The Day of Your Delivery

Women who deliver their babies in The Birthplace at Bridgeport Hospital enjoy the benefits of expert clinical care provided by a warm and compassionate staff, in beautiful surroundings.

Labor and Delivery at The Birthplace

Our Labor and Delivery rooms allow patients to labor and deliver in one room and remain there for a short period of time to recover following delivery before they are brought to their postpartum room. Our comfortable private rooms offer many conveniences such as individual climate controls, free TV, wireless access, sophisticated technology, high-tech equipment, a chair that converts to a bed for your birth partner and private, spacious bathrooms with showers. Two of our rooms have Jacuzzi tubs that can be used for pain relief and several rooms have views of Long Island Sound.

Care Partners

The patient can select family members and/or close friends during the admission assessment to visit or stay with her around the clock during childbirth. Care Partners are treated as an active member of the healthcare team and are provided information about the mother directly from healthcare providers. 

Typically, Care Partners act as the family spokesperson and communicate information to other family members. They can accompany mothers to select testing and procedures. They can help with patient care such as personal care, feeding, food selection, walking etc. They have access to kitchen areas, where available, and receive a 15% discount in the Bridgeport Hospital cafeteria and coffee shop. They are also taught skills to provide care to the mother and baby at home.  

Please note: Overnight stays are limited to one Care Partner. 

Visitation

We continue to adjust our visitor policy to reflect optimal patient support balanced with creating a hospital environment that minimizes infection risks. See our Visitation Guidelines for current visitor information.

Nursing Care

In The Birthplace, care is provided by skilled nurses specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, including nurses specially certified by national organizations. All experienced staff and physicians are certified through the National Certification Corporation (NCC) in Electronic Fetal Monitoring.

Labor and Delivery nurses specialize in helping moms give birth. Post partum nurses have experience in caring for moms and babies after delivery.

Pain Relief

Holistic Options

Non-medication forms of pain relieve to help you manage your pain during labor and deliver include:

• Jacuzzi tubs
• Birthing balls
• Breathing techniques
• Music
• SHowers
• Rocking chairs
• Back rubs

Anesthesia

We encourage you to discuss anesthesia options with your obstetrician or an obstetric anesthesiologist, in order to make the choice that is best for you and your baby. Some women may not want any pain relief medication while others may want some. The Birthplace has anesthesiologists available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pain management options we offer include:

• Intravenous or Intramuscular Medication: Your obstetrician or midwife may order a medication to be injected into your intravenous line or your muscle to help reduce anxiety, improve relaxation and lessen, but not eliminate, labor paint. This will help make labor more comfortable, but may make you sleepy.

• Epidural: This is the most common form of anesthesia to make patients comfortable during labor and delivery. Medication is injected below where the spinal cord ends. This will cause a tingling, warm, numb sensation in your abdomen and legs. You stay awake and conscious. Your legs may feel heavier over time and you will not be able to get out of bed. Many women continue to feel a tightening or pressure sensation during contractions, but it is not painful. Your anesthesiologist may allow one family member to be present during the procedure. If you have an epidural during labor, it can also be used for a Cesarean birth, but a stronger medication will be given to you. Your abdomen will become very numb and your legs will feel very heavy. You will feel some pressure during the Cesarean birth, but you will be comfortable.

• Spinal Anesthesia: If you do not have an epidural during labor, the anesthesiologist will inject a spinal anesthesia for your Cesarean birth, which will cause your abdomen to become very numb and your legs to feel very heavy. The medication acts very quickly. You will feel some pressure during the Cesarean birth, but you will be comfortable. Women who choose this option are usually awake during delivery.

• Local Anesthesia: You may receive a local anesthesia injected into the tissue around the birth canal during delivery. This will numb the birth canal and surrounding areas, making you more comfortable.

• General anesthesia (reserved for emergency deliveries), in which you remain unconscious through the delivery.

Labor Lounge

Many mothers find it helpful to walk in the hall during labor. The Labor Lounge, in the center of The Birthplace, is a private, comfortable place to take a break while you're walking.