Labor and delivery at Pennsylvania Hospital

In 1765, Pennsylvania Hospital was the first U.S. hospital to deliver a baby. Over the last 250 years, families have continued to trust us with their labor and delivery care. Now, we welcome over 5,000 babies yearly, caring for individuals with routine and high-risk pregnancies.

We’ve earned many distinctions recognizing our commitment to excellent, patient-centered care for new parents and their babies. We were the first hospital in the area to receive a Perinatal Care Certification from The Joint Commission. We’re also a Magnet® hospital for excellence in nursing care.

At Pennsylvania Hospital, our team of compassionate obstetrics and maternity care providers surrounds you with support as you bring your baby into the world. Your labor and delivery team may include:

• Advanced practice providers
• Anesthesiologists
• Certified nurse midwives
• International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs)
• Maternal-fetal medicine providers for high-risk pregnancies
• Nurses
• OB/GYNs

Virtual tour of labor and delivery at Pennsylvania Hospital

You’ll spend the first hour after birth snuggling skin-to-skin with your baby, helping them adjust to life outside your womb. After this uninterrupted time, we take you to a private room in our parent-baby unit where you can continue to bond with your newborn.

You and your baby stay in a postpartum recovery room for two to four days. The room includes sleeping accommodations for a support person, cable TV, a private bathroom, and storage for personal items.

Pennsylvania Hospital has around-the-clock security, and only registered visitors and staff have access to your room. You can rest assured that your safety is a top priority during your stay with us.

Education and guidance

Nurses support your postpartum recovery and teach you how to care for your baby. From bathing and dressing to feeding and sleeping, we help you get to know your baby and meet their needs. As a designated Baby-Friendly Hospital, our IBCLCs and maternity nurses offer comprehensive breastfeeding support.

During your stay, you participate in our SAFE sleep program. A maternity nurse explains safe newborn sleep practices, which includes placing your baby in their crib alone, on their back, on a firm surface, with nothing else in their crib.

Before discharge, your OB/GYN or nurse midwife gives you instructions for caring for yourself and your baby. We listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and ensure you feel good about taking your newborn home.

Care for medically fragile newborns

If your infant is born prematurely or with a medical condition, they receive advanced care in our 50-bed Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)—the largest in the region. Ours is the only NICU in the state to hold a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Neonatal specialists from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) collaborate with providers and clinical staff at Pennsylvania Hospital to provide comprehensive care to newborns with special needs.

To support your family and help your baby recover, we offer specialized services and amenities, including:

• AngelEye technology, which allows you to see live video of your baby and receive communication from care team members
• Family lounge area
• Lactation consultations
• Overnight room for families in certain circumstances
• Private lactation rooms
• Social and psychological support