Labor and delivery FAQs

To ensure the privacy and safety of our patients, most locations offer comprehensive virtual tours on their respective hospital webpages. Some locations may offer scheduled in-person group tours. You can check with your specific birth site for their current tour schedule and availability.

We encourage all patients to pre-register for their hospital stay during their second trimester. This ensures that your insurance and personal information are already in our system, making your arrival on the big day much smoother. Pre-registration can typically be completed online through your patient portal or by submitting a paper form provided by your OB/GYN or midwife’s office.

Yes, all Penn Medicine maternity locations offer a variety of childbirth and parenting educational programs to help you prepare for your new arrival. These include childbirth preparation, breastfeeding basics, newborn care, and our Safe Sleep Awareness for Every Well Newborn (SAFE) program. Depending on the location, classes may be offered in-person or virtually. We recommend registering early in your third trimester.

Learn more about our childbirth and parenting classes available.

Most Penn Medicine maternity units have private labor and delivery suites and private postpartum rooms. While we make every effort to ensure every family has a private space, room assignments are based on availability and medical necessity at the time of your admission.

Safety and security are our top priorities. Most locations allow a designated support person to stay with you 24/7. Policies for additional visitors, including siblings and extended family, vary by hospital and current health guidelines. We recommend checking the “Visitor policies and hours” section of your hospital’s location profile for the most up-to-date rules.

Yes, all our hospitals offer dedicated parking for maternity patients. This may include valet services at main entrances or designated self-parking garages. Security is available 24/7 to assist with wayfinding or escorting you from your vehicle if needed.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) defines an early discharge as a stay of 48 hours or less. A very early discharge is a stay of 24 hours or less.

While we understand that you’re looking forward to going home, we want to be sure that you and your baby get the best start possible. We prefer that you both stay in the hospital for at least 36 hours. This allows us to check for any problems as your baby adapts to the outside world. We also want to support your recovery and help you feel well prepared to take care of yourself and your baby once you return home.

Leaving the hospital early (in 48 hours or less) may present clinical concerns and risks that we monitor for during your postpartum stay:

• Breastfeeding success: A major concern with early discharge is that breastfeeding moms may not have enough support. Babies who go home early have been found to have a lower chance of breastfeeding success. Our nurses and lactation specialists can give you extra support while you are in the hospital.
• Weight loss: We expect all babies to lose some weight in the first few days of life, but if the weight loss is too much, your baby is at risk for dehydration and malnutrition. We check your baby’s weight each day. If we find your baby is losing too much weight, our feeding support specialists can offer guidance.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) issues: Most babies will pass their first bowel movement (meconium) in the first 24 hours. If the passage of meconium is delayed, it can be a sign of blockage in the intestine or another GI problem. Your baby must pass meconium before discharge.
• Heart issues: Most heart defects show symptoms in the first 24 hours or are picked up by our pulse oximeter cardiac screen. However, a few heart defects will not appear until the ductus arteriosus (a blood vessel outside the heart) closes. This vessel is needed before your baby is born, allowing blood to bypass the lungs. It usually closes on its own within the first 24 hours after delivery but sometimes closes after 24 hours. When the ductus closes, a previously undetected heart defect may be seen.
• Infections: Babies may get an infection during labor or delivery. Your baby’s risk is higher if your water bag broke more than 12 hours before birth, you had a fever during the baby’s birth, your baby was born before 37 weeks, or you are a carrier of Group B Streptococcus. Most babies with an infection will show signs in the first 24 hours, but some won’t appear ill until 36 to 48 hours. We use a special screening tool that looks at these factors to calculate the risk of infection for your baby.
• Jaundice: Jaundice, a yellow color that appears on a baby’s skin or eyes, is common and caused by an excess of bilirubin in the baby’s blood. Bilirubin naturally rises in the first three to five days of life and then declines, returning to normal levels naturally. If your baby’s level is too high, treatment with phototherapy (a special light) is needed to prevent brain injury. We check your baby’s bilirubin levels each day. If your baby is discharged early, it is possible to miss a significant rise.
• Newborn metabolic screening: Most metabolic screenings are done 24 hours after birth. If we collect a blood sample prior to 24 hours, the chance of finding a significant metabolic problem is compromised. For this reason, we will not discharge a baby less than 24 hours of age.

If you still want to go home in less than 36 hours, the criteria below must be met:

• Your baby’s infection risk assessment is within the normal range.
• Required screenings, including the metabolic blood test and heart (pulse oximetry) screening, have been completed and passed at 24 hours.
• Your baby has had at least one urine and bowel movement.
• The initial hearing screen has been performed with a follow-up scheduled if necessary.
• The bilirubin (jaundice) screening results are in a low-risk zone.
• Your baby’s weight loss is within the expected, healthy range at 24 hours.
• A follow-up visit with your pediatrician has been confirmed for the day after discharge.

Ensuring your baby’s safety during their first trip home is a top priority. Statistics show that a high percentage of car seats—as many as 82 percent— are installed or used incorrectly. To ensure the safest ride possible, we follow strict safety guidelines and require a properly installed car seat for discharge.

The car seat must be rear-facing by law, with a snug harness and an optional blanket instead of bulky clothing underneath. If your baby is born prematurely or has certain medical conditions, our team may perform a “car seat challenge” before discharge, during which we will monitor your baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels while they sit in their car seat for a set period to ensure they can travel safely.

We strongly recommend having your car seat inspected by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) prior to your due date. Most sites require an appointment.

You will receive a souvenir birth certificate from the hospital. Please note that this is not an official legal document and cannot be used for government or identification purposes.

The hospital will collect the necessary information and send it to the state’s Department of Vital Statistics. The official birth certificate will be mailed directly to your home from the state.

You typically do not need to complete separate forms at a Social Security office to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN). When you complete the birth certificate paperwork at the hospital, you can check a box to request a Social Security number for your baby.

Our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) offer personalized breastfeeding support at every stage of your journey, from prenatal preparation to postpartum care. Most of our hospitals are Baby-Friendly® designated, emphasizing immediate skin-to-skin contact and rooming-in to help you get off to a strong start. Whether you need help with latching, milk supply, or equipment fitting, our team provides one-on-one consultations in-person, by phone, or via telehealth. We also offer virtual and in-person classes, support groups, and compassionate guidance on alternative feeding methods like pumping or formula to ensure you and your baby transition well together.

Learn more about our breastfeeding services and classes.

Focus on maximizing skin-to-skin contact and practicing hand expression at every feeding during the first three days to help increase milk supply. It is recommended to avoid bottles and pacifiers for the first three weeks while your supply is being established.

Stress can inhibit the let-down reflex. To help milk flow, try to relax your shoulders, listen to calming music, or look at a photo of your baby. Using a “rice sock” (a clean sock filled with uncooked rice and warmed in the microwave) over your shoulders or breasts can also aid relaxation.

Yes, this is called “cluster feeding” and is very common on the second and third nights after birth. There is no need to limit how long or how often your baby feeds. Letting the baby lead helps your body produce more milk.

Baby-led feeding means watching for early signs of hunger rather than following a strict clock. While newborns may be sleepy in the first 24 hours, they typically nurse 8 to 12 times a day thereafter.

The most effective way to build supply is frequent stimulation. If you are pumping, aim for eight or more sessions in 24 hours (roughly every two to three hours). Using a hospital-grade, double-electric pump for 15 minutes per session is recommended to mimic a baby’s natural feeding pattern.

Smoking, birth control pills containing estrogen (during the first six weeks), decongestants, and antihistamines can all lower your supply.

A proper fit is essential for comfort and milk removal. You have a good fit if:

• Your nipple stretches easily in the flange tunnel.
• Only the nipple is pulled into the flange, not the areola.
• There is no pain, only a tugging sensation.
• Your breast feels empty and soft after pumping.

Supplementation may be recommended if the baby is born preterm, has a birth weight under 5 lbs 5 oz, is jaundiced, or has lost more than 10 percent of their birth weight. Always use your own expressed breast milk first before offering formula.

If a supplement is medically required, you can use a spoon, small cup, or finger-feeding (using a syringe or feeding tube) to avoid breast refusal.

• Nipple soreness: Ensure your baby is facing your breast fully for a deep latch. After feeding, you can massage a drop of colostrum onto the nipple and let it air dry. Purified lanolin or a warm salt solution soak can also provide relief. If pain persists, “pumping to heal” for one to five days allows your nipples to rest while maintaining your supply.
• Tongue-tie: A tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) occurs when the tissue under the baby’s tongue restricts movement, making it hard for them to latch. If it interferes with feeding, a doctor can perform a frenotomy, a quick procedure to release the tissue. Most babies can breastfeed immediately after the procedure.
• Latching issues: Nipple shields are temporary tools used for preterm babies, flat/inverted nipples, or babies who struggle to maintain a latch. It is important to work with a lactation consultant to ensure the baby is getting enough milk and to develop a plan for weaning off the shield.