Learn what to expect during your labor and delivery — and how Intermountain supports you every step of the way.
By now, you might have your baby’s name picked out — or at least narrowed it down to your favorites — and the little outfit they’ll go home in.
The day you’ve been eagerly and anxiously waiting for has arrived: it’s your baby’s birth day!
Bringing a child into this world is special and uniquely personal.
We offer a variety of birthing options tailored to you with caregivers to support you every step of the way.
What are my birthing options at Intermountain?
Depending on where you live, you may be able to choose the type of care facility you give birth in. Many parents choose a hospital-based birth. Hospitals can perform both vaginal and cesarean section (C-section) deliveries. Some may also have the option for a low-intervention birth program.
Other parents may choose to give birth in an Intermountain Health hospital birth center or freestanding birth center. All our birth centers offer low-intervention birth for families that want an unmedicated birth experience.
Talk to your care provider to learn more about the different birthing facilities we offer and your options for delivery.
You want the best there is for your baby, from blankets and burp cloths to strollers and swings. You also want the best when it comes to the people who will care for you during pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond.
Our team includes a wide range of maternal and newborn caregivers including:
If you’re interested in a low-intervention birth, we’re here to support your choice. Learn more about our low-intervention birth options and suites.
As you get closer to your due date, there are a few things you might want to do to feel prepared for labor and delivery.
Use this checklist to get ready for the big day:
Only five percent of babies arrive on their due date. Since you never know when you’ll go into labor, having a bag packed and ready to go ahead of time is always a good idea.
Your bag should include:
Please leave your car seat and baby belongings in your car until after delivery.
The hospital will provide:
All our hospitals are dedicated to providing new moms, dads, and babies the utmost care and maternity amenities.
All our facilities feature access to warm and relaxing private rooms. Additional amenities can include:
Schedule your childbirth tour at one of our hospitals to learn what amenities are available at each of our unique facilities.
Where you need to go depends on your individual situation, your chosen hospital's policy, and the time of day you go into labor!
In some cases, you'll come through the main hospital entrance, and the staff at the front desk will direct you to the labor and delivery unit. This may be the case day or night.
In other cases, you might arrive after hours, and you'll enter through the emergency room entrance at some of our facilities. From there, our staff will direct or transport you to where you need to go.
If you aren't sure of the process, be sure to ask when you take a tour of your chosen hospital.
Once you get to the labor and delivery unit, head for the nurses' station to get checked in and finish up the necessary paperwork.
You can take advantage of our pre-registration process and get much of the paperwork out of the way early.
Don’t forget to bring a list of medications and supplements you’re taking, a photo ID and proof of insurance.
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Every birth is unique. No matter which way your baby comes into the world, though, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Labor usually begins within two weeks before or after your estimated due date, but no one knows exactly when babies will come. If you’re approaching your due date, you’ll want to watch for these signs of labor:
Learn more about the signs and symptoms of labor.
If you’re not sure whether you’re in labor, call your care provider.
When your contractions come regularly every four to five minutes and last for about a minute, it’s time to call your doctor or midwife. They will ask questions to determine when you should head to the hospital.
You may not need to go to the hospital if you’re experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions (sometimes called practice or false labor).
If you’re scheduled for a cesarean section or an induction, we’ll give you information ahead of time about when to go the hospital.
Braxton-Hicks contractions are described as:
Depending on your preference, your health, your baby’s health, and your doctor or midwife’s recommendation, you have four general types of pain management:
Learn more about how we can help manage your pain during birth.
Yes. Rooming-in is a practice in which newborn infants stay in the same room as their mothers in the hospital, rather than being cared for in a separate nursery.
This allows mothers and babies to bond and spend time together. It also allows mothers to learn to care for their babies in a more natural setting.
When your baby is born at any Intermountain care site, you have 24/7 access to critical newborn care or our NICU telehealth services.