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Visiting Hours

Visiting Hours

At St. Joseph’s Hospital we believe that having a baby is an exciting time for you and your family. The staff in Maternal Child Services welcomes you. We will do everything possible to make this a wonderful experience.

You can help us by not allowing any adult or child with an illness such as a cold, the flu, or a cold sore visit you. They cannot visit if they have been exposed to a disease such as the chicken pox. Everyone must wash their hands before touching the baby.

For safety all units are locked. To enter any unit press the intercom button once. The staff will ask you who you are here to see. Then the doors will be opened by remote control.

Labor partners are chosen ahead of time by the mother. Partners should learn about labor and delivery by going to childbirth classes or by reading books. Partners give support and comfort to the mother in labor. Labor partners should keep other family and friends informed.

Visitation Guidelines

Labor and Delivery

  • The birthing person may choose one or two people to support/coach them throughout labor and delivery.  One person may be a doula.  These are the only visitors allowed for the laboring patient.  A rotation of support people is not permitted.
  • The doula must provide one of the following: NYS Certification form, a business card, proof of attendance at a doula training course, or an identification badge; they are required to wear a badge that indicates doula status when in the hospital.
  • Although the coaches and/or doula can remain with the mother during, labor, delivery, and immediate postpartum period, including recovery, we will not be able to offer overnight accommodations to both the coaches and the doula.

Unit 5-1/Postpartum Unit 

The birthing parent may choose one person who can remain in the room with the birthing parent and baby for the duration of the admission.

  • Other visitors will be permitted during Visiting Hours (10 am- 8 pm). This includes 2 additional adult visitors plus siblings of the newborn child.

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult other than the birthing or support person.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The patient is allowed visitation by the birth parents and four other adults that the birth parents designate.

  • No siblings are allowed in the NICU.

  • Visitation subject to restrictions based on unit and patient needs and safety.