Delivery Day

Whether you have a scheduled delivery, or your baby arrives a little earlier than expected, rest assured that our Birth Center team will be ready for you. Our Birth Center is located at our Bluebonnet hospital. When you arrive, you may park in one of our designated “pink” parking spots located near Entrance 3. If you go into labor after 10 p.m., you will park and enter through the Emergency Room.

Labor Options

Whether you choose to have a delivery with an epidural or would like to use a doula and have a natural childbirth experience, we offer many different options to help manage your labor including:

Beds with breakaway positioning
Birthing balls and squat bars
Doulas welcome
Epidurals/spinal blocks
Intermittent monitoring
Nitrous oxide for pain relief
Portable fetal heart monitoring
Trained staff to help with positioning and counter pressure
Water/tub labor

The Golden Hour

Immediately following labor, we encourage skin-to-skin contact where your baby is placed on your bare chest. Known as the golden hour, this helps initiate bonding and calms and relaxes the baby. Skin-to-skin bonding can help regulate a newborn's heart rate and breathing and stimulate interest in feeding.

Breastfeeding

If you are interested in breastfeeding, Baton Rouge General’s highly trained lactation nurses are available to help you and your baby learn everything you need to know. Part of our commitment to caring for you and your baby is giving you full access to our Guided Infant Feeding Techniques (GIFT) Certified Breastfeeding Support Team during your hospital stay. We're available to answer questions and be your personal guide through this amazing bonding experience with your little one.

To talk with one of your breastfeeding specialists, call (225) 763-4127 or email Breastfeeding@BRGeneral.org.

NICU

Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and babies need extra care. In the event a newborn requires intensive care services, parents can rest assured their little one will be well taken care of in our Certified Level 3 Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.