Delivering Miracles for 20 Years and Counting
The Sentara Leigh Hospital Maternity Suite opened on November 5, 1991 and has been delivering miracles every day since. Thousands of newborns have been welcomed into the world by our expert physicians, nurses and staff, who are dedicated to providing your family quality, compassionate care.
The Family Maternity Suite is located on the second floor of the hospital, away from the everyday flow to provide a peaceful, comforting environment for mother and baby alike. The suite features 16 completely private rooms for labor, delivery and recovery, and 13 private postpartum rooms with ample space for dad or a family member to spend the night.
The Family Maternity Suite Highlights:
24-hour coverage by board-certified pediatricians and anesthesiologists
Lactation specialists available six days a week
Infant security system to ensure safety for all of our newborns
Ample space for dad or a family member to spend the night
Services include labor and delivery care, postpartum care, breastfeeding, gynecology and women's health classes
Arriving for Your Delivery - What to Expect
Going into labor is both an exciting and emotional experience. Our goal is to ensure your comfort and safety during all phases of childbirth. Being prepared can help lessen the stress of going into labor. By the beginning of your third trimester, we recommend you take a tour of our maternity suite and pre-register for admission.
If you arrive at the hospital between the hours of 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., enter through the visitor's entrance. Parking is available in the visitor's parking lot. Take the elevator to the second floor.
If you arrive at night, after 9 p.m. or before 6 a.m., enter through the emergency entrance. Parking is available outside of the emergency department. Someone from Labor & Delivery or the ER will assist you and bring you to the Family Maternity Suite.
Once you have arrived, you will register with the front desk and then sent to a triage area to assess your labor symptoms.
Private Birthing Rooms
Once you are admitted to the hospital, you will be given a private room that is spacious enough for a family member to stay the night with you. If you are having a vaginal delivery, you will stay in this same room for the length of your stay. You will labor, deliver and recover here, for your comfort and convenience.
When your baby is born, the newborn stays in the room with you. Visitors are welcome 30 minutes after delivery.
If you have a scheduled c-section, you will start in the triage room for preparation. You will then go to the operating room for delivery. Once the baby is born, you will move to a post-partum room to recover and will stay there for the rest of your stay.
Leaving the Hospital
Your obstetrician, the baby's doctor, and the nurses will review special discharge instructions with you before you leave the hospital.
Before you leave, a women's health administrative associate will visit you concerning your baby's birth registration. After you fill out and sign the forms, the hospital will file the official record of your child's birth with the Virginia Bureau of Vital Statistics. Part of this paperwork can be used to automatically apply for your newborn's Social Security number.
For a safe first ride, please remember to have your baby's car seat already installed at the time of discharge. You can choose to hold the baby in your arms while your ride the wheelchair to your car, or put the baby in a carrier.
What happens while you are being discharged:
- Your doctor writes the order for discharge (both OB and pediatrician)
- A nurse completes the discharge teaching
- Nursery nurse must discharge the baby to the mother with teaching
- Baby will not be discharged to the mother until her transportation has arrived
- Dad loads all personal belongings, gifts and flowers into the car
- Make sure that the car seat is already secured in the back seat
- Mom is wheeled down to the front lobby (holding baby)
- Dad loads Mom and baby
More Information
Get the facts on what to bring, parking, security, visitors and other concerns in our hospital guidelines.
Find more information about a healthy pregnancy and delivery from Sentara Maternity Services.
Questions? Don't hesitate to call us at (757) 261-6030.
Sentara.com