If you have scheduled a maternity stay, you can now complete the hospital pre-registration process online! Start by gathering relevant primary and secondary insurance information, the guarantor's personal and employment specifics, and emergency contact numbers.

After logging in, click Pre-Register > Pre-Register for My Delivery. Get started.

Where to Park

The Center for Women is located on North Bonnie Brae Street, to the east of the main hospital building. There is free parking in front of the building. To the right of the entrance are designated short-term parking spots.

Where to Check-In

Labor and Delivery is located in The Center for Women. Moms arriving for labor should enter through the center’s front door, which is accessible 24 hours a day. Once inside, go to the Information Desk, and they can direct you to the appropriate location. Even if you have preregistered, you will have some paperwork to complete when you arrive.

What to Bring With You to Labor and Delivery

When packing a labor bag include your photo ID, insurance information and any items to occupy you and your partner during labor. You do not need to bring your luggage or car seat to the labor room.

Specific Types of Births

If you are hoping to have a natural birth or a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), tell the nurse as you are escorted to your room. Labor and Delivery has birthing and peanut balls available for use during labor, please let the nurse know if you need one.

We are here to help you have the birth experience that best fits your wishes and needs.

What’s in Your Labor and Delivery Room

Our spacious Labor and Delivery suites can comfortably accommodate you and your birthing family. Each suite includes:

• Flat-screen TV’s with a USB port for your streaming devices
• Free internet access
• Rocking chair
• Recliner
• Individual, full-size bathroom
• Temperature control for your suite

Labor Support Tools

Texas Health Denton has birthing balls, peanut balls and labor bars for use during labor and invites you to bring other labor-support tools. When you arrive at Labor and Delivery, please notify your nurse if you would like to use one of them.

Make Yourself at Home

This is your birth experience, and we want you to be comfortable. Feel free to bring labor support tools, your own birth gown, music players, essential oils and diffusers for aromatherapy, pillows, blankets, etc.

Birth Plans

If you have a birth plan, please share it with your nurse when you arrive at your labor room. You do not have to create one. We will try to follow your wishes as long as they do not interfere with the health and safety of you or the baby.

Texas Health Denton takes a family-centered approach to childbirth. We encourage the full participation of your designated support person.

Visitors During Labor

The entrance to The Center for Women is kept under constant video surveillance. Family and friends will need to ring the bell at the entrance to be let into the unit. For the security of patients and hospital personnel, we ask that visitors observe the following rules:

• Visitors may be screened for fever or other signs of acute illness or the protection of the mom and the new baby
• Healthy children may visit the Labor and Delivery unit
• Visitors should stay in one of the two waiting rooms when not in the room with the new mom

Visitors During Birth

• Two visitors may be present in the delivery room during a vaginal delivery.
• Only one visitor may be present in the operating room during a cesarean section.

If You Want Visitors Limited

The unit is locked and visitors must be buzzed in. Tell your nurse if you would like to limit visitors to your room.

Waiting Lounges

Two waiting areas are located outside Labor and Delivery and offer complimentary coffee, comfortable seating and phone charging stations. In additional, the Vibe Fresh Market waiting area, located in Labor and Delivery, offers quick self-serve food 24-hours a day.

Documenting this special occasion is important for many of our families. Cameras and video recorders are allowed with the following conditions:

• Your medical provider and any nurses or providers in the room must consent to the video or photography.
• The individual recording the birth must sign the hospital’s Photographer/Videographer Agreement.
• The individual must obtain permission to photograph or videotape any hospital staff before doing so.
• Video or photography can begin only when allowed by the physician or hospital staff.
• Only hand-held devices are allowed in Labor and Delivery (no tripods).

Please note that the physician or nurse may require the individual to stop photographing or videotaping at any time.

There is no medical “best choice for managing pain during labor. Everyone has different pain thresholds. Instead, it’s a question of what makes the most sense for you and your partner.

Pain Management Options at Texas Health Denton

If you find that you want additional pain management during labor, the options available at Texas Health Denton include:

• IV medication
• Epidurals
• Nitrous oxide

The nurses will also assist with additional pain relief methods such as massage, changing positions, breathing, etc.

Learn more about pain management options.

Doulas

Expectant parents often find it helpful to have the support of a doula.

Doulas are trained in providing emotional and physical support and helping women to carry out their birth plans. Doulas can be hired sometime during the pregnancy.

Before Your Cesarean Birth

If you are having a scheduled cesarean at Texas Health Denton, please remember the following:

• Do not eat or drink at least eight hours before the procedure or the procedure may be rescheduled, possibly to another day

After check-in, you will be prepared approximately two hours prior to the procedure. While visitors are allowed, you will be occupied with tests during this time.

Scheduled Cesarean Births

When you arrive, tell the admissions staff you are there for a scheduled procedure. You will be taken to your room, where you will remain for approximately two hours. During this time, the nurses will monitor the baby and the physician who will administer your anesthesia will visit to discuss your options. Before the surgery, your support partner will change into an operating room attire. A camera or phone may be brought into the operating room.

Typically, two physicians, two nurses, an anesthesiologist and a certified surgery technician are in the operating room. One adult visitor may be in the operating room during the surgery, as long as there are no safety concerns.

Gentle Cesarean Birth

For expectant moms who need a C-section, Texas Health Denton offers a gentle cesarean. This type of cesarean aims to create a birth experience that is similar to a vaginal delivery. Your nurse can give more details if you are interested in this type of experience.

What to Expect During and After

Typically, you will be in the operating room for about one hour. After the surgery you will be moved to a recovery room with your baby and support person. You will remain in recovery for approximately two hours. If there are no safety concerns, you will have skin-to-skin time with your newborn to establish the first feeding.

The Golden Hour

The first hour after birth is called the golden hour, when we allow only mom, baby and one support person in the room to promote rest and relaxation.

Skin to Skin

As soon as possible after birth, nurses will place your baby skin to skin for at least an hour to allow time for the first feeding. Skin-to-skin time helps your newborn stay warm, stabilizes blood-sugar levels and is considered good for all babies.

Baby’s First Examination

After the first hour, your newborn will be examined in your birth room, which will allow your family to be part of the baby’s first exam and measurement.

Your Pediatrician is Notified

After the birth, we will notify your pediatrician that you have delivered your baby. If you do not have a preselected pediatrician or one with privileges at the hospital, your baby will be seen by the on-call pediatrician.

Transition to Mother and Baby Care

You and your baby will remain in Labor and Delivery for about two hours before transfer to the room where you will stay throughout your visit.

How Long You Will Stay

Typically, you will be discharged between 24 and 48 hours after a vaginal delivery. For a cesarean, you can be discharged between 48 and 72 hours after surgery. Exceptions exist for shorter and longer hospital stays, if desired or needed. Talk with your nurse about when you hope to be discharged.

Get Up and Walk

Within six hours of your birth, your nurse will help you to get out of bed to walk around. Walking will improve your circulation and prevent blood clots.

Pain Management During Your Stay

We encourage you to be proactive about your pain management while you are at Texas Health Denton. If you experience discomfort, please let your nurse know as soon as possible so she can discuss your pain options with you.

You Will Be Visited Hourly

Your nurses or the patient care assistants will check on you about every hour. If you would like less frequent visitations, just let the nurse know.

When Mom Can Eat

After an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, a mom can eat as soon as she desires. After a cesarean birth, a nurse will offer liquids and within six hours you will be eating regular food.

Baby’s Screenings and Procedures

During your hospital stay, your baby will be examined by a pediatrician every day. If your pediatrician has privileges at the hospital, they or someone from their practice, will visit you daily. If your pediatrician is not on the medical staff, you will be visited by an on-call pediatrician. In addition, your newborn will have several tests that may include:

• Blood screen (age 24 hours)
• Hearing screen
• Jaundice
• Heart screen (age 24 hours)
• Car-seat screen (when applicable)

Circumcision

Circumcision for a boy infant may be completed during the hospital stay, if desired. Your baby is returned to you typically within an hour of the procedure.

Where Baby Will Stay

Texas Health Denton works to minimize separation of moms and babies. We encourage moms to keep their babies in their hospital rooms (including nighttime), a practice called rooming-in. Even your baby's evaluations and examinations may take place in your room. Moms also have an opportunity to learn their baby's cues with personnel nearby to answer questions and provide education. With support and guidance from experienced nurses, parents gain the skills needed to confidently care for their babies, in the comfort of their hospital rooms.

Outside of Quiet Time, visiting hours are not restricted.

Quiet Time is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Texas Health Denton has Quiet Time daily from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Quiet Time allows parents to bond and rest with their newborns without outside visitor interactions. During this time, there will not be unnecessary interruptions by personnel; however, nurses and physicians will still enter as needed.

Your Mother and Baby Room

The Center for Women is as inviting as the family and friends that surround you. Each spacious room comfortably accommodates families during their hospital stay and includes:

• Flat-screen TV with an outlet for a USB port for streaming device
• Free internet access
• Rocking chair
• Couch that converts into a comfortable twin bed
• Individual, full-size bathroom
• Temperature control for your room

During your hospital stay, a coordinator will contact you to complete the necessary paperwork to record your baby’s birth. You will be given documentation that can be sent to your insurance company.

Texas Health does not keep a copy of the birth certificate or Social Security information.

Get more information on requesting your child’s birth certificate or social security information.

During your hospital stay, your nurse will be the primary contact for breastfeeding education. Certified lactation consultants are also available seven days a week to provide one-on-one assistance in the privacy of your room. Speak to a lactation consultant by calling 940-898-7142.

Breast Pump Rentals

Breast pumps are available to rent through our lactation support services. Speak to a lactation consultant by calling 940-898-7142.

Even if your doctor says you are ready to go home, there is still a process that needs to be completed for your safety and security.

Things to Discuss with Your Family

Are you ready and do you have the things you need before going home? Discuss these questions with your family (If you have questions or concerns, please talk with your nurse):

• When do I think I will be going home (day and time)?
• How am I getting home?
• Who will help me at home?
• Do I have the supplies I need?

Steps That Happen on Discharge Day

Before you go home, the following must be completed:

• Your baby’s heart screening and newborn screening test were completed at age 24 hours
• Your OB/GYN has visited and said you can go home
• The pediatrician has visited and said your baby can go home
• You rented a breast pump, if desired
• Your prescriptions have been ordered or sent to your pharmacy
• You have reviewed your medications with a nurse
• A nurse or technician has brought a wheelchair to take you to your car

Location

Each high-risk mom-to-be has a private room inside the Labor and Delivery department, where she receives specialized care from nurses trained in high-risk pregnancies.

What’s in Your Room

The Center for Women offers long-term stays in hotel-like surroundings with room service dining. Each mom-to-be has a private room designed to provide comfort and convenience. Each room includes:

• Flat-screen TV with a USB port for streaming devices
• Free internet access
• Rocking chair
• Couch that converts into a comfortable twin bed
• Individual, full-size bathroom
• Temperature control for your room

Visiting Hours

Visiting hours are open. However, we ask visitors to be aware of the needs of moms to rest and relax while they await the birthing process.

While staying in The Center for Women, you will be cared for by an experienced multidisciplinary team that includes:

• Board-certified maternal-fetal specialists on the medical staff
• Neonatal physicians on the medical staff
• Patient care managers
• Dietitians
• Pastoral care
• Social services

The team will work closely with your obstetrician, if needed, to assist with managing your prenatal care.

Texas Health Denton wants to help each mom-to-be have an enjoyable long-term stay. While a guest, the following services are available:

• Space provided for baby showers
• Room service for mom
• Personalized tours of the NICU (if desired)
• Online childbirth education classes
• Crafting activities

If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you or your baby might be at increased risk of health problems before, during or after delivery.

Learn more about navigating a high-risk pregnancy and what it means for your care.