Having a Baby at UPMC Horizon

Thank you for choosing UPMC Horizon Birth Place. Childbirth is one of life’s most intimate and rewarding experiences, and our staff is poised to create the most joyous and memorable experience possible as you and your family welcome your new arrival into the world.

We are proud to have Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC as a partner in our commitment to provide the best care available to mothers and their babies. Our nurses have received advanced education at Magee to ensure that you and your baby are in the hands of experts.

Before the Birth of Your Baby

The months preceding the birth of your baby are filled with excitement, anticipation, and sometimes a bit of apprehension. To help you plan for your new arrival and to provide information about pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the care of your newborn, the Birth Place's nursing staff invites expectant parents to attend a variety of educational classes.

If you need a well-trained, knowledgeable obstetrician, contact Magee-Womens Specialty Services at UPMC Horizon at 724-981-8070.

Birth Place

Birth Place is located on the second floor of our Shenango Valley campus. To get to Birth Place, take the lobby elevator to the second floor. Birth Place is secured 24 hours a day for the safety and privacy of our mothers and babies. When you arrive at the unit please ring the door bell at the entrance and our staff will admit you to the unit.

Patient rooms

Our rooms are designed as labor, delivery, and recovery(LDR) rooms, which offer advanced medical technology with a home-like setting. If you are having a traditional delivery, you will deliver your baby in one of our LDR rooms. After your delivery and recovery, you will be transferred to our postpartum unit.

Visitors

As a new mother, you will likely have many visitors during your stay at Birth Place. Your baby’s father may visit at any time. Other guests are welcome to visit between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

We suggest these limited visiting hours to allow adequate time for you to recover, relax, and bond with your new baby. Children must be at least five years old to visit, unless they are your baby’s siblings. Please ask all visitors to wash their hands before they touch or hold your baby.

A waiting room is available for your visitors near the Birth Place entrance and is accessible from the main hospital corridor on the second floor.

Gifts and Flowers

Your visitors may purchase gifts and flowers at the Hospitality Shop in the hospital lobby.

What to Expect

What to bring

When packing for your hospital stay, you may want to consider bringing the following items:

Several pairs of pajamas or nightgowns
A robe and slippers
Toiletry items (soap, shampoo, makeup, etc.)
Eyeglasses and contact lens supplies
Ponytail holders (if you have long hair)
A comfortable outfit to wear home
Lip balm to keep your lips moist during labor
A small, battery-operated fan to keep you cool during labor
Your favorite pillow
A weather-appropriate outfit for the baby to wear home
Snacks for your support person
A camera

Please leave all jewelry and other valuables at home. The hospital is not responsible for anything that may be lost or stolen.

Admissions

When you come to the hospital, please enter through the Emergency Department. You will then be directed to the labor and delivery area of Birth Place, where your labor will be evaluated. You will be connected to two monitors — one to track the baby’s heartbeat and one to record your contractions.

If the evaluation determines that you are in active labor, you will be placed in one of our labor and delivery rooms.

Delivery and recovery

Immediately after delivery, you and your baby, along with a support person of your choice, will remain in the labor and delivery room, where you will be closely monitored for approximately one to two hours. You will then be transferred to our postpartum unit. Your baby may remain with you throughout your stay as long as he or she is healthy.

Caring for your newborn

Within the first hour of birth, your baby will receive a Vitamin K injection and antibiotic ointment in the eyes to prevent infection. Your baby also will receive a hearing test, a metabolic screening, and will be checked for jaundice.

As long as your baby is healthy, he or she may remain with you in your room throughout your stay. At your request, your baby may be returned to the nursery at any time.

A pediatrician will examine your baby within 24 hours of birth and every day through your day of discharge. If you have not already chosen your baby’s pediatrician, the pediatrician on call will perform the examinations. Neonatal nurse practitioners are also available to examine your baby.

Our nurses will educate you about feeding your baby, whether you choose to breastfeed or bottle feed. Certified lactation consultants are available to educate and assist you with breastfeeding. Our nurses also will provide live demonstrations on how to diaper and bathe your baby.

Going home

You will remain in the hospital for approximately two to three days, depending on whether you had a traditional delivery or a Cesarean section. Your physician or midwife will determine when you are physically ready to go home.

All babies must leave the hospital in approved infant car seats. Please bring your car seat into the unit before discharge so our nurses can check it for any recalls.

Your baby should also have a weather-appropriate outfit to wear at time of discharge.