Our beautiful multi-million dollar maternity center at Cayuga Medical Center, the Cayuga Birthplace, opened in 2014. Located on the first floor, it has six Labor and Delivery Rooms, twelve Post Partum Rooms, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, in addition to five Single Family NICU rooms (these rooms allow for individualized and family centered infant care). There is also a Cesarean Section Surgical Operating Room within the Labor and Delivery Suite.

Other amenities include: family areas with sleeper beds in each patient room, whirlpool tubs in each Labor and Delivery Room, generous access to natural light and views to the grounds, and also comfortable spa-like interiors that reference nature to create a warm and welcoming environment.

In most cases, mothers and babies stay together from the moment of birth right through discharge, unless the mother chooses otherwise, or the baby is ill or premature. Babies are encouraged to remain undisturbed, “skin to skin” on their mother’s chest and to begin breastfeeding immediately after birth, as research shows this is the best thing for both baby and mom. Routine procedures such as weighing, measuring, foot-printing and so forth are delayed until the baby has had ample time to settle in and nurse if desired. This process (skin to skin right away) happens in the operating room as well, in the case of a C-section, unless the baby is unstable.

• The mother’s partner is welcome to stay with her 24 hours a day, if desired. Visits from the general public are limited to general hospital visiting hours, which are from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. During labor and the immediate time thereafter, the patient may have her immediate support persons or family with her, even “after-hours”, as her new baby is celebrated. (Children may not spend the night.)
• Parents are given ID bracelets that correspond with their baby’s bracelet. These bracelets must be worn at all times and are used to match babies to their mothers at each reunion, if the baby has left the mother’s room.
• All visitors should disinfect their hands upon entering the Birthplace and prior to handling the infant. There are foam dispensers throughout the unit for this purpose. There are sinks in each room for use if hands are visibly soiled.
• In the best interest of the babies, if you or your visitors are experiencing any of the following symptoms: cough, cold, fever, rash, vomiting or diarrhea, please do not visit until you are feeling better.