Childbirth FAQs
Find answers to common questions asked regarding pregnancy and childbirth services at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center.
Will my baby go to the nursery?
At Atrium Health Floyd, we encourage and support family bonding by offering couplet care in which mom and baby share a private room (also known as rooming-in). We have a nursery area reserved for procedures such as circumcisions. Some pediatricians round in the patient’s room and others have the baby come to the nursery for assessment. Please contact your pediatrician for details.
When can my family see my baby?
We reserve the first hour after delivery as a special bonding time between the mother, father and new baby. We call this the
Magic Hour. During this time, we encourage family members to wait in the waiting room until after that hour is completed or at the new parents’ request.
What level of care does your NICU provide?
Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center is home to a
Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), providing the highest level of care for premature infants or those infants with severe or potentially life-threatening conditions.
What if I forget to bring something I need?
If you forget to bring a personal item, our Gift Shop offers a variety of toiletries, disposable cameras, magazines, over-the-counter medications and baby gifts. The Gift Shop is located on the second floor inside the Main Entrance of Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center.
How can I plan the childbirth experience that I want?
At Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Family Birth Center, our goal is for you and your family to have the greatest birth experience possible. We have created an outline to help you prepare your own Birth Plan. Please use it to help make decisions for what you and your family expect from your birth experience.
Download the Birth Plan
What are my options for pain control during childbirth?
Our labor and delivery nurses are trained in Lamaze, breathing, positioning techniques and affirmations for natural pain management if you wish.
If you choose pain medications, anesthesiologists are onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you don’t have to wait for relief. We offer a variety of safe pain management options, including:
-
Epidural or spinal block: Regional anesthesia that blocks pain to the pelvic region
- Local anesthesia injections: Pain medication delivered directly to the pelvic area, or the perineum
-
Nitrous oxide: A gas that passes quickly in and out of your body and helps decrease awareness of pain
Can my other children visit me in the labor and delivery area?
Yes! Your children may visit you while in Labor and Delivery. We do ask that siblings under the age of 15 be accompanied by an adult other than the patient’s designated support person. With the exception of siblings, visitors to Labor and Delivery should be over the age of 12.
What type of measures does Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center use to ensure my baby's safety?
Safety is very important to us. We take several measures to ensure the safety of your newborn. For details, visit
What to Expect.
How will I get my baby's birth certificate and social security card?
A birth certificate worksheet is included in your admission folder. Be sure to complete and give this paperwork to your nurse before leaving the hospital. If the mother is legally married to the father of the baby, he will automatically be listed on the birth certificate as the father.
If the mother is not legally married to the father and would like to have the father's name listed on the birth certificate, he must complete a Paternity Acknowledgement form with the Health Information Management department. The father must bring photo identification to sign the Paternity Acknowledgement.
The baby's birth certificate will be available from the Floyd County Health Department 8-10 weeks after the baby's birth.
Parents will receive the newborn's Social Security card in the mail in approximately 12-16 weeks.
Will you take my newborn's picture?
Photos of your baby can be taken in your room by a professional photographer from
Dimples Photography. A photographer will visit you on the morning after delivery. The photographer will photograph the baby and any other family members or friends that would like to participate. The images will be professionally edited and presented in a beautiful keepsake slideshow that is available for purchase.
What newborn screenings are required before my baby leaves the hospital?
There are three important newborn screenings completed on your infant prior to discharge: the newborn metabolic screening, hearing screen and pulse oximetry screening.
- The Newborn Metabolic screening is completed after your baby is 24 hours old. It tests for more than 30 metabolic disorders that could have serious consequences if not identified early. This test involves collecting a small blood sample from your baby's foot. This screening is required by Georgia law and is performed by trained hospital staff and processed by an approved state laboratory. The results of this screening are provided to the doctor you have chosen to provide care for your baby after discharge.
- The Newborn Hearing screening is completed by trained hospital staff during your baby's stay. The screening is not uncomfortable for the infant, takes only a short time and allows for early treatment if hearing loss is found. Early treatment can improve your baby's language and brain development. There are many reasons why your baby may not “pass" the first screening. If this happens, our staff will assist in coordinating follow-up testing.
- The Newborn Pulse Oximetry test is painless and measures how much oxygen is your baby's blood. It can help identify babies who may be affected by critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). If CCHD is detected early, infants can often be treated and lead longer, healthier lives.
What medications will my baby receive before leaving the hospital?
Your baby will be administered two medications after the Magic Hour: vitamin K and erythromycin eye ointment. Both are required by law.
The vitamin K injection is administered to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding disorder. Providing the necessary amount of vitamin K will help your baby's blood to clot appropriately until his or her body can process the vitamin on its own.
Erythromycin eye ointment is administered to prevent bacterial infections of the eye that can lead to permanent damage and blindness.
We make every effort to allow bonding, skin-to-skin contact and/or breastfeeding before either medication is administered.
Do newborn babies receive any vaccinations before they leave the hospital?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends certain vaccinations for newborns. The Academy recommends vaccinating all newborns for the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The hepatitis B vaccine is given by injection. Three doses are needed for full protection. With consent, the first dose will be administered during your baby's hospital stay, and the remaining doses will be given by your pediatrician in his or her office.
Who should I contact if we want our newborn baby boy circumcised? When is this procedure performed?
If you desire your baby to have a circumcision, your consent will be obtained, and a doctor will perform the procedure during your stay. Local anesthesia is used during the procedure. You will be instructed on how to care for your infant’s circumcision prior to discharge.