Patient Information
Having Your Baby at BMC
Your baby's safety is very important to us. Only staff wearing yellow identification badges are allowed to transport a baby from a mother's room to other areas. Your baby will have a tag placed on his/her ankle when admitted to the unit. This is a part of an electronic-monitoring system used to keep babies safe. The tag will be removed before you leave the hospital.
During the hospital stay, your baby will receive
- Eye Ointment (by 2 hours of life)
- Vitamin K Shot (by 2 hours of life)
- Hearing Screen (before going home)
- Hepatitis B Immunization (before going home)
- Newborn Metabolic Screening (after 24 hours of life)
Our team will provide you with
- Personalized instruction on newborn care
- Tips for successful breastfeeding
- Access to videos that address infant care, safety, feeding and other topics
- Help identifying a primary care provider and making the first appointment
- Birth certificates
Before going home, each family is given an exciting book about newborn and child care called Growing Up Healthy (in English or Spanish). Parents are encouraged to bring this book to all of their pediatric visits and to use it to record their infant's growth and special achievements.
Things you will want to have taken care of before you go home
with your new baby
Car Seat: You must have one to bring your baby home from the hospital. If you have BMC HealthNet Plan, you will automatically get a free infant car seat on the day you leave the hospital. For information call: 1-800-CAR-SAFE (227-7233).
Health Insurance: You are eligible. Call or visit these websites for more information:
BMC HealthNet Plan
(http://www.bmchp.org/)
617.414.6100
MassHealth (Medicaid)
(http://www.mass.gov/masshealth)
1.800.682.1062
Children's Medical Security
(http://www.cmspkids.com/)
1.800.909.2677
Your Home: Is Your Home Safe for Your Baby?
Boston Public Health Commission Childhood Injury Prevention Program
617.534.5197
BMC Family Help Desk
617.414.4349
Lead Safety Issues: Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
617.534.2641
Breastfeeding Information: Call the BMC Breastfeeding Center at 617.414.MILK (6455) for support and answers, and attend our free breastfeeding classes. BMC HealthNet Plan provides free electric breast pumps.
Do You Need Help With Anything Else?
Stop by the BMC Family Help Desk on the 5th floor of the Yawkey Ambulatory Care Building, located at 850 Harrison Avenue. They are open Monday thru Wednesday and on Friday from 2:30 to 5:00 pm. You can also call 617.414.4349 to schedule appointments for help with:
- AFDC/Welfare to Work
- Cash assistance
- Childcare
- Food
- Health insurance
- Housing
- Job training/employment
- Summer camp
- WIC
Important Phone Numbers
The BirthPlace
617.414.4363
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
617.414.4359
The Breastfeeding Center
617.414.MILK (6455)
Labor and Delivery
617.414.4360
BMC HealthNet Plan Insurance
617.414.6100
Newborn Hearing Screen
617.414.4898
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