The Birthing Experience
You deserve a positive, comfortable birthing experience.
The day your child is born is a day you’ll never forget. When you deliver at one of Novant Health’s birthing centers, our team is committed to making your birth experience comfortable and enjoyable for you and your loved ones.
Guide to Preparing for Birth
We encourage you to express your decisions for the type of birth experience you want to have while being flexible to allow for changes to keep you and your baby safe. Planning ahead and sharing your preferences with your physician and care team can help you have the best birth experience possible.
What to expect when you arrive at a Novant Health birthing center
Before your due date, we recommend you preregister for delivery to help make your admission go as smoothly and quickly as possible when you check in at the hospital. When you arrive at the hospital, you'll be met by your labor and delivery care team, made up of friendly and helpful maternity specialists who will answer your questions, help you get settled in your room and get ready for your delivery.
Our private maternity suites accommodate you, your baby, your support partner and a doula (if you have one). Some of our birthing hospitals feature luxury birthing centers or alternative birth suites and methods, which may be used for low-risk births. Alternative birth suites may include free-standing hydrotherapy tubs and extra space for visiting friends and family.
Labor and delivery services
Our highly trained specialists are prepared to provide additional care when needed. That may include the use of a dedicated surgical suite, obstetrics emergency rooms or neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
After your baby is born
For a vaginal delivery with no complications, you'll typically be in the hospital for 24 to 48 hours after your baby arrives. For Cesarean (C-) section deliveries, you’ll likely stay in the hospital for 48 to72 hours after your delivery. During your hospital stay, our care team will help prepare you for your next steps, including bonding with your baby, breast and chestfeeding, and caring for your newborn when you go home.
Your Delivery Team
Doulas at Novant Health
If you are looking for extra support during delivery, you might choose to include a doula as part of your birthing experience. Novant Health welcomes doulas as essential support for birthing families and invites professional doulas in the community to register with us.
While doulas are not able to give medical advice or perform medical procedures, the right doula can offer professional and compassionate support, helping you relax during labor.
Although it is not required, we encourage doulas to complete the Novant Health vendor verification process. Verified doulas have increased access and benefits at our facilities.
Benefits of having a verified doula include:
- Verified doulas are considered part of your care team at Novant Health: You can still have one other support person, such as a spouse or birth partner, with you while you’re at the hospital
- Verified doulas have increased access to facilities and providing one-on-one services to you: In addition to the obstetrics triage/emergency room, labor lounge, labor and delivery room, and mother/baby unit, a verified doula can access:
- Operating rooms
- Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)
- Nourishment room
- Women’s care team lounges (if applicable)
Novant Health Birthing Centers
When it's time for you to welcome your new baby, exceptional maternity care and support services are available at one of our birthing center locations.
Hospital Preregistration
Preregister for a faster and easier check-in when you arrive to deliver your baby, and to receive relevant, timely information about what to expect and how to prepare for your new little one.
