Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Statement Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To see our full nondiscrimination statement, click here.

Campus Construction Update

Starting September 14, we’re closing the Menino building lobby entrance. This, along with the ongoing Yawkey building entrance closure, will help us bring you an even better campus experience that matches the exceptional care you've come to expect. Please enter the Menino and Yawkey buildings through the Moakley building, and make sure to leave extra time to get to your appointment. Thank you for your patience. 

Click here to learn more about our campus redesign. 

We are honored to be part of this important occasion in your family’s life. Below is information that will help you and your new baby have the best stay possible in the Postpartum Unit.

Skin-to-Skin Contact

Your baby will be placed skin-to-skin with you right after birth.

  • If you have a vaginal birth, and there are no complications, your baby will be placed directly on your chest after delivery. They will remain there until the first breastfeed or for an hour for the formula-feeding mother.
  • If you have a Cesarean birth, and there are no complications, your baby will be placed skin-to-skin with you as soon as you are stable and alert, usually in the recovery room. We also encourage skin-to-skin holding with the father or other labor support person.

Skin-to-skin contact is important for all babies because it helps with bonding, keeps your baby warm, keeps your baby’s blood sugar in a normal range, and gets breastfeeding off to a great start. Babies who are held this way also cry less. Skin-to-skin holding allows your baby a gentle entry into the world and assists your baby to progress through a number of amazing developmental skills.

After birth, you and your baby will be transferred from the Labor and Delivery Unit to a private room in the beautiful Postpartum Unit. The same nurse who is taking care of you will also be taking care of your baby.

Your baby will stay in the room with you. This is known as rooming-in and will help you to get to know your baby under the watchful care of our highly trained staff. We will teach you about safe skin-to-skin holding and safe sleep.

Examinations and tests for the baby will be done in your room, including the hepatitis B shot, newborn metabolic screen (blood test obtained from the heel), bilirubin test (blood test obtained from the heel), hearing screen, and heart screen.

Visiting Hours

Visiting hours on the Postpartum Unit end at 8 p.m. every day. Your support person is encouraged to stay with you. We are sorry, but no children can stay overnight.

So you can rest, quiet time is observed every day from 2-4 p.m. Please share this information with your family and visitors so they can arrange their visit around this time.

Your baby’s first bath will be delayed for at least 12-24 hours. This will allow your baby to stay warm and the blood sugar to stabilize.

Infant Feeding

All maternity staff are familiar with our infant feeding policy and have received training to help carry out the policy.

If your choice is to breastfeed your baby:

  • You will be provided support from our highly trained maternity staff.
  • Lactation consultants are available to offer their expert services.
  • The Postpartum Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can offer pasteurized human donor milk if needed.
  • Your baby will not routinely receive pacifiers.

If your choice is to formula feed your baby:

  • You will be provided instructions about safe preparation and feeding of infant formula.
  • You will be taught paced bottle-feeding.

We will refer you to parenting and feeding support groups upon discharge.

As a Baby-Friendly hospital, BMC follows the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes (the Code). The infant formula, bottles and nipples that we use are purchased at fair market value.

Other Important Information

If needed, your nurse will be happy to complete your WIC form. In addition, our staff will assist you in completing the birth certificate application.

Please make plans to bring in a car seat a day prior to discharge.

Please think about where you would like your baby to be seen for the first check-up. That appointment will be scheduled for when your baby is three to five days old.

Our goal is for discharge to occur by 11 a.m. Please arrange for transportation.