Newborn Information
Women & Infants Center at Saint Mary's Hospital
Newborn Safety
The safety of your baby is of utmost importance to us. A soon as your baby is born, identification bracelets will be fitted to baby’s wrist and ankle. A bracelet matching the numbers on baby’s bracelet will be fitted to you and the support person of your choosing.
Baby will also be fitted with a safety tag on his or her ankle. This is a security tag that will alert us to your baby’s location while on the unit. Should the tag fall off for any reason, the tag sends an alarm to the entire unit as well as security. A staff member will attend to the alarm and ensure that the tag is properly re-fitted to baby and will inform security of the loose tag and confirm that your baby is indeed safe on the unit.
Upon admission, your nurse will ask you to sign a Fall Safety Pledge, which provides guidelines regarding newborn safety. This pledge serves as an agreement that you will follow the guidelines to ensure your newborn’s safety.
Newborn Screening
Your newborn will have a hearing test, blood spot, jaundice screening, and CCHD completed after 24 hours of life. Please feel free to ask your nurse for further information regarding these screenings.
Circumcision
If you choose to have your baby boy circumcised, the provider will perform the procedure 24 hours after baby is born and education will be provided on how to care for the area post procedure.
Vaccinations
Routine medications and vaccinations will be given to your newborn upon receiving consent. Please feel free to ask your nurse for further information regarding these medications/vaccinations.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Should your baby require additional care after birth or is born between 32 and 37 weeks, he or she may be admitted to our Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
NICU trifold (St. Francis) – needs SMH brand
Car seat
You will need a car seat for your infant at the time of discharge. There are many car seats to choose from. Please note that it is your responsibility to know how your car seat operates and have it installed in your vehicle prior to discharge. Ninety percent (90%) of car seats are installed incorrectly. You can have your car seat inspected by local police departments and other qualified agencies prior to discharge. See link below for access to “fitting stations” where you can get help installing your car seat correctly in your vehicle.
Please visit ctsafekids.org/child-passenger-safety/find-fitting-station for a fitting station near you.
Car Seat Safety Basics
Kids in Car Seats
Ages & Stages flyer (our packet)
Future planning for your baby
Shining star tile: our flyer