Where to Park

Labor and Delivery is located in the Margot Perot Center in Tower A. Moms arriving for labor between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. should park and enter through near the main hospital entrance after 7:00 p.m., park and enter through the emergency department.

View hospital map.

Where to Check In

Families should check in at the Labor and Delivery desk in Tower A, on the third floor. After exiting the elevator, turn right. Ring the doorbell next to the double doors to be let in.

Items to Bring With You to Labor and Delivery

When packing a labor bag, be sure to include:

• Driver’s license or ID card
• Insurance information
• Phone, camera, video camera and charging cables

Other items that may keep you comfortable during labor include:

• A deck of cards, books, magazines, music, tablet, etc.
• Bathrobe or labor gown
• Labor support tools
• Comfy slippers/socks (skid-proof)
• Snacks for your partner

Please note you do not need to bring your luggage or car seat to your room until after delivery.

We are here to help you have the birth experience that best fits your wishes and needs.

What’s in Your Room

Your entire birth process will take place in one of our 16 uniquely designed and soothing private maternity suites. Each room includes:

• Sleeper sofa for a support person
• Spacious shower or a bathtub for comfort during labor
• Aromatherapy patches, available upon request
• Private shower or a bathtub for comfort during labor
• Family nutrition station
• TV and internet access

Birth Plans

If you have a birth plan, please share it with your nurse when you arrive at your labor room. You do not have to create one. We will try to follow your wishes as long as they does not interfere with the health and safety of you or the baby.

Visitors

Filming and Photography

Documenting this special occasion is important for many of our families. Cameras are allowed with the following conditions:

• Your provider and any nurses or other providers in the room must consent to the video or photography.
• The individual recording the birth must sign the hospital’s Photographer/Videographer Agreement.
• The individual must obtain permission to photograph or videotape any hospital staff before doing so.
• Only hand-held devices are allowed in Labor and Delivery (no tripods).

Please note that the provider or nurse may require the individual to stop photographing or videotaping at any time.

Pain Management and Labor Support Tools

There is no medical “best choice” for managing pain during labor. Everyone has different pain thresholds. Instead, it’s a question of what makes the most sense for you and your partner. If you find that you want additional pain management during labor, the options available at Texas Health Plano include:

• Laboring in water
• IV medication
• Nitrous oxide
• Epidurals
• Aromatherapy patches

Texas Health Plano has birthing balls, labor bars and a hydrotherapy tub for use during labor and invites you to bring other labor-support tools such as your own birth gown, music player, blankets, pillow, etc.

Expectant parents often find it helpful to have the support of a doula during labor and delivery. Doulas are trained in providing emotional and physical support and helping women to carry out their birth plans. Doulas are welcome at mom’s beside as part of her care team and can be hired sometime during the pregnancy.

Our goal is to maintain scheduled delivery dates. To provide excellent care to you during the birth of your child(ren), the scheduled time of your arrival might change. If there are any changes, we will call you (usually 1-2 hours before admission). We will also communicate any changes with your doctor. If you have questions or concerns about changes to your scheduled delivery, talk to your doctor.

Before Your Delivery

If you are having a scheduled induction or cesarean at Texas Health Plano, please remember the following:

• Do not eat or drink anything at least eight hours before your procedure.
• After check-in, you will be prepared approximately two hours prior to the procedure.

Scheduled Cesarean Births

When you arrive at Labor and Delivery, please inform the staff that you're here for a scheduled cesarean. You will be taken to your room, where you’ll stay for approximately two hours. During this time, nurses will monitor your baby, and your anesthesiologist will meet with you to discuss your options before you head to the operating room.

In the operating room, you can expect a team that typically includes two physicians, two nurses, an anesthesiologist, and a certified surgical technician. One support person may accompany you during the surgery, provided there are no safety concerns. The procedure generally lasts about one hour.

After surgery, you and your baby, along with your support person, will be moved to a recovery room, where you will remain for approximately two hours. If there are no safety concerns, you will have skin-to-skin contact with your newborn to facilitate the first feeding.

Learn more about what to expect before, during and after your c-section.

Gentle Cesarean Births

For expectant moms who need a C-section, Texas Health Plano offers a gentle cesarean option. This type of cesarean aims to create a birth experience that mirrors a vaginal delivery. If you're interested, your nurse can provide additional details.

After your baby is born, the placenta is typically discarded as medical waste. But the placenta can be used to help others. At Texas Health Plano, women who have a cesarean birth have the option to donate the placenta for the use in treating difficult-to-heal wounds and burns. To consider this option during your birth, speak with your physician or nurses.

Skin-to-Skin

Immediately after birth, your baby will be placed skin-to-skin with you for at least one hour. This intimate contact facilitates the first feeding, keeps your newborn warm, stabilizes blood sugar levels and is beneficial for all babies.

The Golden Hour

The first hour after birth is called the “Golden Hour.” During this special time, only mom, baby and one support person will be allowed in the room to promote a peaceful environment for resting and bonding.

Baby’s First Examination

After the first hour, your newborn will receive their first examination. At this time, your family can be present for baby’s first exam and measurements.

Your Pediatrician is Notified

We encourage you to select a pediatrician before your baby’s birth. Following your baby's birth, we will promptly notify your pediatrician. If you haven't chosen a pediatrician or one without hospital privileges, the on-call pediatrician will provide care for your newborn.

Transition to Your Hospital Room

You and your baby will remain in Labor and Delivery for about two hours before being transferred to your designated room for the remainder of your stay.

Your Mother and Baby Room

The Mother-Baby area is as warm and inviting as are the family and friends that surround you. 

While at the Texas Health Plano, families enjoy private, spacious rooms.

How Long You Will You Stay

Typically, you will be discharged between 24 and 48 hours after a vaginal delivery. For a cesarean, discharge usually occurs between 48 and 72 hours after surgery. However, exceptions may be made for shorter or longer stays based on your needs or preferences. Please discuss your discharge plans with your nurse.

Get Up and Walk

Within six hours of your birth, your nurse will help you get out of bed to walk around. Walking will improve your circulation and prevent blood clots.

You Will Be Visited Hourly

Your nurse or a care assistant will regularly come by to check on you. If you would like less frequent visitations, just let the nurse know.

Visitors

Meals and Dining

To celebrate the arrival of your baby, Texas Health Plano offers a gourmet celebratory meal for parents to enjoy during their stay. After delivery, mom will receive a menu to select the celebratory meal for herself and her guest. Moms can order room service, seven days a week, by calling 972-981-3663 from their personal phone.

Download our quick guide to view dining options available on campus.

Breastfeeding Support

During your hospital stay, your nurse will be your primary contact for breastfeeding education. You will also have access to additional support from our lactation consultants.

At Texas Health Plano, our lactation department is staffed with experienced registered nurses who are international board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLC’s). They can provide one-on-one assistance in the privacy of your room to help with your breastfeeding journey.

Baby’s Screenings and Procedures

During your hospital stay, your baby will be examined daily by a pediatrician. If your pediatrician has privileges at the hospital, they or a member of their practice will visit you each day. If your pediatrician is not on the medical staff, an on-call pediatrician will provide care. Additionally, your newborn will undergo several tests, which may include:

• Blood screen (age 24 hours)
• Hearing screen
• Jaundice
• Heart screen (age 24 hours)
• Car-seat screen (when applicable)

Circumcision

If desired, circumcision for your baby boy can be performed during your hospital stay. In most cases, your baby will be returned to you within an hour after the procedure.

Where Baby Will Stay

At Texas Health Plano, we prioritize minimizing the separation of mothers and their babies. We encourage moms to keep their babies in their hospital rooms, even at night, through a practice known as rooming-in. Many of your baby’s evaluations and examinations can occur in your room. This setup allows mothers to learn their baby’s cues while having staff available to answer questions and provide education. With support from our experienced nurses, parents can gain the skills needed to confidently care for their babies in the comfort of their hospital rooms.

Birth Certificate and Social Security

While you’re in the hospital, a coordinator will reach out to assist you with the paperwork needed to register your baby’s birth. You will receive documentation to submit to your insurance company.

Find more information on requesting your child’s birth certificate or social security information.

Even if your doctor gives the green light for discharge, there are important steps that must be completed to ensure your safety and security before you leave.

• Your baby’s heart screening and newborn screening test were completed at age 24 hours
• Your OB/GYN has visited and said you can go home
• The pediatrician has visited and said your baby can go home
• You rented a breast pump, if desired
• You have completed all necessary paperwork
• Your prescriptions have been ordered or sent to your pharmacy
• You have reviewed your medications with a nurse
• A nurse or technician has brought a wheelchair to take you to your car

Scheduling Your Newborn’s Second Screening Test

Texas Health Plano offers a Newborn Screen Collection Clinic on a walk-in basis, Monday through Friday, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The outpatient lab is located on the first floor, near the main entrance.

As this service is offered on a first come first serve basis, please be sure to bring a copy of the physician’s order with you to the screening. Your pediatrician should provide an order for the repeat newborn screening during your first follow-up appointment.

Some pediatrician offices may also perform this screening, so it’s a good idea to contact them for more information. Additionally, please check with your insurance provider regarding coverage for outpatient lab services.

Location and Parking

The High-Risk Pregnancy Care unit is located on the third floor of Tower B.

Spacious Accommodations

The High-Risk Pregnancy Care unit has 20 spacious rooms that allow patients to stay in hotel-like surroundings designed to provide comfort and convenience. Each room includes:

• Couch for a support person to stay overnight
• Refrigerator
• Gourmet room service
• Childbirth education offered at the bedside
• Bedside baby showers
• Support groups, lactation consultants, chaplains and other support services
• Personalized tour of the NICU (if desired)

For mothers facing long stays during their pregnancy, Texas Health Plano offers a number of classes, activities and educational opportunities to help pass the time, provide support and prepare for the arrival of the baby. Support programs available may include:

• Childbirth education offered at the bedside
• Visits from pet-therapy dogs
• Bedside baby showers
• Gourmet room service
• Personalized tours of the NICU (if desired)
• Support groups, lactation consultants, chaplain and other support services