Coming to the Hospital to Have Your Baby

Frequently Asked Questions

Online Prenatal Information and Classes

1. What other online classes does Health Education offer and how do I register?
KP East Bay offers the following classes online: Preparing for Childbirth, Breastfeeding,
Newborn Care, Preparing for Postpartum, and Cómo prepararse para el parto Clase en línea
(Spanish Preparing for Childbirth). You can register by calling 510-752-6150 or 510-307-
2210.

2. Where can I get more prenatal information and review information from my classes?
Check out kp.org/mydoctor/pregnancy for a wealth of information on pregnancy,
breastfeeding, newborn and postpartum care. This site includes videos, podcasts, our
Pregnancy and Newborn Online Newsletters, as well as our Virtual Labor and Delivery Tour

3. Where can I get learn more about Covid-19 and pregnancy

During the pandemic, we're taking every precaution to ensure a healthy delivery and safe
transition back home. Learn more at:
https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/covid-19/keeping-you-and-your-baby-healthy

Coming to the Hospital

1. What is the Number for KP Oakland’s Labor and Delivery?
Please call our delivery advice nurse at 510-752-9300 or 510-752-6274 (available 24 hours a
day) before coming to the hospital in labor, or any time you think you need to be evaluated
in the hospital.

2. Where do we park when we come to the hospital?

Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center is located at 3600, Broadway, Oakland CA
94611. Moms in labor can enter the hospital from the drop-off circle on the south side of
the hospital building. These doors are open 24 hours a day.

In the drop-off circle, thereare twoparkingspotsmarked"Women in Labor”. Inside the garage,

there are seven additional marked and reserved spaces are near the ramp to the 2nd
floor of the hospital parking garage (3510 Broadway). You may use these or other parking
spots.

Parking in the drop-off area is limited and short-term. If not in active labor, please park in
the lot. If in active labor, park in the drop-off circle. The support person can go back, park
 in the lot and come right back in. We just do not want the support person to leave the
hospital campus and have other exposures.

4. Do I have to pay for parking during my hospital stay.?

The hospital Labor and Delivery staff can provide you or your partner with a parking fee
waiver that allows free parking in the hospital garage for the length of your stay. You can
ask your nurse for this. Also, please hang the Woman in Labor hang tag that you receive in
your turquoise prenatal folder handed out at your 36-week prenatal visit. You can hang
this tag from your car’s inside mirror.

5. Do my partner and support people need a photo ID to enter Labor and Delivery?
Yes, please make sure your partner and support people bring photo IDs.

Your Partner and/or Support People

1. How many people can I have at the birth?
You can have 2 people total with you at the birth and postpartum:
 They can both be with you as long as you are in a labor room.
 If you have a doula at the birth, the doula counts as 1 of the 2 people.
 The second support person may be a sibling.
o However, if the sibling is younger than 18, the 1st support person must be fully
responsible for the child, including staying with the child in case of an emergency
c-section.
 For a c-section, only one person can be with you.

2. Can my visitors switch in and out and do they need to be vaccinated?

 Currently there is no switching in and out.
 On arrival, your visitors will be asked to show their vaccine card or a photo thereof.
o If the visitor is not vaccinated, they will need to do a rapid antigen test (available
at the hospital entrance 24/7-- the negative results of which are good for 72
hours) or show evidence of a health care facility validated test done within 72
hours.
 Active labor / urgent evaluation: if immediate entry is required, your support person/
visitor can come down for vaccine validation procedure after you are checked in.
 Child visitors: The only people under 14 who can visit are siblings. They do require proof of
vaccination or a rapid antigen test AND be able to mask
 Doula visitors: they are required to show their vaccination card or do antigen testing as
per above; pre-arrangement in the outpatient chart with their name during prenatal
care and signing of the doula code of conduct when admitted is still required (see
below).

3. What are the requirements for having a doula at the birth?

 The doula’s name needs to be designated in advance in your prenatal chart. You can
message or chat with your prenatal provider and they can add a doula to your chart.
  Doulas should not come the hospital until after you are admitted. Preferably they arrive
once you are in active labor.
 Make sure your doula brings a photo ID so they can be admitted to Labor and Delivery.
 Once the doula arrives, they must sign a code of conduct.
o The code of conduct contains things like the doula is there for labor support not
medical care, no videos, etc. If you would like to see it in advance, you may ask
your prenatal provider to show you what it says.
 The doula agrees to leave after the birth.

4. When do my partner/support people need to arrive?

Support people do not need to enter with you at the time of admission. Professional doulas
tend to arrive once you are in active labor.

5. Can my partner or support person leave the hospital campus?

Yes, we are no longer restricting comings and goings. Your visitors’ vaccination / negative covid
test will be re-verified upon reentry.

Food
1. Can I eat during labor?
Yes, the delivering parent can eat in labor and food is available in the hospital for you. If
you are hungry, just ask your nurse for a snack or meal. If you receive an epidural or
Pitocin, you may have clear liquids.

2. Can my partner or support people bring food?

You are welcome to bring your own food. Partners and support people can also get food from
our cafeteria (currently open until 5pm) on the first floor of the hospital. They may also order food to be
delivered to the hospital. There are also vending machines available. Storing food for patients is
not permitted due to covid so you might want to bring a small cooler.

3. Is there a way to heat up food that we bring in with us?

We do have microwaves. Your nurse can help you with heating food.

Labor and Delivery

1. Who will deliver the baby?
For low risk pregnancies, a midwife and a resident physician typically oversee the delivery.
For higher risk births, a resident physician with an attending /supervising physician will
oversee the delivery.

2. Can my partner "catch" the baby?

For a low risk birth, we can have a “hands-on-hands” delivery, meaning your partner can
catch the baby with the assistance of the doctor or midwife.
3. Can we take photos at the birth?
Yes, it is fine to take photographs. However. video recordings are not permitted.

4. With COVID, are masks required throughout the entire delivery?

For the birthing parent we request the masks stay on as much as possible when a provider
is in the room.
 Your support people are required to wear a mask whenever a provider/staff is in the
room.
 Masks are required both by you and your support people in all public places in the
hospital.

5. How long is the hospital stay?

For a healthy delivery with no complications, the stay is usually one night.

6. Are birthing balls and other labor supports provided?

Yes, we have birthing balls, peanut balls, rocking chairs, and showers with stools. There are
also squat bars on the beds for towel pulls during pushing or squatting positions. If you
would like mats, please bring those from home.

7. Are there birth tubs and showers?

Each labor room has a shower with a shower stools. We do not have tubs.

8. Is continuous monitoring allowed in the shower?

We have portable monitors so you can walk and shower throughout your labor even with
continuous monitoring.

9. If there are no major risks identified in active labor, can we request intermittent
monitoring vs. continuous monitoring?
Low risk patients receiving no medical interventions and a normal fetal heart rate can have
intermittent monitoring.

9. Do you use perineal massage to prevent tearing?

We don't recommend massage during labor, but we can provide warm compresses and
perineal support, as well as coaching on how to push to minimize tearing.

10. When and why would forceps/vacuum be used?

Vacuum and forceps would be recommended if the cervix is 10cm dilated, the baby's head
is low enough and delivery needs to be expedited--usually because of fetal distress.
Forceps/vacuum are occasionally used if the birthing person requests them due to
exhaustion.
11. Are there any special protocols with a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).
A VBAC is moderate risk. With VBACs, we do continuous fetal heart rate monitoring. We
also recommend epidurals once in active labor. This, however, is your choice and some
parents opt not to do this. Depending on how the labor is progressing either a Certified
Nurse Midwife or Doctor will supervise your care.

12. Does Kaiser Permanente consider vaginal births for breech babies?
If your baby is breech, we will offer to try to turn the baby from the outside a few weeks
before your due date. If you don't want to try to turn the baby or the baby will not turn,
we recommended C-Sections.

13. If I'd like to take the placenta home with me, what is the process?
Let us know if you are interested in taking your placenta. In some cases, we recommend
sending it to pathology first. If it turns out there is infection or other health problem, it is
not recommended to take the placenta home.

Pain Management
1. Are TENS units/machines available?
Yes, we have transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS).  TENS units do not involve
any medications. Instead, they work by sending small electrical pulses through the skin of
your back. TENS may help with your labor pain and will not make you or your baby sleepy or
numb. 

2. Is nitrous oxide available?

Yes, nitrous oxide is available.

3. When and why would Pitocin be used?

Pitocin is the synthetic version of your body's own hormone, oxytocin, which produces
contractions. We can use Pitocin in several ways.  We can use it during labor to boost up
your contractions if your labor is not progressing in a healthy way.  We can also use Pitocin
after labor to prevent postpartum hemorrhage, which is when too much blood is lost after
the placenta comes.  Whether or not to use Pitocin is a discussion we would have with you.

4. With low dose epidural can I still walk around?

Even a low-dose epidural can make your legs weak and will put you at risk of falling.  For
your safety, we ask you not to stand or walk. We will try to give you the lowest dose of
epidural medicine to make you comfortable without making you too numb or weak.

5. If I have an epidural do I have to give birth on my back?

 No, an epidural does not restrict you to delivering on your back.  Most laboring patients
with epidurals can still deliver their baby on their side or squatting with support.

6. What type of catheter is used for epidural?

Women in labor often have difficulty urinating with an epidural.   Because a full bladder
can prevent the baby’s entry to the pelvis, a Foley catheter, which is a soft, thin tube, can
be placed in your low back to help you empty your bladder. 

7. With IV medications can I still walk around mobile?

IV pain medications like morphine and fentanyl are opioids, also referred to as narcotics. 
Opioids help with pain, but can also make you sleepy and dizzy. This puts you at risk of
falling.  You can walk around again after these side effects have worn off.

8. Do IV medications affect the baby?

IV medications reach the baby by passing through the placenta.  You and your baby get rid
of these medications through metabolism.  IV medications wear off over time for both you
and your baby.

9. Do spinal and epidurals affect the baby?

Epidurals and spinals work by injecting medications very close to the nerves in your back. 
Because no medication is being injected into the baby, the baby doesn’t feel weak or numb
when the mother gets a spinal or an epidural.

Breastfeeding
1. Does KP East Bay offer a breastfeeding Class?
Yes, we offer an online breastfeeding class. We recommend you take this class between
you 28th – 37th week of pregnancy. You can register by calling Health Education at 510-752-
6150 or 510-307-2210.

2. Is it recommended to bring a breast pump and feeding pillow to learn how to use?
It is fine to bring breast pumps from home, but we do have hospital grade pumps that we
can provide families, if needed. You can bring you’re preferred feeding pillow if you would
like to learn how to use it.

3. When can we order a breast pump for use at home?

Many members eligible for a retail-grade electric breast pump through their health plan at
no charge.
 To check eligibility
You can check your eligibility while you are pregnant by calling member services at
1-800-464-4000 (English)
  To Order a breast pump
o If you are eligible for a breast pump, you may place your order up to 30 days
before your due date or after your baby is born.
o To order you will need your MRN, baby’s due date or date of birth, and your
mailing address.
 To order online: Go to http://breastpumps.byramhealthcare.com/kaiser
o Online you can see which pump you will receive.
o Your Pump will be delivered in 3-7 business days.
 To order by phone: Call Byram Healthcare: 1-833-752-4737

 How do I get breastfeeding support once I go home?

For breastfeeding challenges at home, please call the Call Center at 510-752-1100.

Pediatrics
1. When do I choose pediatrician or family doctor for my baby?
You may select your baby’s pediatrician or family medicine doctor after your baby is born
and has a medical record number. we can help you with this prior to your leaving. We also
help set up the newborn exam and the 2-week follow up visit.

Before your baby is born you may review available providers, either a pediatrician or family
medicine doctor, and their home pages at KP.org/mydoctor. There is also an option of
having a phone "interview" with a provider after reviewing their home page. In your
burgundy prenatal folder provided by ob/gyn at your 28-week prenatal visit, there is info
about how to set an interview through member services.

2. Can we opt to not have the baby washed?

Yes, you can opt to not have baby washed.

3. Are the eye drops for the baby required?

The “eye drop” used is an erythromycin ointment to protect against common eye
infections. While it is not required, we do strongly recommend it to protect your baby.

4. When and how do I schedule an appointment for a circumcision?

A circumcision can be done soon after the baby is born. Usually it will be done on the day of
or day before discharge. Please notify the nurse and/or physician and they will give you a
consent form. We recommend completing the circumcision soon after your baby is born,
but if you’d rather wait please notify the pediatrician to help arrange an outpatient
circumcision appointment within the first month of life. Be aware that these appointments
are more difficult to schedule during COVID.
5. Currently, do you recommend that newborns have no visitors (like grandparents) once we
get home? Or, are there some recommended protocols, like asking grandparents to
quarantine first, get tested, etc.?
We recommend families to follow current health guidelines and therefore not have any
visitors. Under extreme circumstances, if visitors are needed please discuss with your
pediatrician for the correct protocol for quarantining and testing.

6. If a partner or family members had the pertussis vaccine (TDAP) when they were younger,
does Kaiser Permanente recommend that they to get a booster before labor?
Yes. The TDAP is good for about 10 years. We recommend that your partner, family, and
friends, who will be around your baby, get a booster, if their vaccine is older than 10 years.

7. Is the vitamin K shot required?

The vitamin K shot is strongly recommended as babies do not produce this essential vitamin
at birth and therefore are at risk of serious bleeds, including catastrophic brain bleeds. If a
family were to decline the vitamin K shot, they will need to sign a document indicating they
understand the risk of not getting this shot.