We would like to extend our congratulations to you on your pregnancy!. We look forward to providing care to you an your family before, during your labor & birth, and recovery.

The Maternal Health Services program at Southern Maryland Hospital Center is designed to make your pregnancy and birthing experience as good as it can be, with…

• Private patient rooms when available
• Free tours of the maternal child health unit
• Educational classes at all stages of parenthood:
  • prenatal child birth classes
  • the First Year of Life class, including infant CPR
  • breastfeeding class
  • sibling class for the expecting brother or sister
  • car seat safety checks
  • prenatal massage therapy
  • 12-week parenting class
  • mallwalkers program to exercise after your baby arrives
• Level II special care nursery
• Secure unit for your baby’s safety

The Maternal Child Health Department (MCH) offers

• Labor/delivery/recovery (LDR) rooms
• Two L&D operating rooms 
• An antenatal testing unit (ATU)
• An antenatal triage area,
• A Level II nursery as well as a regular nursery
• A postpartum unit consisting of single-room maternity care

The MCH unit continuously provides normal and high-risk antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, intra-operative, postoperative and newborn care for the Departments of Obstetrics and Newborn. We have 24 hour in-house obstetrical, pediatric and anesthesia coverage, as well as 24-hour neonatology coverage.

Our friendly staff is committed to bringing you and your family current, safe and state-of-the-art medical care. The beautifully decorated LDRs provide a comfortable environment throughout the birthing process. For more information about classes, tours, and our maternity services, please call us at (301) 877-5740.

Women's Health Services

SMHC provides three convenient locations – in Waldorf, Fort Washington and Clinton – designated for women’s health.

The OB/GYN doctors and staff at the Women’s Health Centers meet the health care needs of women at all stages of life. From adolescence to mature adults, the Women’s Health Centers provide the care you need in a warm and friendly environment.

• Adult And Adolescent Gynecology
• Reproductive Health
• Contraception
• Laparoscopic And Endoscopic Procedures
• Menstrual Abnormalities
• Menopause
• Family Planning
• Preventive Care And Patient Education

New patients are welcomed and most insurance plans are accepted. Call for an appointment at any one of the following locations:

Affiliated with Southern Maryland Hospital Center

Women's Health Centers of Southern Maryland
4225 Altamont Place Suite 101
White Plains, Maryland 20695
(301) 870-9900

Women's Health Centers of Southern Maryland
950 E. Swann Creek Road
Fort Washington, Maryland 20744
(301) 292-0236

Why should I take classes?
The classes we offer prepare you and your coach for the childbirth experience, discussing the labor process, options, teaching you ways to relax and how your coach can be helpful. We also have classes in breastfeeding and a “First Year of life” class discussing infant care & safety.

Should I take a tour?
A tour is beneficial in showing you the overall unit as well as going over specifics regarding entrances to use, etc. The Maternal Child Health Unit Tour is held on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month. Meet in the hospital solarium promptly at 6:15 p.m. Registration is not necessary.

If I have other children, what do I need to plan for before going into labor?
Remember to make child care arrangements for when your labor begins (back-up plans can be helpful). Also remember to make transportation arrangements to and from the hospital.

How and where do I preregister?
At the hospital admitting office, located in the lobby near the front desk. Hours are 6:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.

When in labor do I need to go through Admissions?
The admitting office is open from 6:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. Please stop there and they will escort you to L&D, after 11 p.m. you need to register in the Emergency Room (ER). The main hospital entrance closes at 8 p.m. After that time, you need to use the Emergency Room entrance.

What are my options for pain management?
You will be provided with a wide range of option for pain management. These include breathing & relation techniques, position changes, IV medication, and epidural anesthesia. What route you take for pain management will depend on your labor, the baby, how far along you are in labor, your health, and the decision you and your health careprovider have agreed on.

Do I have to have an IV (intravenous infusion)?
An IV is used during the labor process as a way to give you hydration and medications, and provides a route to access your venous system in an emergency.

Can I have my delivery videotaped?
Videotaping is not permitted during any procedure, including delivery. It is okay to videotape the mother & infant after delivery on the postpartum unit. You will need to discuss with your nurse and physician when it is okay to videotape. Still pictures are permitted with physician’s permission. Please refrain from taking pictures of others, including staff, patients and babies without permission. To ensure the safety of our newborns, no video or picture taking is allowed through nursery windows.

Nursery
What level nursery do you have?
We have a “Level II Special Care” nursery and a regular newborn nursery. For those infants who require prolonged intensive care, we provide stabilization and/or safe transport to a higher-level neonatal care unit.

What type of infant security do you have?
We take an aggressive approach to protect the infants in our unit. This includes education for parents and staff, training, staff identification, security monitors with a locked door entry system, and an infant ID system. At the time of delivery, infant, mother and significant other are banded with infant bracelets. Infants can only be removed from the nursery by the mother and/or the significant other wearing the proper identification bracelet. On admission to the nursery, the infant is again banded with a security band. Infants are not allowed off the unit unless accompanied by identified personnel. During your stay you will receive detailed instructions and constant support to help you remain alert to potential abductors. If you feel something is “not right” about an individual, please notify a staff member as soon as possible. Never leave your infant in the room unattended.

Do you offer breast feeding support?
Yes, all of our maternal child nurses have received special advanced training in breastfeeding support. We also have Board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLC) on staff to assist with breastfeeding if needed. Breastfeeding classes are also available.

Do I have to have a pediatrician before I deliver?
It is encouraged that you choose a pediatrician before you deliver. Our physician referral number is 301-877-4536.

Can I keep my baby in the room with me?
Yes, we encourage our mothers to keep their babies in the room with them as often as they want under approved supervision. However, our nursery is open 24 hours a day and our nursery nurses are more than willing to keep your baby any time you might want to get some rest.

Visitors

How many visitors can I have in L&D?
We are open 24 hours a day but have a visitation policy to ensure the safety of our newborns. We do not have set visiting hours in L&D. Each patient is encouraged to have a support person to stay with her during her labor, delivery and recovery experience. An additional support person (friend/family) member is also permitted. Other family and friends are asked to wait in the family waiting room. All children remaining in the waiting room must have an adult in attendance at all times. Children under the age of six are not permitted in L&D.

Can my children be present for the delivery?
This is something to discuss with your physician and the Head Nurse of L&D. It will depend on the age of the child and circumstances at the time of delivery. This enables your healthcare team to review what to expect and establish a plan of care.

After I deliver, what are the visiting hours?
Visiting hours for anyone other than the significant other, are from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Siblings may also visit during that time. No other children under the age of 12 may visit. The father of the baby or significant other may visit 24 hours a day if the patient is in a single room. Please be considerate and limit your visitors. YOUR children may visit you and your new baby once you get to the postpartum unit. They must be free of communicable diseases.

While in the hospital…

Can I use my cell phone while on your unit?
No. Due to the sensitive equipment used to monitor our infants & mothers, cell phones must be turned off while in the hospital. Please utilize the phone provided by your bed or the pay phones in the waiting room. If family or friends need to use their cell phones, please have them go outside of the hospital.

Where is the cafeteria and what are the hours?
The cafeteria is located on the ground floor and the hours are as follows: Breakfast is 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.; Lunch is 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Dinner is 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Breakfast is not served on Saturday and Sunday. The cafeteria also has vending machines available 24 hours a day.

Can I smoke in the hospital?
No, there is no smoking in the hospital. Southern Maryland Hospital Center is a 'smoke free'
campus. We strongly encourage you not to smoke around your newborn.

Discharge

How soon can I go home?
Each patient is unique, so discuss your discharge plans with your doctor and your infant’s doctor. We encourage you to plan for an 11 a.m. discharge time. If you have a vaginal birth, usually your stay is 24-48 hours. Cesarean section deliveries usually go home in 48-96 hours. Our infants are generally discharged in 24-48 hours. We recommend that you check with your insurance provider before your expected date of delivery to verify your hospitalization benefits.

Does my baby have to go home in a car seat?
Yes, upon discharge, all parents are informed of the need for infants to be discharged in a properly fitting car seat. This is a Maryland State Law. We have certified infant car seat technicians to check your car seat and installation, by appointment.