Women's Health Services | Preparing for Your Maternity Stay

Congratulations on your pregnancy and thank you for choosing Hartford Hospital as your baby’s birthplace.

Selecting A Pediatrician

It is very important to choose your baby’s doctor before coming to the hospital to deliver your baby. Find a pediatrician online or call 1.855.HHC.HERE.

Arrival

Enter Hartford Hospital through the Emergency Department. You will be directed to our labor & Delivery elevators, which will take you to the Labor & Delivery Admissions area on the 6th floor.

Visiting & Parking Guidelines

View our visiting guidelines and parking options.

Parking

You may use our valet parking service located outside our main entrance or our visitor public parking garages – fees apply. Courtesy parking is provided on your day of discharge. 

What to Pack

Pack your suitcase and baby’s bag before you come to the hospital. They can be brought in after you have delivered and are in your room. You are welcome to bring any items you need to keep you comfortable in labor. We will give you a gown in the Labor and Delivery area.

For You:

• Brush/comb
• Deodorant
• Blow dryer*
• Two supportive bras
• Pajamas
• Toiletries (shampoo, soap, lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste)
• Clothes to wear home
• Lip balm
• Your favorite pillow
• Water bottle
• Phone and chargers for electronic devices (free WiFi available)
• Insurance card, driver’s license
• Birth plan
• Music (MP3 player, tablet)
• Headphones
• Eyeglasses
• Flip flops or slippers
• Robe for walking in the hallway
• Watch with second hand to time contractions
• Lollipops, hard candies

For Baby:

• Tee-shirt
• Outfit appropriate for weather
• Lightweight cap/socks
• Lightweight receiving blanket
• In cold weather: a hat, heavy blanket

• Don’t forget the car seat!

Please leave the following at home:

• All jewelry and body piercings
• Large sums of cash
• Credit cards
• Other valuables

*For patient safety, all electrical appliances are subject to a safety inspection by the Hartford Hospital Biomedical Engineering Department.​​

My Birth Wishes

Help prepare for your birth and recovery by usiing the My Birth Wishes form. This will make your wishes known by your care team. Our goal is to keep you and your baby safe. Please bring this form with you to Labor & Delivery.

Skin to Skin

Your baby will be placed on your chest following birth. Skin-to-skin provides numerous health benefits for your baby such as stabilizing body temperature, heart rate, and breathing. Skin-to-skin also helps you bond with your baby and start the first feeding.

Rooming In

Your baby will stay in your room with you following birth. This will allow you to learn your baby’s needs and give your baby warmth, comfort and security. The staff is here to answer your questions and teach you about caring for your baby.

Preparing For Discharge

Obstetrics and pediatrics will be involved in the discharge of you and your baby on the day you go home. Your infant’s car seat must be brought to the postpartum unit on discharge day. Send the majority of your personal items home the day before you leave to expedite the discharge process.

Baby Friendly

Hartford Hospital knows breastfeeding is important for you and your baby. We offer a support group that meets every Wednesday at 11:30AM in the Bliss 6 Day room to answer your feeding questions after discharge.

Services

Virtual Tour
Take a 360º virtual tour of our Special Deliveries Childbirth Center.

Bella Baby Photography
We're proud to partner with Bella Baby Photography to offer parents the opportunity to capture their baby’s first photographs in a professional, artistic style that can easily be shared with family and friends around the country or even the world.

Breastfeeding
The Special Deliveries Childbirth Center supports breastfeeding, and has been designated a Baby-Friendly Facility by Baby-Friendly USA, part of UNICEF’S Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Hartford Hospital is the 28th Baby-Friendly facility in the U.S. and the first in Connecticut.

eLearning Childbirth Education
When traditional childbirth education classes are not a possibility due to bed rest, scheduling conflicts or time constraints, we have a solution

Maternal-Fetal Medicine (Prenatal Testing)
Prenatal Testing focuses on the assessment of your baby through a variety of tests.

Advanced Care for High-Risk Pregnancies
Some mothers and babies need advanced care in utero and soon after delivery. Through the Pediatric Care Alliance, you have access to specialized testing, treatments and teams at the Fetal Care Center at Connecticut Children’s — the only center of its kind in New England.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
The NICU is designed to provide care for premature or critically-ill newborns. The Pediatric Care Alliance brings you Connecticut's most respected healthcare providers, collaborating on next-level NICU and pediatric care.

New Parent E-Newsletter
Sign up for this weekly email newsletter for expectant and new parents.

Newborn Screening
After your baby is born there are several procedures, screenings and tests performed to ensure your baby’s health and safety.

Nitrous Oxide for Comfort in Labor
Hartford Hospital Labor & Delivery now offers moms the option of using nitrous oxide during labor.

Parent Education Classes
Who says babies don't come with instruction manuals? Attend one or more of our parent education classes and you'll be better prepared for that special delivery.

Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in about 10 percent of new mothers. PPD can occur anytime in the first year after birth. Women with PPD often feel inadequate, hopeless and unable to cope with everyday life.

Preparing for Your Maternity Stay
Congratulations on your pregnancy and thank you for choosing Hartford Hospital as your baby’s birthplace.

Links & Resources
Documents, web links, and other resources that expecting and new parents will find useful.