Thank you for choosing Memorial Hermann for your special labor and delivery experience. When visiting the hospital for appointments, scheduled tests or delivery, please bring your insurance card and identification. With pre-registration, our staff will help file your insurance claim for you and your newborn.
This page discusses the key activities for mom, baby, and family before, during and after their hospital stay. Print this page or bookmark it for easy reference over the course of your pregnancy.
Your first trimester of pregnancy is not too soon to begin preparing for your baby's birth. During this time, you may wish to participate in our maternity tour. Find a free tour at your hospital and register online, or call (713) 222-CARE to register by phone.
Midwifery is a holistic approach to maternity care that recognizes birth as a natural and transformative process. By choosing midwifery, you are opting for personalized, comprehensive care that accommodates your unique needs, values and preferences.
At Memorial Hermann, the team of certified nurse midwives will work with you to provide a birthing experience that is safe, empowering and memorable. The nurse midwives hold certifications from the American Midwife Certification Board and meet the advanced practice nursing requirements mandated by the state of Texas.
Midwives are by your side during labor and birth, offering support, guidance and encouragement. They advocate for your choices and preferences, promoting a calm, intimate and comfortable environment for you to welcome your little one into the world.
Our midwives deliver babies at these select Memorial Hermann hospital locations:
Memorial Hermann is committed to engaging families and equipping parents with tools and important co-parenting skills to improve family functioning. Join a Memorial Hermann course facilitator and other parents online for interactive sessions to better prepare yourself to be an involved, engaged, and positive co-parent and partner. Separate sessions are offered for moms and for dads at no charge, and can be taken as desired.
Session topics for all single/married moms and dads include:
See full schedule of available sessions in English or Spanish at memorialhermann.org/parenting-classes or call (713) 222-CARE.
Pre-registration is required before giving birth at one of our 9 Houston-area hospitals. Complete the online pre-registration form for the hospital where you will be giving birth. Have your insurance information handy. Complete pre-registration now.
NOTE: you will still need to sign certain consents in-person. We recommend patients pre-register while receiving their gestational diabetes test in their OB/GYNs office.
After you preregister, your insurance data will be verified and you will be contacted by a patient access representative to review your insurance benefits. Memorial Hermann will assist you in filing your insurance claim. Learn more about insurance requirements.
We encourage expectant mothers to start educating themselves about breastfeeding prior to delivery, and begin talking to with their support team about this decision. Learn more.
You may also download a free copy of Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care anytime throughout your pregnancy or after. This booklet will help you prepare to care for yourself and your baby after birth including topics such as changes to expect after birth, breastfeeding, safe sleeping environment, and more.
Memorial Hermann offers a full range of educational resources for expectant parents, including live and online classes, community events, and support groups to enhance your experience and help prepare you for the joys of parenthood.
We provide classes for new parents and refresher courses for current parents on childbirth education, newborn care, breastfeeding, infant CPR, and related topics. In addition, we offer classes for other family members, including grandparents and siblings, to provide opportunities for learning and support. Find an in-person or virtual class and register online, or call (713) 222-CARE to register by phone.
Once you have pre-registered online, you should also complete the following by the seventh month of pregnancy:
To get started on your baby's birth certificate, fill out a Birth Certificate Worksheet and drop off at the Business Office. Learn more about birth certificate and acknowledgement of paternity.
Be sure to discuss your childbirth and anesthesia options with your doctor well before delivery. Call your hospital to fill out the required pre-anesthesia paperwork if required.
If you are scheduled to have a C-section or an induction, you must have lab work done prior to your delivery. Call Pre-Admit Testing at your hospital to set up an appointment.
Read the Infant Security guidelines for techniques that can help prevent abduction of infants while in the hospital and once you take your child home. Read infant security guidelines.
It’s important that you have a pediatrician ready for your newborn by the seventh month of pregnancy. Use Memorial Hermann’s physician finder to find a pediatrician near you..
Memorial Hermann offers classes on prepared childbirth breastfeeding, infant care, healthy pregnancy, and infant massage. We also offer classes for siblings and refresher courses for current parents. Find a class at your hospital and register online, or call (713) 222-CARE to register by phone.
You may also download a free copy of Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care anytime throughout your pregnancy or after. This booklet will help you prepare to care for yourself and your baby after birth including topics such as changes to expect after birth, breastfeeding, safe sleeping environment, and more.
Breastfeeding can be one of the most beneficial things you do for your baby, but often is a challenging process. In addition to providing a special time of bonding, breastfeeding reduces your child’s risk of infections while helping your body recover from the stress of pregnancy, labor and delivery. Learn more.
It's a good idea to pack two separate bags - one for labor and delivery and another for your after-delivery stay. Get a checklist of things to pack for your hospital stay.
Get step-by-step instructions on what to do the day of the delivery. Call your obstetrician and come to the hospital.
Talk with your doctor about your options and preferences for pain management during delivery.
Install the infant car seat in the vehicle that will be transporting you and your newborn home after delivery.
Skin-to-skin contact in the first hour of your baby’s life is called the Golden Hour. This time plays a key role in helping you and your baby become securely attached. Learn more about the Golden Hour at Memorial Hermann.
Memorial Hermann’s expert staff will conduct key medical screenings after your child is born and request permission for vaccinations recommended by the CDC and the State of Texas. If you’re expecting a boy, circumcision will also be addressed.
You may also download a free copy of Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care anytime throughout your pregnancy or after. This booklet will help you prepare to care for yourself and your baby after birth including topics such as changes to expect after birth, breastfeeding, safe sleeping environment, and more.
Memorial Hermann’s team of skilled and knowledgeable board-certified lactation consultants provides a full spectrum of services to help mothers with questions regarding breastfeeding during and after your hospital stay. Learn more about our breastfeeding support.
Complete your birth certificate form and, if applicable, acknowledgement of paternity (AOP) before you leave the hospital. Visit our birth certificate information center.
When a health-care provider gives your child an immunization, and you consent to registering this information, the statewide immunization registry, known as ImmTrac, is notified. Learn more about the information in the registry.