Birthing at Inova Alexandria

Inova alexandria hospital

Summary

Inova Alexandria Hospital earns high praise from families and medical review boards for their commitment to family centered care. Their comfortable, spacious, and home-like labor and delivery rooms are designed to provide state-of-the-art care while incorporating comforts of home.

Each room also has a full-size walk in / sit down shower. They also offer nitrous oxide as choice for non-invasive pain relief. Wireless monitoring, including the Monica blue tooth system are available for fetal monitoring. You can expect skin-to-skin with your baby immediately following birth and breastfeeding support during your day as well as help after you return home.

The postpartum Family Centered Care Unit is intended for rest, recovery, and bonding for the new family. Rooming-in with your baby is encouraged and each room is equipped with a pull out bed for a support person to spend the night.

The hospital also has a strong relationship with Physicians & Midwives Collaborative Practice offering families the opportunity to work with Certified Nurse Midwives in a hospital setting.

The Inova Alexandria hospital has been awarded the Baby-Friendly designation by Baby-Friendly USA for their commitment to support breastfeeding through immediate skin-to-skin contact between baby and mother, and by encouraging rooming-in to help facilitate bonding and get breastfeeding off to a good start. Learn more about Inova Alexandria’s breastfeeding services here. They also offer a daily breastfeeding class, and lactation support through The Lactation Center.

The hospital is equipped with a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with neonatologists, pediatricians, highly trained nurses, and other specialists on staff 24/7.

Location

Inova Alexandria Hospital is located at 4320 Seminary Road
Alexandria, VA 22304.

Free visitor parking is available in the general parking lot on North Howard street. Paid visitor parking is available in the lot next to the visitors entrance. Free valet parking is available at the front entrance.

Labor & Delivery is located on the 2nd Floor.

If you are in labor:
5:30am-9pm: Enter through the visitor entrance next to the paid parking lot and take the elevator to the right of the information desk to the 2nd floor. Follow the signs for Labor & Delivery.
9pm-5:30am: Enter through the Emergency Department. A security guard will direct you to the elevator for Labor and Delivery.

Up to four family members or close friends, in addition to your support person, are allowed to be with you during labor and/or birth. Children of the patient are allowed but must have a caregiver other than their parents or support person.

Visiting hours are from 11am-9pm, seven days a week. Children under 12 who are a sibling of the child may visit if they are healthy. Non-sibling children over the age of 12 are not permitted to visit.

There is Serenity Time between 2pm-4pm with no visitors.

Food

The Cafeteria is located on the ground floor of the hospital, with a 24 hour vending area for sandwiches, drinks, and other light fare.

Patient meal times
Breakfast 7:30 — 8:30 a.m.
Lunch 11:45 a.m. — 12:45 p.m.
Dinner 4:45 — 5:45 p.m

Cafeteria hours
Breakfast: 6:30 — 10:30 a.m.
Limited offerings*: 10 — 11 a.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. — 2 p.m.
Limited offerings*: 2 — 5 p.m.
Dinner: 5 — 7 p.m.
*Hot and cold beverages, fruit, snacks, grab-and-go salads

Perk ‘n Place coffee cart located in the atrium offering coffee and bakery items.
Monday — Friday, 6:30 — 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. — 2 p.m

Amenities & Features for Birth/Postpartum

  • Private labor & delivery rooms with a large walk-in / sit down shower.
  • Squat bars & birth balls & peanut balls available
  • Nitrous Oxide available for non-invasive pain relief
  • Wireless monitoring, including the Monica blue tooth system are available for fetal monitoring
  • 24/7 anesthesia services
  • Dedicated c-section operating rooms with recovery designed to keep mother and baby together
  • Clear Drapes Available for C-sections
  • Juice and snacks available postpartum from your nurse
  • Private postpartum rooms– with a fold out sleep chair for partner.
  • Rooming-in with baby encouraged.
  • Family Waiting Room
  • Lactation Center
  • Lactation consultants available during the day Daily breastfeeding class
  • Infant Security system
  • Free Wifi
  • Inova Alexandria is very welcoming to birth doulas

Other Information

Placenta Removal- Your placenta can go home the same day as delivery, but you will have to sign a waiver in advance. You placenta may also need to go to the lab before being released. Bring your own cooler.
Squat bars birth balls & peanut balls available in rooms
Mother permitted to eat and drink if no epidural
Discharge-
48 hours after a normal vaginal delivery with no complications.
72 hours after a cesarean birth

Key Statistics & Additional Information

CLICK HERE to access detailed statistics on Inova Alexandria Hospital

View a video below about Inova Alexandria’s NICU

We strive to keep this information up to date and accurate for our birthing community…. Have a comment or an update for us? Throw it in the comments below and we will be sure to check it out!

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