Delivering your baby at Pennsylvania Hospital
If you think you may be in labor, we assess you in our perinatal evaluation and treatment unit (PETU). A nurse, physician, or nurse midwife uses equipment, such as an ultrasound and fetal monitor, to determine if you’re in active labor and ready for admission to the labor and delivery unit.
Our labor and delivery suites feature a private bathroom with a shower, rocking chair, and home-like décor. After getting settled in your room, we’ll review your birth plan, if you’ve created one. We listen to your requests and tailor our care to fit your needs.
You have many options for managing labor pains, including pain-relieving medications and drug-free techniques. Our nurses and anesthesiologists help you choose which approach will meet your needs and goals.
Our fully equipped operating room is available for birthing parents who need a cesarean section (C-section). Whether the surgery is scheduled or unplanned, you and your baby get top medical care from an experienced team.
Pennsylvania Hospital supports your decision to have a natural childbirth. We’re the area’s only medical center with 24/7 midwifery services. Our nurse midwives help you have a holistic, natural labor that aligns with your childbirth goals. We also work with certified doulas who support you physically and emotionally during labor.
During labor and delivery, you have access to:
- Birthing ball, squatting bars, and other birth props
- Expert medical care if an emergency arises
- Jetted whirlpool tub (if available)
- Nurses trained in Lamaze International® natural childbirth methods
- Private shower
- Wireless fetal monitoring so you can walk around during labor
Birthing parents with complex pregnancies receive care and close monitoring in our antepartum unit. In some situations, we may be able to monitor you at home with a portable monitor. The team in this unit specializes in caring for individuals experiencing:
- Gestational diabetes
- High-risk pregnancies
- Labor induction
- Multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.)
- Preeclampsia
- Premature labor