Labor and Delivery FAQs

Your provider can help you understand when it is time to go to labor and delivery based on your pregnancy and symptoms. If you think you may be in labor, your water breaks, you have regular, stronger contractions, notice less movement from your baby, or have heavy bleeding or significant pain, contact your provider or seek care right away.

It can help to bring personal items for your stay, such as toiletries, comfortable clothing, your ID and insurance card, phone chargers, important documents, and items you may want for your baby after delivery. Planning ahead and packing a hospital bag before your due date can make your stay more comfortable.

When you arrive, your care team will check you in, assess your symptoms and review your pregnancy information. You may spend time in a triage area where your vital signs and your baby’s heart rate are monitored, and your cervix may be checked to see if you are in active labor. Your team will then discuss the next steps and support you throughout labor, delivery and recovery.

In many hospitals, a support person is welcome to stay with you during labor and delivery to provide comfort and encouragement. Your care team can explain who can be at your bedside, when they can be present and how they can support you during your stay.

Visitor policies for labor and delivery can vary by hospital and may change over time, so it’s important to check the most current information before you arrive. Guidelines often address how many visitors are allowed, visiting hours, age requirements for visitors, and any health or safety restrictions. Your care team or the hospital visitor information page can share the most up-to-date visitor guidelines for this location.

Pain management during labor may include options such as breathing and relaxation techniques, labor positioning and movement, IV medications, and regional anesthesia like an epidural. The options that are right for you depend on your health, pregnancy and birth plan, and your care team can explain what is available at this hospital.

Labor and delivery can be different for every pregnancy, and plans sometimes need to change. If your care needs change during labor, your care team will explain what is happening, discuss options such as assisted delivery or Cesarean birth if needed, and recommend the safest next steps for you and your baby.

Recovery time after delivery can vary based on your health, your baby’s needs and the type of birth you have. In general, hospital stays are often shorter after uncomplicated vaginal births and longer after Cesarean births or when extra monitoring is needed. Your care team will talk with you about what to expect for your situation.

After delivery, your care team will continue to monitor you and your baby and support your recovery. You will receive guidance on topics such as pain control, feeding your baby, safe sleep and postpartum warning signs, as well as instructions for follow-up visits before you go home.