Ask an STHS Expert: What are the New Family Center’s visiting rules?

(STHS photo)

Note: This story is part of a series in which St. Tammany Health System experts respond to health-related questions from our Northshore neighbors.

Q: I’ll be having my baby soon at St. Tammany Health System’s New Family Center. What are the rules for visitors?– B.V., Slidell

A: First things first: Congratulations – and thank you for being part of the St. Tammany Health System family!

Because the New Family Center is a locked unit for the security of our mothers and babies, all visitors must sign in for access.

For vaginal deliveries, two visitors are allowed during childbirth. For a non-emergency C-section, one support person is allowed.

Once you’ve had your baby, visitation follows hospital visiting policies other than these exceptions:

• Children under 12 who are children of adult inpatients are allowed to visit but must be supervised at all times by an adult (18+) who is not the patient.
• Visitors between 12 and 15 must be supervised by an adult (18+) who is not the patient.
• One support person 16 or older may remain overnight with the patient.

Exceptions may be made by a charge nurse.

– Jamie Orr Romage, MSN, RN, director of Lactation Education, Mother Baby and New Family Center

Do you have a question for our STHS team? Email it to us at CommDept@stph.org, with the words “Ask an STHS Expert” in the subject line. We’ll do our best to get you an answer, with select responses appearing in future editions of Heart to Heart. (Please include your hometown and the initials you’d like us to use in identifying you.)