Planning Your Delivery
Every mother deserves a joyful, comfortable, and safe birthing experience. At Citizens Medical Center, we make your health and peace of mind our top priorities.
Our labor and delivery specialists provide compassionate care and support before, during and after delivery. You will have everything you need for a healthy birth in our dedicated unit for expectant mothers, newborns and families.
You may use the Small Steps Birthing Center entrance and parking lot located on the west side of the hospital. Using this entrance will help you receive immediate care and notify us of your arrival. Please ask your family and visitors to use this entrance, as well.
When to Contact Your Medical Provider Before Delivery
Contact your doctor or nursing staff immediately if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms:
- Swelling of your face or fingers, generalized body swelling, or sudden weight gain
- Severe headache, blurred vision, or seeing spots in your eyes
- Abdominal pain or persistent vomiting
- Chills or fever
- Painful urination
- Vaginal bleeding
- Vaginal discharge or a leakage of fluid
- Change in the activity level of your baby
- Signs of preterm labor (low dull backache, sensation of pelvic pressure, diarrhea, vaginal spotting or bleeding, or watery vaginal discharge)
- Accidental injury
Admissions
Small Steps Birthing Center is located on the southwest side of the hospital. Pregnancy can be confusing and worrisome. If, at any point, you feel you need medical attention, please contact an obstetrical nurse at (785) 462-7511 to let them know you are on your way to the unit. Please bring a photo ID and insurance card with you on every visit to the unit.
What to Bring for Mom
The following items will make your childbirth experience more comfortable and convenient:
- Birthing gown (One can also be provided for you)
- Birthing plan
- Comfortable clothes, socks, and shoes
- Robe and slippers
- Contacts (including case and solution) or glasses
- Hair bands, lip balm, hand lotion, and other toiletries
- Cell phone and cell phone charger
- Camera or video recorder
- Relaxation materials, such as books, magazines, games, or music
What to Bring for Baby
Newborn babies don’t usually need a lot of things while you’re still at the hospital, but the following items may make the first few days easier:
- Baby clothing for the ride home, including socks and a soft cap
- Receiving blanket
- Pacifier, if desired (pacifiers are not recommended until breastfeeding is well-established. As a High 5 designated hospital, we are unable to provide pacifiers.)
- A properly-installed car seat (This is highly recommended and can be achieved by contacting your local sheriff’s department.)
What to Leave at Home
We recommend leaving the following items at home for safekeeping:
- Jewelry
- Large amounts of money or credit cards
- Sentimental or irreplaceable items
What to Expect of the Childbirth Process
- Your delivery room team will include a medical provider, a nurse for mother, a nurse for baby, a respiratory therapist, and other personnel as required.
- Your comfort is of utmost importance to us and as such we will guide you in using conventional comfort measures, such as paced breathing, position changes, walking, warm shower, aromatherapy, and guided imagery. (We highly recommended that you, and any birth coaches you may have, take a childbirth class and practice together at home prior to coming to the hospital for delivery.)
- If necessary and requested, we may use advanced comfort measures such as intravenous medication and epidural anesthesia.
- Your length of hospital stay will depend on delivery type. We will always ensure both mother and newborn are healthy and recovering well from delivery before sending home.
Visits from Family and Friends
- We encourage visitation between the hours of 10:00 am and 8:30 pm daily. Outside of the designated hours will be based on patient preference.
- Please do not plan to visit if you are ill; anyone with symptoms of an illness will not be allowed to visit the mother or baby.
- Siblings of the newborn will be allowed to visit, otherwise, no other children under 12 will be allowed in the Obstetrics unit.
- Quiet time is daily between the hours of 2:00 and 3:30 pm. We request that only one support person and sibling visit during this time in order to promote family bonding and rest. We will make every effort to accommodate patients requests.
- Please wash your hands before entering patient rooms and after exiting.
- Be sure to cover your cough or sneeze in your elbow.
- Please wait approximately two hours post-delivery before visiting, in order to promote family bonding. This is based on patient preference and patient wishes will be honored as requested.