Your Hospital Stay

Whether you choose the Women and Infants Center at First Hill, the Ballard Family Childbirth Center, the Edmonds Childbirth Center or the Issaquah Childbirth Center, we want to do more than help you welcome a healthy new baby. We want to make your entire childbirth experience personal, relaxed and uniquely special, so when you leave us, you'll take home only the fondest of memories.

From the time you are admitted to Swedish until the time you go home, you will enjoy the comfort and convenience of your spacious and beautifully decorated room. Every room on our childbirth units is private and fully equipped to meet your needs throughout labor, delivery and recovery. Our specially designed beds adjust to a variety of positions to assist you during your birth experience. You can take advantage of the full entertainment center, complete with a CD player, television and VCR, so you can watch a movie with your partner, listen to music with your newborn — whatever feels right for you.

After your delivery, you will be moved to one of our cozy postpartum rooms to recover. There's even a place for your partner to sleep, so you can spend your first night together as a family.

If you want to share your baby's arrival with family and friends in your room or ask them to wait in our comfortable Family Lounge, that's your choice too.

Dining

Eating well is important for you as you recover from childbirth and take on the challenge of caring for a new baby. Swedish A la Carte dining service offers you a wide variety of menu selections delivered to your bedside on demand. At First Hill, service is available 24 hours a day. At Ballard, hours of service are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. At Edmonds, the hours are 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Visitors

Swedish has an open visiting policy because we believe you should decide who visits you and for how long. We understand this is a time for celebration; however, because your stay with us is brief, we recommend you keep your visitors to a minimum. You will be tired from your labor-and-delivery experience and anxious to get to know and learn to care for your baby.  Hospital visitors should check in at the nurses' station before entering your room to make certain it is an appropriate time for a visit. Let your nurse know if you wish to encourage or limit visitors — we will respect your wishes. To ensure infection control, all visitors should be free and clear of colds and infections and all persons who will be handling the baby should wash their hands thoroughly.