Health Services

Maternal Child Inpatient Unit

Having a baby is a momentous event, and we are honored you’ve chosen Eglin AFB Labor and Delivery for the birth of your child! The Maternal Child Care Inpatient Flight (Labor and Delivery) provides medical care for obstetrical patients and neonates. We support active duty service members, dependents, veteran beneficiaries, and retirees. The Labor and Delivery Unit was professionally redesigned in 2020 to create an inviting and pleasant atmosphere where patient safety and satisfaction are of utmost importance. The unit has nine private birthing suites, three outpatient triage rooms, two operating rooms, and a three-bed neonatal treatment room. Our staff has the capability to treat patients who are over 20 weeks of gestation; any patient below that benchmark will be directed to the Emergency Room. We have a friendly staff of physicians, nurses, technicians, and two lactation consultants who are committed to providing evidence based and state-of-the art medical care. A multidisciplinary partnership between the Medical Group and outside health care facilities allows for the seamless transfer of high-risk, preterm, and neonatal patients who require a higher level of care.

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Your Stay

While on the labor and delivery floor, you will be assigned a nurse who will provide medical care, answer your questions, educate you on the L&D process, provide you with comfort and encouragement, and act as your advocate.

While we don’t have restrictive visiting hours, we do have quiet hours. Our quiet hours are daily, midnight-2 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. We strive to provide supportive care in a low-stress environment to enhance the birthing process, as labor can be long and stressful. We also want families to have time to get postpartum rest, essential to mothers’ healing.

Your stay on L&D will vary in length, based on you and your baby’s specific health care needs. There are occasions when we utilize all rooms on the Labor and Delivery Unit. In these circumstances, we utilize space on the Multiservice Unit on the floor above Labor and Delivery for healthy postpartum couplets.

Induction of Labor and Planned C-Sections

Please call L&D before your scheduled induction or c-section to ensure the unit can accommodate an additional admission. Your arrival time may be delayed or pushed to the next day if our patient census is unusually high. Medically-indicated procedures have admission priority. We know this is an important day for you and your family, but our top priority is to safely render high-quality care.

Packing List

We provide most everything you will need during your stay. Some ideas if you want a little extra comfort:

Smartphone (with long charging cord)
Favorite pillow
Comfy blanket
Lip balm
Snacks
Soft towels
Personal hygiene items and other personal comfort items you desire to bring

Some additional items you may want to have after delivery:

Personal hygiene items
Nightgowns/pajamas
Bathrobe
Extra panties
Supportive bras (if desired) or nursing bras and pads
Infant car seat (required for discharge)
Clothes/shoes for day of discharge (most likely, you will still have a tummy, so bring your pregnancy clothes)
Outfit for baby for day of discharge (hat and blankets, dependent upon the weather)

Maternal Child FAQs

Q: Should I have a birth plan?
A: It’s not required, but it’s a great way to educate yourself on common labor and delivery medical interventions. Your prenatal history or medical status during labor may cause changes in your birth plan to keep you and your baby safe and healthy. It’s important to talk to your provider and go over your birth plan before coming to L&D. You and your delivery team will work together to make this the best possible event for you and your family.
Q: How many visitors can I have in my labor and delivery?
A: Our policy is that laboring mothers may have two significant others in attendance during labor. Additional visitors may be coordinated with the nurse during the antepartum period if visitation doesn’t interrupt patient care. Only the coach or identified support personnel will be allowed in the LDRP suite immediately after delivery. One adult support person may spend the night with the patient. Children may visit but can’t stay overnight. Children must have someone solely responsible for them; not the support person for the mother. Children must be free from signs or symptoms of infection. We’ll review the policy more in detail when you’re admitted to the unit.
Q: Can I bring a doula?
A: Labor coaches and/or doulas are encouraged to support the mother during the birthing process. We ask that the doula review and sign our doula agreement Letter. TRICARE doesn’t cover doulas if you give birth in our hospital. More information can be found on the TRICARE Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration page.
Q: What can I prepare as I reach the end of my pregnancy?
A: Remember to make child care arrangements for when your labor begins (backup plans can be helpful if you go into early labor). Also, remember to plan transportation for trips to and from the hospital. Q: What can I prepare as I reach the end of my pregnancy?
Q: What are my options for pain management?
A: You’ll be given a wide range of options for pain management. These include coaching, position changes, IV pain medication, inhaled nitrous oxide, and epidural analgesia. What route you take for pain management depends on your preparation for the labor, the baby, how far along you are in your labor, the mother's health, and the decision you and your health care team agree on.
Q: Can I walk around while I am in labor?
A: Yes, if your baby is doing well, and you haven't received any medications that could interfere with safe walking. We have wireless monitoring which can be used if you are at least 37 weeks along.
Q: Will I have the option to have my baby circumcised before we leave the hospital?
A: The pediatric providers perform circumcision if you desire that for your male infant. It’s typically done the day you’re supposed to go home. The nurse will monitor the baby before your discharge home.
Q: Do you have a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit?
A: Eglin doesn’t have a NICU; however, we have a Level I nursery and will provide any necessary stabilization should your baby need it. If the baby needs assistance beyond our capabilities, a NICU transport team comes to the hospital to take the baby to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, where there is a Level III NICU.

Contact Us

Location

Third floor (inpatient tower); enter through emergency entrance, take elevators located next to resource protection desk up to the third floor. Pick up the phone on the wall and an attendant will provide access to the Labor and Delivery unit.

Hours

24/7

Visit our FAQ page to see closures on readiness training and family days

Phone

850-883-8361/8362

Nurse Advice Line
1-800-TRICARE (874-2273)

Crisis Line
988 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emotional support, crisis counseling, suicide prevention, and information and referrals.

Military OneSource
1-800-342-9647

Don't forget to keep your family's information up to date in DEERS!