Newborn Care

Specialized care for your baby

Expert Care for Your Newborn

At Anna Jaques Hospital, our Birth Center team gives your baby the care they need both at birth and in the days that follow. Our team includes neonatal specialists who are experts in treating babies born early or with health conditions.

Your Care Team

After birth, your baby receives care from skilled doctors, nurses and specialists who are always available. Your care team may include these and other specialists:

Neonatologists
Neonatal Nurses
Nurses
Patient care navigators

If your baby needs extra special care, we coordinate access to specialists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). Our neonatal providers consult with top neonatology doctors at BIDMC to ensure your baby gets the best possible care, close to home.

Level 1B Nursery

Our Neonatal Care Center provides 24/7 access to neonatologists if your baby needs special treatment. We care for:

Babies with unexpected medical complications during delivery
Low birth weight newborns
Premature babies

The Neonatal Care Center is fully equipped with the latest technology, including:

Cardiac monitors
Isolettes
IV infusion pumps
LED phototherapy lights for babies with jaundice
Radiant warming units
Resuscitation care centers

Feeding, Growing and Going Home

If your baby needs a higher level of care, they may spend time at the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at BIDMC for a few days or weeks. Once your baby is medically stable, they may return to Anna Jaques Hospital. During their time with us, your baby learns to feed and grow in our nurturing environment.

Our team provides an extra level of care while supporting your family during this transition. While your baby receives step-down care here at Anna Jaques, you and your partner can visit at any time.

The nursery offers:

Lactation support, if you need it.
Privacy curtains so you can breastfeed or pump breast milk at the bedside.
Soothing space with room for your family.
Donor breast milk
Hospital grade breast pumps
Free parking
Complimentary parent meal trays

When your baby is almost ready to go home, we offer you and your partner “rooming in” with your baby. This lets you get comfortable caring for your baby on your own while our nurses are nearby to answer questions and provide assistance.

Rooming In

For healthy babies born at Anna Jaques, we support you and your baby sharing a room. The practice provides many benefits, such as:

A sense of security for your baby.
Better communication and bonding between you and your baby.
Improved communication and bonding.
Improved confidence in caring for your baby.
Increased health and safety for your baby.
More effective start to breastfeeding.

Research shows that parents and babies who sleep near each other get more rest than when separated. You are also likely to make an easier transition to home when you spend more time with your baby in the hospital.

We understand that you and your family have specific needs. If it’s best for your baby to be cared for in our nursery, the option is available 24 hours a day.

It’s our goal to give you and your baby personalized care based on your family’s circumstances. This way, your baby’s birth is a nurturing, positive and satisfying experience.

Breastfeeding Support

If you choose to breastfeed your baby, we give you the support you need during your hospital stay and after you return home.

Anna Jaques earned the Baby-Friendly designation from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for our promotion and support of breastfeeding.

Our team of certified lactation consultants is available to guide you in breastfeeding your baby. All of our consultants receive extensive training in lactation support and are available 24/7.

If you have trouble with breastfeeding at home, we can help. You can make an appointment with a lactation consultant or call our lactation line at 978-463-1079 with questions. To make an appointment, call the Birth Center at 978-463-1060, Monday through Friday. Most health insurance plans pay for lactation consultation appointments.

If you have an urgent concern about your baby’s well-being once you are home, call your pediatrician.

Circumcision Information for Parents

Only you can decide if circumcision is the right choice for your baby boy. Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin. This layer of skin covers the head of the penis. Most often, the procedure is performed before you leave the hospital.

Opinions about newborn circumcision can differ based on cultural, medical and religious beliefs, as well as ethnic traditions and personal reasons.

If you are undecided about circumcision, talk to your child’s pediatrician before your baby is born. Your doctor can share the benefits and risks of circumcision to help you choose what is best for your son.

Learn more about circumcision from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Registering Your Baby's Birth

Before you leave the hospital, you will complete a birth certificate worksheet. Be sure to answer each question completely. Massachusetts requires the following information:

Marital status of parents
Name of the baby
Parental address(es)
Parental Social Security numbers
Place of birth

Statistical questions (education, ethnicity, race) also are included. This information is kept strictly confidential. The Department of Public Heath uses it to track trends of parents and babies.

Our registrar uses the information you provide to create an official birth certificate for your baby. You and your partner sign the birth certificate. Then, our registrar sends it to Newburyport City Hall to be recorded. You can get a certified copy of the birth certificate 10 or more days after it has been recorded.

Learn more about registering your baby’s birth.

Applying for a Social Security Card

When you complete the birth certificate process at the hospital, you also can apply for a Social Security card for your child. If you apply, you will receive the Social Security card in the mail in about six weeks.

Car Seat Safety

You must have a properly installed car seat when you leave the hospital with your newborn. The best car seat:

Fits your car
Fits your child
Is easy for you to use

Your newborn requires a rear-facing car seat. Be sure to fasten and check the five-point harness and harness buckles every time you place your baby in the car seat.

Learn more about car seat safety.