Helping You Through Every Stage
From the moment you discover you are pregnant to the day you head home with your newborn, there is so much to do in preparation for the arrival of your newest family member. We've pulled together some details on what you can expect before, during, and after your labor and delivery at the August Family Birth Place.
Preparing for Birth
If your contractions are getting, "longer, stronger, and closer together," it's time to head to the hospital. Typically, that is when your contractions are 5 minutes apart, are lasting for 1 minute each, and have been that way for an hour or longer.
Please call your OB or midwife if you have questions or think you may be in labor.
The August Family Birth Place is located within Unity Hospital at 1555 Long Pond Road, Rochester, NY 14626.
Between the hours of 8:00AM and 8:00PM, please park in Parking Lot G and enter through the Unity Hospital Main Entrance.
Between the hours of 8:00PM and 8:00AM, please park in Parking Lot D and enter through door #3. You will be screened by the Aiphone to gain access to the building.
Parking is free for all patients and visitors.
Delivery
We empower our patients to make their labor and delivery experience their own, and encourage them to create and discuss their birth plan with their physician or midwife before admission. Some women choose to bring personal items from home, such as their own pillows or special music to help create a more relaxing environment. For your comfort, we also have an on-site whirlpool tub and many anesthesia options to choose from, including nitrous oxide and epidural anesthesia, should you want them.
If you require, or requested, a cesarean delivery, you will be attended to in one of our operating rooms, and then brought in to a traditional recovery room to recover with your newborn and family after your procedure. We are ready and willing to support your birth goals.
Labor and delivery support looks different for each person. Significant others, family friends, parents, doulas–they are all accepted and welcomed at the August Family Birth Place.
During times of enhanced infection prevention protocols (flu and COVID-19 seasons), the number of support persons allowed in during delivery may be limited. Please check the current Visitor Restrictions for more information.
Recovery & Newborn Care
Visitation policies are subject to change, especially during COVID-19 and flu season. Please call ahead or view our Visitor Restrictions for information on current visitation policies. All visitors will need to show their photo ID.
Parking is free for all patients and visitors. Visitors should park in Visitor Parking (Lot G) and use the main entrance.
Whenever possible, we encourage the golden hour of skin-to-skin contact after your baby is born, and support the practice of delayed cord-clamping.
As a Baby-Friendly hospital, we adhere to and promote the World Health Organization's initiative to support a mother's choice to breastfeed, and we practice "rooming-in," where the baby is kept in a hospital-supplied bassinet by the side of the mother's bed. Additionally, we have internationally certified nurse lactation consultants on staff ready to assist new moms in all aspects of breastfeeding.
Pediatrics on Site
All newborns will receive a general physical exam within 24 hours of birth to check their appearance and vital signs.
Should your baby require additional attention or special care, we have a Level II Special Care Nursery on site with neonatologists and pediatricians available 24 hours a day.
Testing & Evaluations
As required by New York State, all newborns receive a series of health screening tests, including a blood test (taken from a small prick on your baby's heel) that screens for over 30 different disorders, a hearing test, a screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease, a blood sugar screening, and a screening for jaundice. New York State also mandates the use of erythromycin eye ointment after birth to protect against potential serious eye infections and a vitamin K injection to reduce the risk of Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB). The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that all newborns receive the first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. If you have any questions or concerns about these screenings or medications, please discuss them with your family's pediatrician or family doctor.
Going Home
On the morning of your discharge, a member of our staff will check in with you and ensure that your newborn has had all of his or her screenings, and will go over some final paperwork with you, including insurance documents, birth certificate paperwork, and your child's application for Social Security. They will also make sure you've made your first appointment with your child's pediatrician, and can assist you with any question you may have about securing your child in his or her care seat safely.
New York State law requires that all babies leaving the hospital go home in an infant car seat. Please make sure you have the appropriate care seat prior to coming to the hospital so when the time comes, you are ready to leave with your newborn safely.
It is recommended that all newborns see their pediatrician sometime within the first 3 to 5 days after birth. Before you leave the hospital, you will need to call your child's pediatrician to make his or her first appointment. If you have not yet selected a pediatrician for you child, we recommend doing so as soon as possible. Find a pediatrician close to home!
Staff from our social work department are also available to help coordinate home care, if necessary, and can put you in touch with community agencies which provide support services to patients.