Hilo Benioff Medical Center Obstetrics Unit
The OB Unit has 6 Labor Rooms, and 2 Operating Rooms. Hilo Medical Center’s OB Unit welcomes you into our ‘ohana as we strive to make your birthing experience safe and memorable. We deliver approximately 950 babies each year. We strive to provide outstanding, evidence-based, compassionate care for every unique experience. We encourage and support facilitating the Golden Hour if desired, to promote direct skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery and breastfeeding within the first hour of life. We promote “rooming-in” with your baby to increase your comfort in caring for your newborn and to encourage skin-to-skin and breastfeeding. We prioritize providing individualized, patient-centered care, and recognize the importance of family support, participation and choice.
The OB Unit is located on the third floor. Laboring patients can have 2 support people around the clock. After delivery, 1 support person may spend the night to assist you and help care for baby as space permits. The patient’s own children may visit daily from 11a-7pm, however children are not allowed to stay overnight per hospital policy.
All of our OB staff are cross-trained and capable of caring for all levels of maternal and newborn needs from antepartum to postpartum, including neonatal services.
What to Expect
Admissions Two months before your due date, we recommend you pre-register
with our Admitting Department by calling (808) 932-3401. When you are ready
to give birth, please check into the Admitting Department before coming up to
our unit.
Your Doctor Please call your doctor’s office before coming to the hospital.
Doctors generally visit patients several times during labor. Ask your doctor
about coverage during his/her absences for weeknights, weekends, and
holidays. The on-call physician will care for you and your baby in the event
your doctor is unavailable.
Your Baby’s Doctor A pediatrician or family physician will admit and care
for your baby if your physician does not visit patients in the hospital. Please
secure a pediatrician for your baby prior to giving birth.
Rooming-In We promote “rooming-in” with your baby to increase your comfort
level in caring for your newborn and encourage breastfeeding. Your spouse or
designated caregiver may spend the night to assist and learn to care for the
baby if space permits. Please plan ahead, per hospital policy, children are not
allowed to stay overnight.
Length of Stay The amount of time that you and your baby remain in the
hospital after you give birth generally depends on the type of delivery.
Typically, your hospital stay for a vaginal delivery is one to two days or two
to three days for a cesarean delivery.
Hourly Rounding: Our staff will provide hourly rounding while you are on our unit. During this rounding, we will focus on pain control, position, getting you to the bathroom, and making sure that your personal possessions are within reach.
Breastfeeding Friendly
We encourage early parent-child bonding with a family-centered approach, and recognize breastmilk as the ideal first food.
Breastfeeding is a learned skill that takes patience and practice, and we want to help you get off to a great start.
Our lactation consult visits all patients Monday-Friday mornings.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all healthy newborns with no breathing difficulty should remain in direct skin-to-skin contact with their birthing parent immediately following delivery until the first feeding is accomplished. This first hour of life is known as the “golden hour” and it is a special bonding time for parents and baby to spend together as a family. We know you want to introduce your baby to your family and friends, and we encourage you to welcome them after you have had this time alone.
If your baby is not able to immediately snuggle with you for medical reasons, no worries! Skin-to-skin care can start at any hour of age, and it is encouraged throughout the first six months of life.
What to Bring on Your Big Day
Please bring your insurance card and I.D., clothes for you and your baby to wear home, breast pump and any personal necessities. Also, please have your infant’s car seat installed prior to being admitted to the hospital.
Childbirth Classes
We encourage expecting parents to attend childbirth classes to learn about physical changes during pregnancy, nutrition, choices during labor, newborn care and breastfeeding. Registration fee is $40.00 for all classes, or $10.00 if you prefer to only attend the breastfeeding class. For more information and to register, call (808) 932-3371.
Childbirth Classes Every Wednesday at 4:30-7:00 pm. (Dates Subject to change)
Breastfeeding Education First Monday of the month at 4:30-7:00 pm.
Resources for New Parents
For a full list of community resources available to you, please see our Resources page.
Here you can find the latest information about Obstetric and Pediatric care, as well as support centers, car seat assistance, and breastfeeding information.
Obstetrics Unit Information
Contact Us
| Physical Address: 1190 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Located on the Third floor |
Phone: 📞 (808)-932-3371 |
Visiting Hours:
M-F 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM L&D: 3 visitors at a time, 13 or older, and may switch out during visiting hours. Max of 3 support persons overnight, but no children Postpartum: one overnight adult support person as space permits, 2 additional visitors (13 or older) during visiting hours, only the patient’s own children are permitted on the unit Outpatient visits: 1 visitor permitted (13 years and older) |