What to Bring to Support You During the Birthing Process
Essentials
Health Insurance info, hospital forms, and birth plan (if you have one)
Two to three pairs of warm, nonskid socks (for walking the halls before
and after labor)
A warm robe or sweater
Two maternity bras (no underwire) and nursing pads (Whether or not you
plan to nurse, you’ll appreciate the support and leak protection.)
Breast pump and supplies
Lip balm
Toiletries and personal items (hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant,
face wash, makeup, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, contact lens case and
solution, etc.)
Eyeglasses
Headband or ponytail holder
Pen and paper
Cell phone and charger and phone numbers of people to call after birth
Camera, film or extra memory card, battery and/or charger
Comfortable “going-home” clothes — either loose-fitting
or six-month maternity size, as well as flat shoes
A gym bag packed with a change of clothes and basic hygiene products for
your partner
Take It or Leave It
Your favorite music to play in the birthing suite
Extra pillow
Bath towel
Hairdryer
Your favorite brand of soap, shampoo, and heavy-flow sanitary pads
A few pairs of maternity underwear
A nightgown
Slippers
Light reading material
Other comfort items, like massage oils, rolling pins, tennis balls, or
inspirational objects
Things to Leave at Home
Any expensive, one-of-a-kind clothes or nighties
Jewelry
Stopwatch (your nurse or a monitor will take care of timing contractions)
What to Bring for Baby
Approved car seat
Coming-home clothes small enough for a newborn
Warm blankets (for the ride home)
A hat, when seasonally appropriate — please remember, babies are
extra sensitive to cold
Delivery Options
In order to make the labor and delivery process more custom to the needs
of mom, we offer a number of birthing options, including:
Birthing balls
Wireless monitoring
Birthing bars
Various pain management techniques
Birthing mirrors
Aromatherapy
The option to play music in the birthing suite
More family present (if mom prefers)
Our focus is to help you make your journey your own. If there’s anything
we can provide to help, please ask.
What to Expect
When you arrive at Shannon, please first check in at the registration desk.
An Admissions Representative will assist you to complete any necessary
paperwork and will direct you to Labor and Delivery for your care. Once
you enter the Labor and Delivery unit, our team will assess your progression
in a triage room and admit you to an LDR suite. Additionally, Cesarean
births take place in one of our two Surgical Delivery Suites located on
the same floor, adjacent to the labor rooms.
We offer labor, delivery, and recovery all in the same ambient birthing
suite. The rooms are comfortable and home-like with areas for family members
to be with patients during labor and delivery. Every ambient birthing
suite is private, and mother and baby are cared for as one. Mothers decide
how many and which people will be present during labor. She can even have
one person with her in the event of a Cesarean section.
Pregnancy and labor are beautiful, natural processes. In most cases, nothing
more than close observation and support is required. However, should any
medical complications arise, our dream team of obstetricians are board-certified
and trained to care for both normal and complicated obstetrical situations.
Our Special Care Nursery staff and pediatricians are skilled at caring
for even the most complex preterm infants. Plus, our anesthetists provide
around-the-clock epidural service to help ensure each patient is as comfortable
as possible.
After delivery, mothers are given a spacious, quiet room that can accommodate
one additional person overnight. Baby is primarily cared for in the room
with mom. We minimize the time mother and baby are separated, but we also
have a nursery to care for healthy babies when mom needs a rest.
We encourage family and friends, including children, to be present as mom
sees fit. Unlike most hospitals, at Shannon, the visiting hours are set by mom.
Our way of caring encourages collaborative decision-making, with women
and their families being active partners during childbearing. We continually
evaluate and revise our services to meet each family’s needs and
expectations. Why? We want to be there for you during this exciting part
of your family’s journey.
Special Care Nursery
If your baby should need more specialized care, our Special Care Nursery
is just steps away. This area is equipped with high-level technology and
certified staff to care for babies with special needs.
The Texas Department of State Health Services designated Shannon as a Level
II Neonatal Facility (Special Care Nursery) in Perinatal Care Region-K.
Shannon was the first level II neonatal unit in Texas to be surveyed by
the Texas EMS Trauma and Acute Care Foundation (TETAF), and one of the
first level II neonatal units to receive designation. As a level II Special
Care Nursery, Shannon will continue to provide the same level of specialty
and intensive care that our patients and families are accustomed to.
The designation comes as a result of legislation passed in 2013 requiring
Texas to establish and implement neonatal and maternal level of care designations
by March 1, 2018, with the intent of ensuring neonatal special care and
intensive care units have the resources and expertise to provide high-quality
patient care that leads to the best outcomes for newborn patients and
their families.
Texas is one of the first states requiring neonatal care units to undergo
a site visit to verify the level of care provided to patients meets the
Neonatal Levels of Care classifications as defined in the Texas Administrative Code.
Anesthesia
Making you as comfortable as possible during your stay is one of our main
priorities. Our anesthetists provide around-the-clock epidural service
to ensure each patient is as comfortable as possible. Our anesthetic services
are under constant supervision and monitored by our professional staff
for all obstetric inpatients.
Rooming In
At Shannon, we give you the option to room-in with your special little
one. While rooming-in, nurses will care for both you and your baby, nurturing
the bonding and attachment happening between you and the newest little
member of your family. Your hospital stay is adjusted to meet the needs
of your entire family. Each morning, your nurses will help map your day
with care that is flexible for each member of your family. The family
can determine how much time the baby spends with them in the room or resting
in the nursery.
Security
At Shannon, the security of mother and her special little one is of the
highest priority. Mother, baby, and a third person designated by the mother
will be banded with identification bracelets for security purposes. The
baby will also have an additional tag in place that will trigger an alarm
if they are taken from the premises prior to discharge.
Security Policy for Shannon Women’s & Children’s Hospital
At Shannon, the safety of each of our patients is extremely important.
We want you to rest and recover in an environment that you can trust is
safe and secure.
General visiting hours for the hospital are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., but
we realize visitors may come to visit outside of those hours. You may
welcome visitors as you see fit.
To ensure the safety of your newborn, your other children, and yourself,
the following security measures will be in place during your hospital stay:
Each of the units in the Shannon Women’s & Children’s Hospital
will be locked 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The main entrances of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital
will lock down from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., seven days a week.
Each family will receive the opportunity to have two family members banded
with identification bracelets for security purposes. These arm bands allow
access to the building and the Pediatrics, Labor & Delivery, and Women’s
Health/Mother-Baby units. The family members wearing the arm bands can
escort their visitors to and from the unit as needed.
We encourage you to inform your potential visitors to contact you before
they plan to visit so you can expect their arrival.
Visitors will have access to the lobby and waiting rooms on each floor.
There is a phone available on the first floor near the vending area if
an unexpected visitor needs to call and ask about visiting you or your family.
Our infant security system will continue to be utilized to further monitor
newborns and infants in the building.
Celebration Meal
Do you dream of celebrating your happiness with your partner over a nice
dinner in your own private suite? At Shannon, Mom and a guest are treated
to a Celebration Meal after the arrival of their little dream. A special
menu will be delivered to the room and Mom and her guest can choose their
meal and specify delivery for lunch or dinner.
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