Parking will be limited at the Floyd Medical Center campus, including the Emergency Care Center, due to construction and road widening.
Learn more about our parking changes.

Preparing for your baby

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As you prepare for the birth of your baby, our team of compassionate experts is here to help ensure a safe birth.

In-person tour

Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center offers in-person tours of its Family Birth Center. In-person tours are offered one Saturday a month. Registration is encouraged. Find tour dates.

Moms labor and deliver in a private room with space to walk around and change positions as needed. The rooms are equipped with:

  • Private bathroom with shower
  • Bed for mother
  • Sleep chair for your birth partner
  • Birthing bars and mirrors
  • Birthing balls and birthing peanut ball
  • Television
  • Wi-Fi
  • Wireless monitoring

Virtual tour

We’re pleased to welcome you to the Family Birth Center at Atrium Health Floyd where we've been welcoming babies into our community for more than 80 years.

Planning for your visit

Our clinical team members are childbirth, breastfeeding and infant care experts. We offer moms and their families:

  • Dedicated Family Birth Center entrance 
  • Level III NICU for all gestational ages and weights
  • Labor and delivery rooms with showers, birthing balls and other labor aids
  • Pain management options including nitrous oxide
  • Operating rooms on the Family Birth Center floor for Cesarean births (C-sections)
  • Breastfeeding guidance during your recovery and after you go home

Childbirth classes 

We offer a full range of classes to help you prepare for the arrival of your baby. Our offerings include: 

  • Pregnancy support group: This group, which meets virtually, offers pregnant women the opportunity to meet other expectant moms and learn about the changes they’ll experience throughout pregnancy.  
  • Moms group for ages 0 – 1: New parents of children up to age 1 meet virtually to receive support in mental, emotional and physical wellness after having a baby. All postpartum mothers who need support in coping with the recent changes are welcome to attend. 
  • Prepared for breastfeeding: During this two-hour, in-person class, certified lactation consultants will teach breastfeeding basics before the baby is born. Other topics include what to expect, techniques for latching, common breastfeeding challenges and how to establish breastfeeding goals. 
  • Prepared for birth: Gain confidence for your baby’s arrival by practicing techniques used during labor and delivery, and planning for life after the baby is born. A Lamaze-certified instructor will teach natural birth techniques during this eight-week, in-person class. Participants also will receive a tour of the Family Birth Center. Participants should be at least 23 weeks pregnant when the class begins.
  • Birth essentials: In this class, a certified childbirth educator will provide you and your partner with knowledge about labor and what to expect during your delivery. The class also includes a tour of the Family Birth Center. Participants should be at least 28 weeks pregnant when the class begins.
  • Atrium Health Floyd Family Birth Center tour: You and your birth partner are welcome to tour the Family Birth Center.
  • Postpartum and newborn care: This in-person, two-hour class helps new parents understand what to expect after the baby is born. Topics include learning about the physical and emotional changes you may experience after birth and how to care for a new baby.
  • Baby health and safety: This two-hour, in-person class covers health and safety for parents and baby. You’ll learn about caring for your new baby, SIDS, proper car seat installation and how to perform infant CPR. A pediatrician will be there to answer questions about your baby’s growth and development.

Registration is required for all classes. View the schedule for upcoming classes.

In addition to childbirth classes, we offer a private Facebook group called Moms Circle at Floyd for moms after their baby is born. The group is open to both first-time and veteran moms and offers a supportive place to talk about life with a new baby. 

Meet your birth center care team

Your birth center care team includes skilled and knowledgeable providers who offer the best care for you and your baby. They include:

  • Obstetrician-gynecologists: Providers affiliated with your chosen practice attend births here 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 
  • Anesthesiologists: Certified medical providers are onsite around the clock to provide pain medicines when you need them. 
  • Labor and delivery nurses: Registered nurses with special training in labor and delivery assist throughout the birth process.
  • Mother and baby nurses: Registered nurses with special expertise in postpartum care help you recover and care for your baby after they’re born. 
  • Certified lactation consultants: These specialists help you breastfeed after your baby is born, if you choose, and after you return home with comprehensive lactation services.
  • Neonatologists: Doctors and advanced providers who specialize in the care of newborns are here 24 hours a day, seven days a week in case your baby needs extra support after birth at our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

An OB-GYN from your practice is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you have access to a familiar doctor when you need it. You can trust our entire team is committed to your safe, healthy birth.

Our operating room is on the same floor as the birth center for Cesarean births. Whether a C-section is planned or not, our experienced surgical care team is nearby and ready for you.

Choose a pediatrician

Choosing your baby's pediatrician is an important decision. You’ll want to begin a relationship before your baby is born. Ask friends or family for a recommendation or learn more about our pediatric services.

Our pediatricians offer free prenatal visits to meet the team, tour the office and ask questions about the practice.

Learn about our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

The goal of every birth is a safe and healthy experience. However, if your baby is premature or requires special medical care, our neonatal experts are close by and ready to assist 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Learn more about our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – the region’s highest level of neonatal intensive care. 

Legal preparations before the birth

Before you give birth, contact your health insurance company to learn the steps to take to add the baby to your plan after birth. 

You may want to consider an advance directive or living will as well. These legal documents outline your wishes concerning medical treatments.

Make your birth plan

A birth plan is a guide to help you make decisions about your birth experience. We encourage you to talk to your OB-GYN about your plan and bring a copy with you to the birth center so our team can honor your wishes.

Your birth plan can help you set goals and expectations, such as:

  • Natural birth or pain management
  • Breastfeeding preferences
  • Which family members will be present
  • Items you need in the labor and delivery room

Pack your bag with necessities

A few weeks before your due date, we recommend that you pack two bags, one for during labor and one for recovery. Be sure to pack:

  • Copy of your birth plan
  • Current insurance card
  • Advance directive and consent forms

Also, remember to install your baby’s car seat safely in the back seat of your car.

Once labor begins, call your doctor to find out when you should arrive at the hospital.

If you’re in active labor when you arrive, a nurse will assess your stage of labor in the triage room. You may also need to complete necessary forms. When it’s time, we’ll show you to one of our labor and delivery rooms specifically designed for your comfortable childbirth experience.

Learn what to expect during labor

Our labor and delivery nurses are specially trained to care for you throughout labor and childbirth. Our nurses will monitor your progress and help keep you comfortable, whether you decide to:

  • Take a shower
  • Walk around
  • Use a birthing ball
  • Listen to music
  • Use pain medications

Choose pain management during labor

Our labor and delivery nurses are trained to assist you with Lamaze breathing, positioning techniques and affirmations for natural pain management in case you wish to use these options.

If you choose pain medications, anesthesiologists are onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you don’t have to wait for their services. 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

Visiting hours

Special circumstances will be managed by the treating provider and nursing unit leadership.

If a patient needs an in-room procedure that requires visitors to leave the room, visitors may wait in a waiting area.

Visiting guidelines for maternity/labor and delivery:

  • Visitation times for admitted patients are daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Children of the mother may visit in labor and delivery during visiting hours.
  • Three people may be at the bedside during labor and delivery. Four may visit after delivery.
  • One visitor over the age of 18 may stay overnight.
  • The partner of the laboring mother may stay overnight, regardless of age.
  • Doulas and labor coaches who are part of the patient's birthing plan are not considered visitors.
  • After delivery, we reserve the first hour (the Magic Hour) for special bonding just for mom, partner and baby. We ask friends and family to stay in the waiting room during this time.

NICU visiting guidelines include:

  • Visitation to our NICU is open 24/7.
  • Babies in the NICU are permitted two adult visitors at any time.
  • Siblings 13 years and older may visit during visitation hours.
  • Parents may provide a list of approved visitors if they wish. 
  • Social distancing and proper hand hygiene also should be observed.

Visitors during labor

Patients who are in active labor may have two visitors with them. A doula or labor coach are also welcome and are not considered visitors.

Visitors must be in good health (free from cough, fever, shortness of breath or other flu-like symptoms). Visitors also need to follow safety requirements. This includes wearing a medical-grade mask, staying six feet from others and handwashing.

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 kids over the age of 12.

Visitation tips

  • Labor and delivery take a lot out of moms and partners, and you’ll want as much rest as possible. You may want to consider limiting the number of visitors to very close friends and family.
  • If you have concerns about visitors or just need rest, let your nurse know as soon as possible so we can help you.
  • If a potential visitor is sick, encourage them to stay home.
  • Friends and family can order infant gift sets or flowers for delivery from our gift shop by calling 706-509-5190.

Parking

  • Expectant parents: Parking for the Family Birth Center is located on the north side of Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center just off Turner McCall Boulevard near the Emergency Care Center. Once you are inside the Family Birth Center entrance, an elevator will take you directly to the third floor.
  • Visitors and parents after the baby is born: Parking is available at the main entrance of Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center, facing West 5th Street. Once you are inside the hospital, take the elevators past the registration desk to the third floor.

Amenities

Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center has everything you need close by. We offer:

  • Gift shop: Purchase flowers, baby gifts, infant door bows, preemie baby outfits, apparel and toiletries on the second floor inside of the main entrance.
  • ATM: A cash machine is located in the north entrance vending area.
  • Food and snacks: We have a wide array of convenient dining options. 

Our safety measures

Our Family Birth Center ensures safety with a state-of-the-art security system, which includes controlled-access points and security cameras in each of the nursing areas. All staff members wear a photo identification badge, as well as a purple badge with their title clearly displayed. After your baby is born, a nurse will place armbands on the baby and their parents for identification. Each time your baby is brought to you, the nurse will check these bands to make sure they match.

Your baby will also have a special security sensor placed on them that will trigger an alarm if taken too close to a doorway or elevator that leads outside the Family Birth Center. We also maintain roving security personnel outside and inside the hospital.

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