WELCOME & Congratulations
From Our Family To Yours

A STAR IS BORN
Baby Recognition Program

To Labor, Delivery, Recovery Suites

Maternity Hours

Our Experience Is Your Peace of Mind

It's your baby. Of course you want the very best.

That's why you should know that our Nursery, Labor, and Delivery nurses average decades of experience right here at Huntington Hospital!   Each has assisted in thousands of deliveries. Most are specially certified in neonatal and life support pro­grams. They've seen it all.   Isn't it reassuring to know that all this experience is ready and waiting when the time comes to deliver your baby?

There's more too! A neonatologist is on duty 24 hours a day and is required to be present at all Cesarean sections. The full resources of the hospital can spring into action instantly if the need arises.  Beyond this, we offer our maternity patients a full range of instructional classes, all aimed toward making the birth of your child the rich and rewarding experience it should be. We want you to feel relaxed and at home, to feel the warmth and friendliness that has long been our hall­mark.  But most of all, we want you to feel the confidence that comes from knowing that you're in the best possible hands for the most important time of your life.

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Your Reservation

We wish all of our families to know that we will hold your reservation in strict confidence. Your name or the fact that you have made a hospital reservation will not be divulged to any person.

When your baby is born, his/her footprints and your index fingerprint will be recorded. This, together with special I.D. bands for you, your baby, and your baby's father, assures positive identification. Huntington Hospital has in place, a state-of-the-art infant security system.

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Let Us Know You Are Coming

If possible, telephone the Admitting Office at the hospital, (631) 351-2243, as soon as your doctor tells you that the time has come for you to go to the hospital. Your doctor may do this for you, but it will be most helpful to have you do it also. We will then be expecting and prepared for your arrival.  

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What to Bring With You 

You will want the articles on the following list while in the hospital. It would be a great help to us if you do not bring them at the time of admission, but rather have them ready at home in a small suitcase so that they may be brought in when you are assigned to a specific room. Patients are in the recovery room for approximately one hour after delivery.

	Personal hygiene articles. Electric hair dryers, curling appliances, etc., are permissible provided they are in good repair with no damaged wiring.
	Robe and slippers.
	Nightgowns and under garments. The hospital furnishes gowns, but many patients prefer to bring their own.
	Two brassieres. If you plan to nurse your baby, bring nursing bras.
	Clothing for baby to wear when he or she goes home.
	You may, if you wish, keep a pocketbook containing cosmetics, toothbrush, etc., in the labor room. Fathers/coaches who plan to stay may bring a "Lamaze Goody Bag" to the labor room.
	Infant carseat for day of discharge, as required by law.

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Family Centered Care

In our efforts to promote family centered maternity care, Huntington Hospital offers rooming-in to all who would like to participate in the program.

	Infants cared for in the rooming-in program will be brought to mothers at 9:00 a.m. They will remain with mothers until 9:30 p.m. with the exception of general visiting hours.
	All infants will be brought to mothers for feeding during night hours.
	Parents, grandparents, infant's siblings, and staff will be permitted to handle your infant. Instructions for hand washing will be provided to those who wish to assist in the care or feeding of the infant during feeding times.
	Patients being delivered by Cesarean section may participate in this program when their postoperative recovery permits them to do so.
	Never leave your baby unattended.
	24-hour rooming-in is available on request under the following conditions:
		If the patient arranges for a private room or the patient's roommate has also requested 24-hour rooming-in.
		If the infant is physiologically stable and the mother is physically able to participate.

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Labor and Delivery Suite
On arrival, depending on the status of your labor, you will be asked to go to the Admitting Office where you will recheck your personal information to ensure that our record is complete.  

If your labor is too active at the time of admittance, you and the baby's father will be taken immediately to the labor room where you will stay until time for delivery. The father/coach may stay in the labor and delivery room, unless he/she is asked to leave by the doctor or nurse.

Friends and family may wait for the arrival of your baby in the general waiting area in the Main Lobby.

Your Valuables
Please do not bring jewelry or valuables with you. They can easily become lost during necessary transfers from the labor/delivery room to the room where you will stay after delivery. The hospital cannot assume responsibility for them.

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Neonatologists

A specially trained neonatologist is on duty 24 hours a day and is required to be present during all Cesarean sections. The neonatal unit at Huntington Hospital is a state-of-the-art facility designed to handle emergency care for premature and high-risk infants or those with congenital problems.

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Visiting and Room Information

Room Accommodations After Delivery
A majority of the rooms on the postpartum unit are semi-private rooms, accommodating two patients. Private rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis at an additional charge which is not covered by insurance carriers. Your request for one of these rooms CAN ONLY be made at the time of your admission. Your preference will be honored, if possible. However, your care and service will be identical regardless of your room accommodations.

Extended Visiting Policy-Fathers/Significant Others

At the discretion of the nurse in charge, all visitation may be limited. We ask for your cooperation on these rare, emergent situations.

Infant Sibling/Grandparent Visitation Guidelines

As part of our family-centered care philosophy, we encourage visitation of the newborn by its siblings and grandparents. Below are the guidelines for sibling visitation. Please read and comply with these guidelines to ensure the health and safety of your newborn.

• NO child or any visitor with a fever or symptoms of a communicable illness, including upper respiratory infection, diarrhea, or any skin rash or lesions will be permitted to visit.

• NO child or any visitor who has been recently exposed to a known communicable disease (e.g. chicken pox) or any other viral illness will be permitted to visit.

• The visiting sibling will visit only his or her sibling. Throughout the visit, sibling activity will be supervised by the parents/grandparents and limited to mother's room. Siblings will not be permitted to enter the Nursery. It is suggested that sibling visits be limited to one hour in length.

• Parents, siblings, and grandparents MUST WASH THEIR HANDS prior to handling the newborn. Since most infections are transmitted by hand contact, good hand washing is essential!

• Children under 12 years, who are not siblings, will not be allowed to visit the Maternity Unit. (Siblings are the brothers and sisters.)

General Visiting

To promote the needed rest after childbirth, to provide time for educational opportunities, and to ensure safety and security, general visiting is limited to 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day for all other family members and friends. In preparation for general visiting hours, your infant will be picked up from your room and brought back to the nursery at approximately 6:15 p.m. Infant viewing outside the nursery for general visiting takes place from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

INFANT SIBLING/GRANDPARENT VISITATION:
12 NOON TO 5 PM

GENERAL VISITING:
6:30 PM TO 8:00 PM

Telephone Calls
Due to patient confidentiality, while you are in labor no information pertaining to your condition will be provided by telephone. However, a telephone is available to you or your husband/coach to keep family members apprised of how things are progressing.

Following the birth of your child, please request that your family and friends not telephone during baby's scheduled feeding times. You will be quite busy during these periods, and patients have found that calls during these hours are very inconvenient. If you are bothered by telephone calls, you may advise our switchboard of the problem and request their assistance.

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Infant Hearing Screening

Huntington Hospital provides free-of-charge newborn infant hearing screening for every baby born in our hospital. The advanced state-of-the-art equipment used for our newborn hearing screening program was made possible by a generous gift in loving memory of HARVEY H. GORDON by his wife Rosalyn, a trustee of Huntington Hospital.

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Other

Beauty Service
Bedside beauty service is available for you. Appointment or information can be obtained by phoning the reception desk, extension 2681, or extension 2680. There is a charge for this service.

TV Service
Television service is available in your room for an additional charge. Please call extension 2379 to make the necessary arrangement. The "Newborn Channel," our special Maternity Education channel is offered free to our patients.  In addition, a movie channel is available.

Diaper Service

As no solicitation by diaper service representatives is permitted in the hospital, any arrangements you may care to make for such service should be made in advance of your hospitalization.

Social Services

Our Department of Social Services is available to assist you if you have a special need that can't be addressed by your physician or nurse.

Discharge Time
The usual discharge time is 11:00 a.m. New York State Law requires that infants be transported in a state-approved car seat. Please be sure that your vehicle is properly equipped. If circumstances prevent you from meeting this requirement, please ask the nursery charge nurse (extension 2346) for assistance. In addition, please bring weather-appropriate clothing in which to transport your newborn.

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Instructional Classes

"Preparing for Parenthood"
These classes are offered free-of-charge to all Huntington Hospital Maternity patients. New parents are especially encouraged to attend. Experienced parents are invited to "refresh" themselves as they prepare for another birth experience. All are welcome to participate, ask questions, and get ready for parenting.

Classes available are:
Class 1 - Prenatal Care
Class 2 - Preparing for Baby
Class 3 - Newborn Infant Care
Class 4 - Labor, Delivery, & Postpartum Care

Sibling Class
Our Sibling Class is scheduled throughout the month. The children will tour the Nursery and Maternity Units. They will enjoy a fun class while being instructed on expected behavior. Our own informative book will be distributed. Parents are encouraged to have their children attend.

Contact the nursery at (631) 351-2346 after 12:00 noon to register.

Breast-feeding Class
Our Breast-feeding Class is scheduled once a month and should be attended in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Mothers are encouraged to attend with their partner and/or support person. Appropriate literature and recommended reading will be distributed at the class. For further information, please contact (631) 351-2358.

Mother's Postpartum and Newborn Care Classes

During your stay in the hospital, mother's postpartum and newborn care classes are offered by the hospital staff, either in groups or on a one-to-one basis at the bedside. You will be advised of the times of these classes on the Maternity Unit so that you may arrange to attend if you desire to do so.

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Post-Discharge Classes / Support Group

Breast-feeding Support Group
Huntington Hospital welcomes breast-feeding mothers and babies to meet new moms, share their breast-feeding experiences, and enhance their  knowledge. Call (631) 351-2358 to register.

Infant Massage
This four-session parent/baby course is offered for parents and their babies ages three weeks to crawling. Parents learn about the benefits of nurturing touch in addition to step-by-step massage and relaxation techniques. There is a one-time fee for the four-session program. Registration following discharge. Call (631) 351-2362 to register.

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Your Hospital Bill

Your hospital bill is based on charges for the services provided during your stay.

Numerous insurance policies and managed care plans, including HMO's, provide full or partial benefits for your stay. It is your responsibility to check your policy and know what benefits you have. Most insurance plans cover charges for both the mother and baby. However, any charges not covered are your responsibility.

Hospital bills do not include the services of obstetricians, pediatricians, neonatologists, anesthesiologists, or physicians. These services will be billed separately to your insurance carrier or you, depending on coverage. Patients covered by insurance should bring their insurance identification cards with them when they come to the hospital.

If you do not have health coverage, you are expected to make payment arrangements prior to admission by contacting our Credit Manager at (631) 351-2233. The Credit Manager will also assist you if you cannot afford to pay your bill.

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Let Us Have Your Comments

Your feelings are important to us. We would be very interested in knowing your reaction to the service you receive. After discharge, you will be sent a special form which requests your comments and suggestions. Please take the time to fill out this form and return it to us.

Tours of our entire department are given on Saturdays, beginning at 11 a.m. Registration is required. You are encouraged to contact our Maternity Nurse Manager at (631) 351-2356 to arrange for a tour of the unit.

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January 2009