Labor and delivery

Your baby’s birth and their first few moments of life are memories you will cherish forever. Take some time to think about what will make those memories even more special for you and your family. Now is the time to discuss these ideas with your healthcare provider. We’ll work with you to help plan your baby's arrival in a way that meets your needs and preferences.

We offer an easy one-step registration process. To register, please use the tab at the top of the page "MyHealthOne" before your 24th week of pregnancy.

When you come to the hospital, bring your insurance cards and any paperwork your insurance company requires. If you are on a CHAMPUS plan, please bring your nonavailability and military ID cards, regardless of which plan you are on.

We recommend choosing a pediatrician for your baby about two months before your due date. We will ask for your physician’s name when you are admitted. If needed, we can help you find a conveniently located physician who participates in your insurance plan.

If you and your physician have special arrangements regarding the care or admission of your baby, the physician’s office must provide them to us in writing before your delivery. You and your partner should also discuss circumcision with your physician before your baby is born.

Florida law requires that all children younger than four years old be secured in an approved child passenger safety seat while riding in a motor vehicle. This law includes the newborn’s first ride home from the hospital. You must bring a baby car seat with you, so be sure to purchase and correctly install a rear-facing infant car seat well before your due date.

A healthy, well-balanced diet will help you better handle the physical stresses of pregnancy and ensure your baby receives the nutrients essential for development. Eat at least three meals a day, or consider eating four to six small meals a day (especially if you experience nausea).

Make it a habit to choose snacks high in vitamins, minerals and protein. Limit your intake of foods high in sugar or fat or with little nutritional value. Remember, anything you eat, your baby eats. Talk to your doctor about what to include or exclude from your diet, but typically you will want to have:

• Calcium-rich foods
• Fluids
• Fruits
• Grains
• Vegetables
• Meat and protein-rich foods

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects, learning disabilities and behavioral problems in your baby. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the medical term that describes the physical and mental problems that affect children born to mothers who drank during their pregnancies.

The adverse effects of drinking depend on the amount consumed, the stage of pregnancy and certain susceptibilities in the mother and her baby. The safest course to take while you’re pregnant is to not drink alcohol at all.

Do not take any medication until you have checked with your healthcare provider. This includes aspirin, allergy medication, large doses of vitamins, homeopathic remedies and prescription drugs.

You should avoid all recreational drugs, including marijuana. Smoking while you’re pregnant can impair your baby’s growth.

Once your child is born, a smoke-free house is a much safer and healthier environment.

Physical fitness is another important factor in a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Our HEART Fitness Center offers a wide variety of exercise equipment, stretching and aerobics classes and general fitness instruction. For questions or to learn more about membership options at our fitness center, call (904) 858-7320.