Mater­ni­ty

For most people there is no greater joy than bringing a child into the world. And your job as a parent starts well before your delivery date even comes. We help parents bring more than 1,500 babies into the world each year. Onslow Memorial Hospital is prepared to welcome you, your family, and your new bundle of joy. We are ready to meet (and exceed) your expectations throughout your time spent with us. From the little things like free parking to the big things like advanced facilities and board-certified specialists, Onslow is ready to help you and your growing family.

About

We understand that this is a unique, challenging, and stressful time for expectant moms. We always strive to provide a safe and positive atmosphere to welcome your baby into the world. The uncertainty of the COVID-19 environment means that many of our typical processes and policies that support our patients and families have changed. As you may have seen on various news sites, it is necessary for hospitals to institute drastic measures to protect patients, families, and staff. To read our full guidelines and what to expect during your labor, delivery, and postpartum stay during the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.

For your convenience and your best care, be sure to pre-register. Pre-registration is completed in our outpatient department. The best hours are between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm. If you have additional questions about pre-registration, please call our patient access department at 910-577-2282.

We want your experience at Onslow to be special, beginning with your personalized birth plans.

Our expert staff is ready to assist you and your baby every step of the way—we have board certified obstetricians, neonatal nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, lactation specialists, experienced nursing staff and support teams ready to meet the needs of you and your baby.

The hospital's Front/Main Entrance will always be the entrance to use for the Stork Express (pre-registration, non-stress tests, labor checks, scheduled C-sections, labor inductions, and delivery) and Labor & Delivery services, regardless of the day or time. A Patient Access Clerk will greet you, enter your personal information into our system, and notify the Labor and Delivery team of your arrival. For questions, please call: 910-577-2231

How long will labor last?

Every labor and delivery is unique and babies have their own timetable. Many factors figure into the length of labor, such as the status of your cervix when labor starts, if you have had babies before, are you being induced etc. The average labor for a first time mom is 14-18 hours, which can include 3+ hours of pushing if you have an epidural in place. Moms delivering their second or greater baby can usually cut that time in half.

When can I get an epidural?

Your doctor must order your epidural, then there are procedures to prep you for the epidural such as administering a liter of IV fluid, so you don’t want to wait too long before asking for one. With that being said, taking the epidural too early may make you feel like it is not working well at the end. A good rule of thumb is to ask for the epidural when you are unable to breathe through your contractions and other comfort measures are not helping with the pain. Generally this would be when you are 3 centimeters or more dilated and the baby’s head is engaged, although it could happen before this. One thing is for sure, all labors are different and unique in their own way and no set answer will fit everyone.

How many people can I have in the room with me?

In order to have room to take care of you and the baby, we ask that you limit the number of people in the room to 2. Family and friends may switch in and out until you are prepped for the actual delivery, at which time we ask that only your primary care partners remain.

How long can I keep the baby with me after delivery?

As long as your baby is stable, we encourage you to keep him/her with you as much and as long as possible. We encourage skin to skin contact immediately after birth and if you are breastfeeding, staff will assist you with putting baby to breast within the first hour of life.

Labor & Delivery

We are currently not providing department tours in order to better protect our patients and infants from COVID-19. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to keep you as safe as possible.

To best meet the needs of you and your baby, we offer two levels of infant care, and are prepared for every type of birthing situation. Onslow even offers our facilities to other maternity services that lack the level of advanced monitoring and care that we provide.

In addition to our level one care for routine births with little or no complications, we also have level two care—comprehensive monitoring and observation for newborns born prematurely or those with jaundice, breathing, or feeding problems. With the latest technology and best practices, Onslow’s nurseries can monitor infant heart rates and oxygen levels, as well as implement ventilators and environment-controlled isolettes. We even offer a state-of-the-art infant security system for your baby’s safety and your peace of mind.

When the big day arrives, you’re cared for in a private labor and delivery suite, which features extra room for family members. And, at your side is an experienced team of obstetricians, nurse midwives, nurses, and supportive educators, like a lactation consultant and community resource discharge planners. Additional amenities include an onsite cafeteria, free visitor parking, free wi-fi, and an onsite gift shop.

Onslow Memorial has initiated a Laborist Program to improve safety and well-being of our expecting mothers. A Laborist is an OB/GYN physician that when onsite will be able to assist with evaluating patients when they arrive to the hospital. They are available to help with emergency deliveries, to assist as a surgical assistant to other OB/GYNs, and to observe patients in labor until it's time for their OB/GYN to arrive. The Laborist is also available to assist with any post-partum emergencies that may arise.

Your baby's safety should be the last thing on your mind while you're in the hospital. That's why we've implemented a new locked unit system, effective February 2020. Upon admission, patients will be given two code cards for visitors to use during the duration of their stay, each card will have a code specific to the patient. If the visitor has a code card, they simply take the elevator to the second floor and ring the buzzer in the waiting area. They should state the name of the patient who they are visiting and hold their code card up for the nursing staff to see.

At the nursing station, there will be a log with each patient’s name and visitor code. The staff will buzz the visitor into the unit unless they have been notified otherwise. If a visitor rings the buzzer without a code card, they will need to provide the name of who they are visiting, the staff will then check to make sure the patient is accepting guests. Significant others may escort visitors in, as this makes the process easier for the visitor, staff, patient, and their significant other, and enables them to have better control of who is allowed in their room.

All visitors to the Women and Children's floor should use the main lobby elevators to access the second floor. Upon entry to the second floor, all visitors must sign in at the visitor’s station in the visitor log.

Classes

In addition to your regular OB/GYN visits, we also offer two complimentary classes for expecting families: Understanding Birth and Understanding Breastfeeding. Find more information on each class below:

Understanding Birth Class

Understanding Birth is a streamlined, fast paced introduction to childbirth preparation, including introduction to community resources, Onslow Memorial Hospital’s physical layout and routines. This class will provide expectant families with tools for planning their childbirth experience. Information on Labor, Delivery, Breastfeeding and “After Baby” care will be provided in this FREE 1 day session. Participants should be in their 7th month of pregnancy.

Class size is limited to nine (9) people total. Class will run Saturday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in the Onslow Memorial Hospital Education Department.

For more information, click here. To sign up, please call the Education Department at 910-577-2581.

We are currently not providing department tours in order to better protect our patients and infants from COVID-19. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to keep you as safe as possible.


Understanding Breastfeeding is an introductory class intended for expectant families looking for more information regarding breastfeeding. When our instructors offer live classes, they utilize a platform called Ready, Set, Baby, as their instructional format. While in-person classes are canceled, they are offering a free online resource for parents with materials to fit their needs. Click here to access the information.

Understanding Breastfeeding Class

Understanding Breastfeeding is an introductory class intended for expectant families looking for more information regarding breastfeeding. Topics covered will include a brief overview of breastfeeding, its benefits, and how to be successful with breastfeeding. This class will allow expectant families the opportunity to interact with our IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) prior to delivery. Participants may be at any point in their pregnancy.

Class size is limited to nine (9) people total. Class will run from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Onslow Memorial Hospital Education Department. Due to limited space availability, please pre-register with our Education Department by calling 910-577-2581. Children under the age of 18 are not allowed to attend the class; please make prior childcare arrangements. For more information, click here.

Understanding Breastfeeding Class 2024 (9:00 AM - 11:30 AM):

  • February 17
  • March 16
  • April 20
  • May 18
  • June 15
  • July 20
  • August 17
  • September 21
  • October 19
  • November 9

Real Moms

There is no greater reward for us than helping you bring your baby into the world. But it’s nice to hear some positive feedback. Hear what other parents are saying about Onslow Memorial Hospital Maternity Services.

Julie Mills

Julie describes the care and compassion she and her family felt from their Onslow Maternity Services nursing staff and how they cared for and treated her like family.

Marian Whitlock

Marian describes her wonderful experience with the nurses and doctors at Onslow in their NICU unit.

Regina Cook

Regina describes the individual attention her and her babies received at Onslow Memorial Hospital Maternity Services, from check-in to lactation consulting to postpartum care.


Cassy Fiano

Part 1 - Cassy talks about how the expert staff at Onslow Memorial Hospital Maternity Center helped her and her baby through a level II birthing situation. And how she would choose Onslow for her next pregnancy.

Part 2 - Cassy talks about how the caring, expert staff of Onslow Memorial Hospital Maternity Services go out of their way to make sure you have a wonderful experience.

Resources

We’re offering the most advanced equipment and latest techniques not just for delivery, but to help moms prepare for their big day. Here is a list of resources many new parents have found to be helpful. And you can always reach out to us with questions. We’re here for you every step of the way.

Identifying Warning Signs in Babies

Go the Full 40: Your Baby Needs Time!

Every mom and parent wants their baby to be as healthy as possible. And while more and more births are being scheduled a little early for convenience, experts are learning that this can cause problems for both mom and baby. If possible, it’s best to stay pregnant for at least 39 weeks. Click here to learn more and be sure to talk further with your OB doctor about why it is so important to remain pregnant for at least 39 weeks unless medically necessary.

For more information on Go the Full 40, click here.

  • Understanding Birth Class: To learn more information about this class, click here.
  • Understanding Breastfeeding Class: To learn more information about this class, click here.
  • At Onslow Memorial Hospital we support and promote exclusive breastfeeding. Click here to take the breastfeeding pledge.
  • Breastfeeding Basics PDF

  • WIC (910-347-2154)
  • Onslow County Health Department (910-347-5002)
  • Tarawa Terrace (military only) (910-450-0081)
  • Navy Marine Corp Relief Society (military only) (910-451-5346)
  • Breast Pump Rental Supplies
  • Johnson Drugs (910-347-5185)
  • La Leche League (800-525-3243) to find counselors in your area

  • www.lalecheleague.org
  • www.aap.org
  • www.ameda.com
  • www.medela.com