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.

• 	Green, hand-knit sweater, booties and hat, donated by Judy Gorian, is one of the many items on Family Birth Center walls.

  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, a "Do Not Disturb" sign is 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. Many people love to take pictures (still and video) to capture the memories. We understand this desire.

We also want to limit distractions for our clinicians. Please do not take pictures of the actual birth or immediately after. This will help us focus on mother and baby. If the mother agrees, you may take pictures the rest of the time during her stay.

Out of respect for privacy, do not take pictures of:

• other guests or patients
• staff members who do not want their picture taken

Everyone has the right to ask people to stop taking pictures at any time. If you see pictures being taken that make you feel uncomfortable, please tell a staff member.

Ask if you have questions. You can talk with your doctor, certified nurse-midwife or nurse.

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.

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 Ramp 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 6 p.m., weekdays. Shuttle buses do not run on weekends or holidays.

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