What to Expect During Labor and Delivery at AHN Forbes Hospital

Welcoming your baby to the world is a big life change. AHN Women and Infants Center at Forbes Hospital is here to help you feel supported through labor, delivery, and beyond.

Why choose Forbes?

At Forbes Hospital, all labor and delivery care happens on one floor. You’ll have access to:

• Ten labor and delivery rooms
• Four triage rooms for early labor
• Birthing suites with advanced technology
• Doctors and staff available 24/7
• A nursery, so your baby is always close by
• A Level 2 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for newborns with medical needs

Planning your delivery

Around 26–28 weeks of pregnancy, your care team at Forbes will start talking with you about a birth plan.

“It’s better to be overprepared than underprepared,” said Kristie Charek, MD, OB-GYN at AHN Forbes Hospital. “The more you know, the more you can focus on the joy of your baby and less on stress.”

Your doctor will ask what is most important to you for your delivery and if there is anything you are nervous about. You might also:

• Discuss labor options, like going into labor naturally vs. being induced with medicine.
• Discuss delivery methods (vaginal or C-section) and what is best for you.
• Take a tour of the hospital.

Forbes also offers specialized care and birth planning for high-risk pregnancy cases involving health concerns that may impact you or your baby. You and your doctor will talk about whether your pregnancy is high-risk during your first maternity visit.

Vaginal birth

If you plan to give birth vaginally, the Forbes OB-GYN team will have many ways to support you and your loved ones through delivery.

Once your water (fluid surrounding your baby) breaks, signaling you’re going into labor, doctors will: 

• Place monitors around your belly to check your baby’s heart rate.
• Monitor contractions — your body’s natural way of preparing to deliver your baby.
• Answer questions from you and your loved ones throughout labor and delivery.
• Help you begin pushing once your body is ready, until your baby arrives. 

Labor and delivery are different for everyone, and the OB-GYN team will help you deliver on a timeline that’s safest for you and your baby.

Getting a C-section

Sometimes C-sections are planned, and sometimes the decision to do one happens during labor. You may need a C-section if: 

• You or the baby have any health risks
• Your baby is in a hard-to-deliver position
• Your placenta is too low

If a C-section is planned, it will usually be scheduled within one week of your due date. 

C-section surgeries take about an hour, and you’ll meet your baby within the first 10 minutes. Your partner or loved one can stay with you during delivery.

Managing your pain

It’s up to you whether you use medication for pain relief during labor. For both vaginal birth and C-sections, Forbes offers in-house anesthesia, including an epidural (numbing medicine). 

Forbes Hospital allows patients to get epidurals at any time during labor. It’s important to talk with your doctor about what pain management method is right for you. 

Postpartum care

“Recovery doesn’t stop after delivery — and neither does our care,” said Dr. Charek. “We’re here to help new moms heal, adjust, and feel supported through every step of their postpartum journey.”

After birth, we’ll help you through common issues that may be part of your postpartum recovery, like hemorrhoids or constipation. You will also have access to a lactation consultant and breastfeeding classes. 

Most moms go home 1–2 days after a vaginal delivery and 2–3 days after a C-section. For babies that need extra care after their mother is discharged, we offer “nesting rooms” where parents can stay at the hospital overnight until their baby can safely go home.

Choose a team you can trust

With experienced labor and delivery specialists and compassionate care approaches, you can rest assured that AHN Forbes Hospital is fully prepared to help welcome your baby to the world. Learn more about the AHN Women and Infants Center at Forbes.