Labor and Delivery

At Memorial Family Birthplace, we all have one goal: to make sure your baby’s arrival is safe and unforgettable. We’re here to support you and your baby, making you comfortable and confident to care for your little one starting with that first magical moment.

Our team encourages breastfeeding and skin-to-skin immediately after your little one arrives, as well as a delayed bath to give you and your baby time to truly bond.

Memorial Family Birthplace team includes:

• Anesthesiology
• Board-certified obstetricians
• Neonatal nurse practitioners
• Neonatologists
• Pediatricians
• Skilled obstetrical nurses

If we have to deviate from your plan, you and your baby are in expert hands. Each Memorial Family Birthplace location has an on-site anesthesiologist dedicated to labor and delivery, ensuring you won’t have a long wait if you need an epidural or a spinal for a cesarean delivery.

If your little one needs extra attention after their arrival, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital NICU is on-site at each of our three locations.

Not Sure if You’re in Labor?

Whether this is your first or sixth baby, every labor looks a little different.

If you aren’t sure if you’re in labor, call the location that's closest to you below. We’ll assess your symptoms, and if necessary, suggest you come into triage to get checked.

• Memorial Regional Hospital (Hollywood, FL): 954-265-4250
• Memorial Hospital West (Pembroke Pines, FL): 954-844-7150
• Memorial Hospital Miramar (Miramar, FL): 954-538-5176

From squats to birthing balls to a relaxation station, we offer parents-to-be an opportunity to connect and focus on your baby’s arrival.

Pain Management During Labor

At Memorial Family Birthplace, our laboring mothers are in control of their pain management. Our team is here to follow your wishes – and it’s okay if those wishes change mid-labor. We will help empower you to choose what is best for you and your baby.

Pain management options include:

• Aromatherapy
• Nitrous oxide (Memorial Hospital West and Memorial Hospital Miramar only)
• Epidural

During Labor

As your labor progresses, our team offers a variety of options to help make you more comfortable.

• Aromatherapy can start as soon as you arrive at Memorial Family Birthplace to help calm your nerves and naturally control nausea.
• We encourage our moms to talk to our nursing team about your labor and delivery wishes.
• It’s best to create a plan with your physician around 35 weeks and arrive with a “wish-list” for your labor.

Our team is committed to making your little one’s arrival unforgettable, and will suggest many options to make you more comfortable, including cub chairs, birthing balls, peanut balls, cooling beads and ice packs.

Preparing for the Unexpected During Labor

At Memorial Family Birthplace, we deliver thousands of babies each year. Every birth is a unique experience – and you can rest assured that our experienced Labor and Delivery team is prepared for the unexpected.

Our goal is to provide mothers and their babies with comprehensive, compassionate care. We know things don’t always go the way you planned – but our team is here to help you safely deliver your little one.

Gentle C-Section

If you need a cesarean delivery, our team encourages “gentle delivery” as a unique way to connect mom and baby during C-sections. During a gentle delivery, the C-section drape is transparent, allowing the parents to see the baby right as the baby is delivered. The doctor will hold the drape immediately, helping to establish that beautiful and immediate connection. Gentle C-section deliveries are offered at all three Memorial Family Birthplace locations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Labor & Delivery

Can the baby “room in” with me?

Yes, we encourage you to keep the baby in the room with you, giving you the chance to care for your baby while in the hospital with the assistance of the nurses. If questions arise, this is the ideal opportunity to address them.

Remember, the safety of your baby is most important. If you are too tired to care for your baby and you need an extra hand, a nurse might suggest that your baby be taken to the nursery while you rest.

What personal items should I bring to the hospital?

Bring items to help you through your labor. Many moms find comfort with massage oils and tools, digital media players and lip balm. We provide pillows, but you may prefer your own from home. We also recommend keeping jewelry and money at home.

• A case for your glasses
• Contacts
• Nightgown
• Nursing bra
• Slippers
• Toiletries
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Robe

Who is responsible for overseeing my baby’s medical care in the hospital?

By the time you are 35 weeks pregnant, you should have chosen a pediatrician for your baby who will coordinate care with the nurses. Please bring the name and phone number of your baby's pediatrician to the hospital when you are ready to deliver.

• If your pediatrician doesn't round at Memorial Healthcare System, our staff neonatologist will act as the pediatrician during your hospital stay.
• If you do not have a pediatrician, call Memorial Physician Referral Service at 800-944-DOCS (3627) to help you find a physician that's right for your baby.