Visitors

The birth of a baby is a happy event. Family members and friends will be eager to visit. We welcome visitors and ask that they follow these guidelines.

• Dads and partners are welcome during the entire hospital stay.
• Immediate family members are welcome any time.
• Other friends and relatives may visit with patients’ approval.
• Brothers and sisters of the newborn are the only children allowed in the maternity unit.
• Formal health screening for colds and infectious diseases is not conducted by staff. Please be sure your visitors are healthy and that everyone washes his or her hands before touching the baby.
• For the health and safety of you and your baby, no one should visit who is not feeling well, has a cold, or has been exposed to a communicable disease, such as the flu, chicken pox, tuberculosis, measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough or impetigo. We want to make sure your baby’s immature immune system is protected during his or her stay.
• Should you want more private time with your baby or time to sleep without being disturbed, there is a "Do Not Disturb" sign available on your door. You also may dial "0" and ask the hospital operator to hold all telephone calls, and ask your nurse to limit visitors.

The birth of a new baby is a special time for a family. It creates lifelong memories. Many family and friends love to capture and share these moments through video or photographs.

We understand these desires. We are committed to providing an environment free of distractions, however, so doctors, certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and nurses can participate in the birth process and provide undivided attention to the mom.

With this commitment in mind, we ask that you do not videotape or photograph during the immediate delivery or stabilization of the newborn to allow our professionals undivided attention to the birth. With the mother’s consent, we encourage you to take advantage of other opportunities to preserve remarkable moments through video footage or photos.

Photographing and videotaping your new family are encouraged in the nursery and Family Birth Center to preserve those first few days in the life of your new baby. Out of our respect for privacy, we do not allow videotaping or photographing other guests or patients without their consent. We also request that you respect the wishes of any staff members who prefer not to be on videotape.

Staff reserves the right to ask visitors and patients to stop recording or taping at any time. Patients have the right to stop others from photographing or recording them at any time, and are asked to notify a staff member if they observe photography or recording that makes them feel uncomfortable.

If you have any questions about videotaping or taking photographs, please discuss them with your doctor or CNM.

The visitor's lounge for family and friends of new parents is located just to the left as you exit the elevators and enter the Family Birth Center. The lounge includes a television, microwave, vending machines, couches and chairs. The vending machines include disposable cameras in case you forget yours.

Due to fire codes and patient confidentiality, visitors are not allowed to wait in Family Birth Center hallways.

Paid parking for visitors is available in the Orange Lot near the Meadowbrook Building on the Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital campus or the Blue Ramp, also on the campus. Free parking is available in the Red Lot, an off-site lot at Louisiana Avenue and Oxford Street. A free shuttle service is provided from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekdays. Shuttle buses do not run on weekends or holidays.

Family and friends should not park in the Emergency Center parking lot.