Labor & Delivery
Providing a Range of Options for Childbirth
The Family Center at Exeter Hospital is here to support you during labor and delivery so you can have a safe and personalized childbirth experience.
You'll have a range of choices and options during your labor. Our expert team supports hypnobirthing and can provide whirlpool hydrotherapy baths to promote relaxation. We also offer centralized monitoring and an operating room suite with full capabilities to perform routine or emergency caesarean sections.
We are affiliated with Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for the provision of advanced care for high-risk pregnancy and birth.
Services We Offer
Our commitment to providing the best care extends to the design of the facility with the goal of making each family as comfortable as possible. All rooms are private, and include the following amenities:
- Large Jacuzzi tub for hydrotherapy during labor
- Flat screen TV
- Couch bed
- Personal refrigerator
- Room service meal ordering
Not only that, we also offer:
- Inpatient and outpatient lactation services
- A free home visit after you have your baby
- Childbirth education classes
- Parent-Baby groups
- Parent-Toddler/Crawler group
- Breastfeeding support group
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
Exeter Hospital offers the opportunity for vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) for women who meet the qualifications.
For more information, call the Core Physicians obstetrics team at 603-778-0557.
More About Labor & Delivery
This information is not meant to replace advice given by your healthcare provider. If you have any questions, please contact your healthcare provider.
For Mom
After you return home, you may experience something that you are not sure is normal. The following is a brief summary of things you may want to look for and call your healthcare provider if you experience:
- Soaking a maxipad in one (1) hour
- Passing of plum-sized clots or tissue
- Lower abdominal pain or increased cramping
- Temperature of 100.5 or greater or chills
- Foul odor from vaginal discharge
- Burning sensation or pain while urinating or frequency of urination
- Severe tenderness and reddening of breast(s)
- Reddening or tenderness of incision/episiotomy and/or oozing drainage
- Pain, redness, swelling or warmth of lower legs
- Headache accompanied by changes in vision
- Pain, redness, swelling or drainage at your IV site; check this three times daily for three days after you leave the hospital
For Baby
If you notice any of the following symptoms during the first two (2) weeks, call your baby's physician:
- A temperature over 100.4 axillary
- Vomiting (not just spitting up)
- Refusal of several feedings in a row
- Excessive sleepiness or inconsolable crying as if in pain
- Frequent, foul-smelling watery bowel movements
- Increasing jaundice (yellow color) of the skin
- Any cyanosis (blue color) of the skin (except hands and feet)
- Any other problems that make you worry
- If your baby had an IV: pain, redness, swelling or drainage at the site; check this three times daily for three days after you leave the hospital
The above is intended as a guideline in the event of an unusual occurrence. We encourage you to call your healthcare provider with any concerns you may have regarding yourself or your baby.
Can you tell the gender of my baby by the baby's heart rate?
No. Some say that the baby's heart rate is an indication of the gender, but we have found that it is not an accurate indicator.
How long will I be in labor and when will my baby arrive?
Unfortunately, there is no way of answering this question. Every woman's labor is different, and there are many different variables that affect the length, effectiveness and time of your labor and delivery.
Will the epidural slow down my labor?
Sometimes, labor can go slower after an epidural. Because you are inactive, in bed, and not able to walk, it may slow down your labor. However, with some individuals an epidural may actually allow for relaxation. This relaxation may result in the baby moving more quickly through the birth canal. It is important to remember that while the epidural will take most of the pain away, you will still feel pressure from the baby moving through the birth canal.
When can I get my epidural?
An epidural is anesthesia that is placed in your back. It numbs your body from the waist down, and relieves most of the pain of labor. Different providers have different thoughts about when the epidural can be done. Some providers require a patient progress to four centimeters before they get the epidural. Others will allow for it sooner in labor. We suggest that you discuss this subject with your provider.
How do I know when it is time to push?
When you are fully dilated and the baby is in position, your body will tell you that it is time to push. The urge to push is natural and you may find your body doing it with no direction from you what-so-ever. At this point, as long as your are fully dilated, your nurse will help you through this final stage of labor.
How do I push effectively?
Use your abdominal muscles, positioning chin to chest, and take a deep breath and push, while pulling your legs up to your chest. This is the most effective way to help your baby advance through the birth canal.
Will the pain get worse as my labor progresses?
Yes. The pain of labor is something that can be controlled with relaxation techniques, medication, or by means of an epidural. You may also choose to practice Hypnobirthing, which is taught in a class prior to delivery. Any of these options are available in the Family Center to make your labor as comfortable as possible.
When will my milk come in?
The average length of time it takes for breast milk to come in is 3-5 days. This varies from one individual to another. If you have any questions, please feel free to call one of our Lactation Consultants at 603-580-4324.
