I’ve been seeing A LOT of Maui mommies posting about Maui Memorial and what the deal is with the obstetrics department. Since I did my tour yesterday I thought I would share my “notes” for those that want a bit more insight.

 

First of all, Maui Memorial does tours of the maternity area. If you haven’t done this tour, do it. I actually left feeling very comfortable and… at peace.

 

So here it goes…

 

PRE-REGISTRATION & ADMISSIONS

You should definitely pre-register at the hospital well in advance of your due date. There’s nothing worse than filling out paperwork while in active labor. Trust me. It feels like some weird torture ritual that you even have to stop by admissions on your way in! But you do. Keep in mind – if you leave the hospital to go home and labor on your own for a while, when you return you will have to go through admissions all over again… even if it’s for outpatient services. I learned the hard way! You can get your pre-registration paperwork from your OB doctor or at the main desk of Admitting in the lobby floor area of the Kahului tower. Don’t forget to bring your ID!

 

PRIVATE VS. SEMI-PRIVATE ROOM

Room assignments can be made once you are admitted. If you want a private RECOVERY room – this is when you should ask for it. There are only three private rooms and it’s first-come, first-served. If you have a private room your partner can spend the night with you in recovery. There is an extra charge for the private room.

 

 

According to our guide, depending on insurance, it can range from $150 to $175 a night (you can ask exactly how much it will cost you upon admission). **NOTE: THIS HAS CHANGED SINCE KAISER TOOK OVER — SOON (IF NOT ALREADY IN PLACE) A PRIVATE ROOM WILL COST YOU MORE THAN $600 A NIGHT** She suggested that if you’re trying to cut costs but still want a private room, one thing you can do is request the private room at midnight. Ask the nurses how many rooms are available and you can chance it. Let’s say you come in at 4 pm and you request the private room upon admission, but don’t deliver until the next day… you WILL be charged for that day even though you didn’t use the private recovery room yet. The up side? The room you “reserved” will still be yours (since you’re paying for it).

 

 

Mommies I’ve talked to have suggested also asking hospital personnel how many women are in delivery / recovery. If the hospital is “empty” you might have a pretty good shot at getting a semi-private room to yourself. Semi-private rooms are shared – two to a room – using the same bathroom and shower. Overnight guests are not allowed in the semi-private rooms. There is no “extra” charge for the semi-private room.

 

AM I IN LABOR?

If you think you might be in labor, the hospital would like you to call your doctor first. If it’s after hours at the doctor office and you cannot get in touch with them, you can call Labor and Delivery at 242-2436. Maui Memorial does not like to be “surprised” so even if you’ve already talked to your doctor and call the hospital a couple minutes before arriving, they like to know that you are on your way.  The hospital asks that you only use this number for that purpose and / or to check for non-stress testing outpatient type visits. For example, your family should not call this number to check on you. The switchboard won’t connect you anyway.

 

WHERE DO I GO?

It is actually a bit complicated! There are sooooo many towers! If you arrive between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. you should come through the main entrance of the Kahului tower. You’ll go up to the 1st floor then follow the signs to the Wailuku tower and get off on the 3rd floor. Here’s a quick video “tour” of me getting lost… and then finding it.

 

 

If you arrive after hours, drive directly to the emergency room entrance and an admitting clerk will lead you to the OB department.

 

PARKING

At the front entrance of the Kahului tower, valet parking is FREE. Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you come between 5:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. – park in Valet parking and tell admissions that you’ve done so. If you want to park your car yourself, after 3 p.m. is when the parking lot starts to open up.

 

 

After discharge, if you were able to valet your car, they will bring your car to the front. Make sure to tip them – they are so nice! The hospital asks that you do not park at the front entrance.

 

LABOR & DELIVERY ROOM

Labor and delivery rooms are separate from the recovery rooms I wrote about above. You will labor and deliver in the same room. There are 6 of these rooms and they are PRIVATE. There is a bathroom and shower.

 

 

You are allowed THREE “coaches” during labor and delivery (this includes Doulas). If you have children (under the age of 12), they are not allowed in the labor and delivery room. The hospital asks that you make arrangements for childcare before showing up at the hospital.

 

You can provide a “birth plan” if you want but the hospital says their birth plan is “healthy baby, healthy mama.” If you have your cord blood paperwork, give it to the hospital personnel.

 

EPIDURAL VS. IV DRUGS & OTHER LABOR INFO

The hospital will be monitoring baby’s heart beat and your contractions with their high tech machines. One super cool feature? Your doctor is able to see your vitals remotely from their office and can keep up with your progress.

 

When you are all set up in your labor and delivery room you can walk around the hospital as long as you don’t have an epidural. Once the needle is inserted, you are on bedrest until baby is delivered. Keep in mind, if you DO want an epidural there is only one anesthesiologist on staff at a given time. They could be in a C-section or busy with someone else so you may have to wait to get it. Our guide said that most mamas get it within the hour.

 

If you choose to have the IV drugs. These drugs actually go into your baby’s system so once the baby is born they will have to inject baby with medication that reverses the effects of the IV drugs.

 

After delivery, you will spend about 1 hour bonding, recovering and breastfeeding baby while your nurse monitors your bleeding and blood pressure. Immediate family is allowed to visit during this time in the delivery room (see GUESTS).

 

Maui Memorial is a breastfeeding advocate hospital and believes in skin-to-skin. They do not give baby formula (unless necessary and with your consent) and have half a dozen lactation consultants on staff to help you with breastfeeding. All the nurses are also trained. If you want/need to pump – they provide a breast pump but there is only one and it is shared. You will get your own tubing and cups of course but if you want to bring your own pump you are welcome to.

 

YOUR NEW BABY!

Once your baby is born, an ID band will be placed on mom, her support person and two bands will be put on baby. Do NOT remove the band until baby goes home! In addition to the ID bands, there will be a security device on the umbilical cord. If the baby is taken off the premises an alarm will go off, doors will lock and all bags, etc… going in and out are checked until the threat is neutralized.

 

Your bracelet allows you (and your support person) to see baby in the nursery if baby cannot room with you due to illness or stays in the hospital longer than you. Bands are not changed, so pick your support person well!

 

POSTPARTUM

After delivery and recovery, you will be transferred to your postpartum room and the baby will go to the nursery for their initial exam and a bath. If you wish to have circumcision or immunizations done, they will also be done in the nursery. Neither of those procedures are done without your prior consent. At midnight, baby will be brought to the nursery for a weight check and brought back to you.

 

If you have a PRIVATE room and your support person is rooming in with you and baby, they are not allowed to sleep in the hospital bed with mom. There is a recliner chair in each private room – which reclines. But, it is not a bed that lies flat and no one is allowed to sleep on the floor.

 

 

There are only 2 pillows so if you want more than that, you’ll have to bring it from home.

 

GUESTS

During labor & delivery

Once you’ve delivered baby, up to three visitors at a time are allowed 24/7 into your labor/delivery room (this includes children). If you haven’t delivered by 8 p.m. and have visitors in the waiting area, they are welcome to stay but will need to check in with security.

 

Children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the labor and delivery room DURING labor and delivery. **They are also not allowed to accompany you to any visits for testing or during pre-admission for a Cesarean.**

 

Guests will need to know your name to check in at security.

 

Postpartum & recovery

Visiting hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily for the general public. The OB unit is secured so you will have to push the intercom button and wait for staff to respond. If you have a PRIVATE recovery room you may have up to 5 guests plus your support person at one time. If you are in a SEMI-PRIVATE room you can have up to 3 guests plus support person at one time.

 

Your support person can room-in with you the entire time IF you have a private room. If you are in a semi-private room, your support person / partner can visit from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (To enter before/after visiting hours, you will have to show your band to the camera for entry).

 

PHONE CALLS 

As stated above, family member should NOT call the labor and delivery number while you are in labor. Once you are moved to the recovery room, the operator will connect any calls. Here is the number: 808-244-9056 … don’t worry, after 10 p.m. the operator won’t transfer calls to your room – but you can still call out. Dial 9 for local calls and 0 for the operator for long-distance. The hospital says that cell phone use is prohibited.

 

FOOD

The Cafeteria is open during meal times. I’m not exactly sure what those hours are but common sense tells me for breakfast, lunch and dinner. While you are in labor, you will stick to clear liquids and jello. After delivery, it’s fair game! You are welcome to bring whatever food / drink you want into the hospital. Maui Memorial also provides a “special meal” for you and your support person. Our guide said they actually will grill your steak! lol I’ve also heard there’s chicken cordon bleu on the menu.

 

PHOTOGRAPHER

A photographer will come to your room to take baby’s first photos at your bedside. The session is free and there’s a website where you can share the photo. Details on rates for printing or getting digital copies will be given to you at time of photo session.

 

WHAT TO PACK

**Click on this link to see “Hospital Bag Checklist” blog **

 

One thing to keep in mind, Maui Memorial has only one free electrical outlet for you in labor and delivery. So if you want music, make sure the batteries are charged or bring remote chargers for phones, etc…

 

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Send gifts home with your friends/family prior to discharge to make it easier to move out.

 

Make sure to complete your birth certificate paperwork with the Birth Certificate Clerk. You can also request your Social Security Number for baby at this time. It can sometimes take up to 3 months to receive it. Any questions about this? Call the clerk at 242-2352, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

For verification of your baby’s birth for insurance or other purposes, call 442-5213, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to request a Verification of Live Birth.

 

Hope this blog helps you!! I know I felt a lot more comfortable with giving birth here on Maui once I knew all of these details! My first baby was born on Oahu at Kapiolani so if you have any questions about that I’m happy to answer them as well. I’m sure I’ll be updating this blog after the experience. Life’s Swell… happy birthing!!

 

Other blogs you may be interested in: 

Childbirth: Hospital Bag Checklist

Preparing Older Sibling for Baby on the Way

The 5 S’s “Happiest Baby on the Block” Works

Getting my Pre-Baby Body Back

My Favorite Affordable Maternity Clothes from Pink Blush Maternity

Jackson’s Birth Story

Early Signs of Pregnancy

Tips for Sleeping Comfortably While Pregnant

Our Birth Announcement & Gender Reveal Parody Songs