The Day of Delivery

Coming to the Hospital

Be sure to contact your doctor or midwife before coming to the hospital.

When arriving at the hospital, please note the specific entrance locations depending on the day and time. A member of our hospital staff will greet you and an admissions representative will register and escort you to the Labor & Birth Unit.

Specific hospital arrival locations for maternity patients depending on day and time:

Monday – Friday, 6am-9pm
Please arrive at shared Smilow Cancer Hospital entrance at 35 Park Street, New Haven, CT

Monday- Friday, 9pm-6am, overnight
Please arrive at the Children’s Emergency Department entrance at 853 Howard Avenue, New Haven, CT

Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, 9am-9pm
Please arrive at shared Smilow Cancer Hospital entrance at 35 Park Street, New Haven, CT

Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, 9pm-9am
Please arrive at the Children’s Emergency Department entrance at 853 Howard Avenue, New Haven, CT

There are 2 parking options for the family:
Self-Park
Valet

To see what is best for your family please visit our parking webpage.

Please note: YNHH is no longer able to validate parking. Rates vary. Please call 203-688-2623 for the most up-to-date information.

Giving Birth 

What happens immediately after your baby arrives depends on how you gave birth and your particular needs. Below are some things to expect between the time your baby is born and the time you are brought to your postpartum room.

Getting to Know Your Baby

At Yale New Haven Hospital, we encourage "rooming-in" for well babies. This means the baby stays in the mother's room until both are ready to go home. Mother and baby are cared for together by a primary nurse. Our nurses are trained to meet the unique needs of each family. Our rooms include couches, which give fathers or partners the opportunity to be a part of the bonding process during the entire hospital stay.

Benefits of caring for mom and baby together include:

• Personalized care
• Improved confidence through better education for parents
• Improved mother-baby bonding
• Family-centered atmosphere
• More successful breastfeeding
• Improved patient satisfaction

Right after you've given birth, your labor nurse will help you put your baby skin-to-skin to begin the bonding process. If you have chosen to breastfeed, your nurse will also help you with the first feeding. This is a time to rest and bond with your newborn.

Hormones that cause your uterus to contract will stimulate "mothering" feelings after birth. As you touch, hold and gaze at your baby, they are released. They help you and your baby feel calm, responsive and warm.

You and your baby will be given matching identification bands that should be checked every time you are given your baby.

Breastfeeding

All of our nursing staff members are specially trained to assist with the needs of the breastfeeding mother. Moms and family members should ask their nurse for assistance if needed. For more complicated breastfeeding needs, we have certified lactation consultants and lactation counselors on staff who can help. In addition, we offer breastfeeding classes.

In addition to Yale New Haven Hospital resources, other services such as the U.S. government's source for women's health information, WomensHealth.gov, and its National Breastfeeding Helpline (800-994-9662, M-F, 9 am - 6 pm, Eastern) may be helpful.

Visitation

We continue to monitor the amount of COVID-19 infections in and around Connecticut and we will adjust our visitor policy to reflect optimal patient support balanced with creating a hospital environment that minimizes the risk of COVID-19 spread.

See our Visitation Guidelines for current visitor information

Newborn Screenings and Procedures

Newborn screenings will be done in the postpartum room after delivery.

Learn more about newborn screenings

Monitoring Mom

Between 2 to 6 hours after birth, and periodically thereafter, your nurse will check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiration, uterine firmness and vaginal bleeding.

You will also be encouraged to walk as soon as you can. Let your nurse help you out of bed the first time you get up.

What to Expect After a Cesarean Birth

Whether planned or not, your recovery after a cesarean section will be slower than normal delivery. Take your time and be patient with your body.

Learning to Care for Your Newborn