Planning for a new baby is an exciting and special time for any family.
The maternity team at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital makes every effort to provide expectant parents with a comfortable, family-centred environment for the birth of every baby.
Our highly trained registered nurses and nurse midwives will be available to assist you every step of the way, through labour and delivery to post-partum care for you and your newborn.
In order to provide quality care and ensure your birthing experience goes smoothly, we suggest families plan ahead and follow these guidelines.
If you have questions, please contact us at 239-2016.
Contact the Admitting Department
In order for us to be prepared when you are ready to be admitted, please call the Admitting Office at 239-1446 after 9am at least three months prior to your baby’s due date.
You will need to provide your current address, insurance information, physician’s name and the date of your last menstrual cycle.
This will prevent delays when you need to be admitted to deliver your baby.
Don’t forget to inform your family doctor or paediatrician about your expected due date, so you have a healthcare provider in place to care for your baby after delivery.
Upon discharge you will be required to sign for both you and your baby so the correct information is transferred to your insurance company for payment.
Post-delivery accommodations are determined by your insurance coverage unless you have pre-arranged payment for upgraded accommodations (a receipt for payment must be shown on admission).
There are only two private rooms on the Maternity Ward, which are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis.
Don’t forget to inform your family doctor or paediatrician about your expected due date, so you have a healthcare provider in place to care for your baby after delivery.
Going into labour
When the time has come to have your baby, or if you have any concerns leading up to the first signs of labour, please call 239-2016 and speak to a midwife who will assist with advice and/or prepare you for admission.
Upon arrival, the admitting clerk at the Emergency Department will direct you to the Maternity Unit.
Items you will need to bring with you include soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, tissues, sanitary pads, a minimum of two nursing bras for breastfeeding, breast pads, comfortable underwear, dressing gowns, nightdresses or loose and comfortable daytime clothing and any prescribed medication you normally use.
And don’t forget clothes for baby: sleeper, vest, socks, blanket, hat, comb and brush.
All infants must be discharged in a car seat.
Please ensure that your baby has an infant car seat. Your infant’s safety is our business.
Radios, iPods and MP3 players with earphones are permitted and a video camera operated on battery may be used, if discussed and approved by your physician or nurse.
Please limit your valuables to essential items only. Large amounts of money or jewellery should be left at home. The hospital does not accept responsibility for loss or damage.
What to expect on the Maternity Unit
The birthing or admission room will be your first stop and your doctor will be notified once you arrive.
Your “support person”, will be the only one to visit while you are in this area.
Grandparents and other family members may sit in the sitting room until you are transferred to your room after delivery or discharged.
We understand your relatives are excited and may wish to be with you.
While we do our best to accommodate individual requests, we need to maintain standards of practice for the safety and privacy of other patients.
Telephone queries to the labour room should be kept to a minimum, as constant calls are time consuming for busy nurses.
We suggest you designate a particular family member to update your relatives who are anxiously waiting news.
Visiting hours
In order to respect the privacy and assure the comfort of other patients, there is a maximum of two visitors allowed at a time for each patient. No visiting is allowed in the labouring areas.
• Fathers: 8am to 8pm
• 8pm.
• Other visitors: 12 noon to 2pm and again from 4pm to 8pm.
The maternity unit observes Quiet Time from 2pm to 4pm daily so mothers may rest.
We ask all visitors to respect these hours. For the safety of your baby and others, please do not allow visitors, if they are unwell or have been exposed to chickenpox or other infectious illnesses.
Amenities
Telephone service is available and arrangements to have a phone turned on are with the cashier on the ground floor before 3:30pm or with one of the admitting clerks.
Televisions may be rented for a fee on a daily or weekly basis.
A hospitality cart, operated by the Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda, will visit outside your room each morning between 10:30am and 11am. Toiletries, newspapers, sweets and other items are available for purchase.