Bristol Hospital's Families Are First Birthing Center is built on the single-room maternity care model. This means that when expectant mothers have their babies at Bristol Hospital, they stay in one place throughout their visit. Labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum all take place in the
same cozy room.
"I felt listened to and supported and given strategies and advice- never a lecture. I felt that my role as mom was respected and honored, and my wellbeing was a priority. It was really a wonderful experience"- Lindsey, Patient
Maternity Care and Childbirth Education
Families Are First is not only the name of our single-room birthing center and childbirth education program, but it also best describes the care you can expect when you deliver your baby at Bristol Hospital. Whether you are expecting your first or fifth baby, the programs and services offered through the Families Are First have something of benefit for you. Tours of Bristol Hospital's Families Are First Birthing Center are available. Expectant parents, grandparents, siblings and friends are welcome.
For more detailed information about available classes, or to learn how to schedule a tour of the maternity unit, visit our online
events and programs calendar.
Pediatric Hospitalist Program
Bristol Hospital is one of the only community hospitals in Connecticut to offer a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week Pediatric Hospitalist program for our young patients. Pediatric hospitalists manage pediatric patients in all inpatient areas of the hospital, especially in Bristol Hospital's Families Are First Birthing Center, where they attend all deliveries and provide immediate care for newborns. In addition, they provide consultations in the Emergency Center as well as manage patients on the inpatient pediatric unit.
Our pediatric hospitalists are all Fellows in the American Academy of Pediatrics and are trained in neonatal resuscitation and advanced pediatric life support. For more information about our Pediatric Hospitalist program, please call 860.585.3950.
The Golden Hour
The golden hour is the first hour after your baby’s birth, we would like to give you a GIFT:
G-iving
I-ntimate
F-amily
T-ime
This gift is for the mother, significant other, and baby.
During the first hour, skin-to-skin, bonding and the first feeding will occur. Visitors will be limited to mom, baby, dad (or support person) so you can have the hour to yourselves. Our nurses will be there to provide support for breastfeeding and monitoring mom and baby. This also includes the first hour for recovery from c-sections.
We encourage you to room-in together so you can respond to feeding cues from your baby and gain more comfort and confidence in caring for your baby before you go home.
Our Happy “Birth” Day celebration includes a special congratulatory dinner and dessert made especially for you during your stay. This is just one way our staff makes your time in our birthing center an extraordinary experience.
"I would recommend Families are First to everyone having a baby- I don't know why you would deliver anywhere else"- Patient