A baby’s safety is very important at BMC. Only staff wearing yellow identification badges are allowed to transport a baby from a mother’s room to other areas. Each 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 they leave the hospital.
During the hospital stay, the 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)
The team will provide patients 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 a 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 to take care of before bringing a new baby home:
Car Seat: A car seat is necessary to bring the baby home from the hospital. For more information on car seat safety and car seats visit the BMC Bump & Beyond website.
Making sure the patient’s home is safe for a baby:
To find out if a home is safe for a baby, reach out to one of the following programs.
Boston Public Health Commission Childhood Injury Prevention Program
617.534.5197
Lead Safety Issues: Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
617.534.2641
Breastfeeding Information:Call the BMC Breastfeeding Center at 617.414.MILK (6455) for support.
The Bump & Beyond website has a variety of articles on breastfeeding and getting help with breastfeeding at BMC and the Boston area.
Do You Need Help With Anything Else?
Resources for Families provides information on supports in the Boston area for you and your family.
Need help now? BMC’s THRIVE program offers personalized support.
THRIVE: Improving How You Live and Stay Healthy
Having good health means more than just medical care. It means having basic things like food, a stable home, transportation, education, and jobs. That is why we created THRIVE, a special program that helps patients connect with resources at the hospital and in the community. The program works to meet immediate needs like food and housing, while also helping patients find opportunities for education and jobs to build a better future.
Learn More about THRIVE at BMC
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
Newborn Hearing Screen
617.414.4898