phone: (559) 624-5314
Mother Baby Nurse Manager
Phone: (559) 624-2186
Director Maternal Child Health
Phone: (559) 624-5338
