Democratic debate round two: How did they do?

Posted on June 27, 2019June 27, 2019 by Kai Teoh

Democratic debate round two: How did they do?

It’s round two of the first debates of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary season. See how Wednesday night’s group did here.

To evaluate the debate performance of these disparate candidates, members of the Newsday editorial board are rating each contender in three categories on a scale of one to five stars, with five being the best.

These ratings are not endorsements of any candidate or his or her views; rather, they are a measure of how well the candidates contribute to the national discussion.

You can watch the debate here, and follow @NewsdayOpinion’s Twitter feed to the right as the editorial board members give reasons behind their ratings there.

You can watch the debate here, and follow @NewsdayOpinion’s Twitter feed as the editorial board members give reasons behind their ratings there.

Pick your debate winner and tell us why here.

Tweets by NewsdayOpinion

Ideas:

Did the candidate offer specific ideas and how effectively did he or she present them?

Argument:

How well did the candidate respond to critiques by fellow contenders and questions from moderators?

Appeal:

Did the candidate make a compelling case for his or her ability to be a good president?

Pete Buttigieg won the night with 103 stars out of a possible 120, with Kamala Harris coming in second at 100 and Bernie Sanders third with 87.

Joe Biden

Former Vice President

Bernie Sanders

U.S. Senator, Vermont

Pete Buttigieg

Mayor of South Bend, Indiana

Kamala Harris

U.S. Senator, California

Andrew Yang

Entrepreneur

Kirsten Gillibrand

U.S. Senator, New York

John Hickenlooper

Former Governor, Colorado

Michael Bennet

U.S. Senator, Colorado

Marianne Williamson

Author/Activist

Eric Swalwell

U.S. Representative, California

Democratic debate debut: How did they do?

Posted on June 26, 2019June 26, 2019 by Amanda Fiscina

Democratic debate debut: How did they do?

The first debates of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary season take place Wednesday and Thursday nights on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo.

The field is so large and the candidates so wide-ranging in experience and policy views that the Democratic National Committee set polling and donation criteria that 20 candidates met. A random selection was used to divide the candidates into two groups that would include high-profile contenders with serious potential along with less-known ones looking to catch lightning in a bottle or bring attention to their signature issues.

To evaluate the debate performance of these disparate candidates, members of the Newsday editorial board will rank each contender in three categories on a scale of one to five stars, with five being the best. These ratings are not endorsements of any candidate or his or her views; rather, they are a measure of how well the candidates contribute to the national discussion.

We will do the rankings on both nights.

You can join us in this process. Pick your debate winner and tell us why here.

Ideas:

Did the candidate offer specific ideas and how effectively did he or she present them?

Argument:

How well did the candidate respond to critiques by fellow contenders and questions from moderators?

Appeal:

Did the candidate make a compelling case for his or her ability to be a good president?

Elizabeth Warren won the night with 109 stars out of a possible 120, with Julian Castro coming in second at 101 and Cory Booker third with 91.

Elizabeth Warren

U.S. Senator, Massachusetts

Beto O’Rourke

Former U.S. Representative, Texas

Cory Booker

U.S. Senator, New Jersey

Amy Klobuchar

U.S. Senator, Minnesota

Tulsi Gabbard

U.S. Representative, Hawaii

Julian Castro

Former HUD Secretary

Tim Ryan

U.S. Representative, Ohio

Jay Inslee

Governor, Washington

Bill de Blasio

Mayor, NYC

John Delaney

Former U.S. Representative, Maryland

1,000 Words

Posted on June 19, 2019 by jingoglia

This series explores the stories behind some of Newsday’s most compelling photographs. At the time these photos were taken, they were part of a news story. But for many of the men, women and children featured in them, these photos – years later – tell a bigger story. They recall memories of a particular era, summon details of past relationships and represent some of the favorite, and funniest, stories their families have to tell.

Walking the walls

Stony Brook's Experimental College was short-lived but within its walls -- which Rena Kornblum used as her gymnasium -- Kornblum found the freedom to move and eventually, an unexpected career.

Newsday / Rex Lyons

Ticket to drive

Most people dread dealing with the DMV, but for Curtis Long, who was born legally blind, going there and getting his license was one of his most prized achievements. For his son, it meant a lifetime of inspiration.

Newsday / David L. Pokress

beat the heat

Long before he became a star on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, a 16-year-old Rino Aprea was stuck at work in Amityville while his friends headed to the beach. That didn't stop him from staying cool.

Arnold Lewis

don't tell dad

One day, Carl Russo asked his son Jason why the floor of his car was wet, so Jason fed him a little white lie. The next day, Jason was outed by Newsday.

Newsday file photo

big hair don't care

As the '80s came to a close, so did the era of 'big hair.' But the epoch of hair spray and perms did not leave Long Island with a whimper, but a bang during one summer in 1991 at the L.I. Exchange nightclub.

Newsday / Susan Farley

Catching 'Superfrog'

Tom Collery was just doing what boys did -- catching frogs in the woods with friends. But when he nabbed a distinctly peculiar amphibian one day in 1972, someone made a call to Newsday. A story immortalized the find under the name 'Superfrog!'

Newsday / David Pokress

Shelter from the Storm

Alex Kabbaz and Donna Pyne-Trosin expected a quiet winter season in the Hamptons, but an ocean flood changed their plans, and ultimately, their lives.

Newsday / Mitch Turner

follow

@VintageNewsday

Animation POC

Posted on June 6, 2019 by TC McCarthy

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Huntington Hospital

Posted on June 4, 2019June 4, 2019 by Jennifer Berger

631-351-2000 | View Map

Do you offer private rooms? If so, what is the cost?

We have 19 private post-partum rooms and there is no additional fee. All have private bathrooms and a sofa bed for significant others.

Do you offer prenatal, sibling or other classes?

Prenatal classes are offered including a labor class, breast-feeding, newborn care, infant CPR and a sibling class.

What special things do you do for the mother and baby?

Patient and significant other are given a steak and lobster special dinner the night before discharge. Professional photos of baby are offered for a fee.

Do you have an on-site neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?

We have nine bed Level II Neonatal ICU, which includes 24/7 in-house neonatology services.

Do you have a labor and delivery room?

Our Labor and Delivery suite contains seven beds in individual rooms with private bathrooms.

Are doulas or midwives allowed?

We have four full-time midwives who assist on Labor and Delivery, and who also have their own private practices as well. We allow patients to make private arrangements to have a doula attend their labor and delivery.

What kind of security measures do you have in place to make sure the baby is safe?

We have a state-of-the-art Divergent infant security system in place to assure infant security and safety.

Is there a breast-feeding coach and lactation consultant available on-site? Does the hospital support breast- and/or bottle feeding?

We have a full-time lactation consultant and all our maternity nurses are trained to assist our patients with their breast-feeding goals. We also have a breast-feeding support group.

Is videotaping/photographing the birth allowed? A photographer for newborns available?

Photography is allowed during the birth process. Videography is not allowed. We also have a private professional infant photo service available in house for a fee.

What do the rooms look like?

Huntington Hospital labor and delivery room. Credit: Huntington Hospital

Do you offer anything special for moms during labor (i.e. hydrobath, labor ball, etc.)?

We offer birthing balls, aromatherapy and ambulatory fetal monitoring.

Do you offer a hospital tour?

Maternity wing and Labor and Delivery tours are available on a regular basis and private tours can be arranged on a case by case basis.

Does the hospital do cord blood banking?

We offer patient arranged private cord blood banking.

Do you offer any parting swag bags with samples?

No swag offered at this time but it is in the works.

Are siblings allowed to visit? Can the spouse sleep in the room?

Siblings are allowed to visit. All maternity rooms have a sleeper sofa for significant others to allow them to stay with the new moms. We offer couplet care that allows for a family centered experience.

What are the visiting hours?

There are no limitations for visiting hours and family can visit any time at the mother’s request.

What’s the rate of C-sections at the hospital?

Our C-section rate overall is 38 percent, which includes primary and repeat C-sections.

What’s the rate of breast-feeding mothers?

Our exclusive breast-feeding rate is 33 percent.

What is the episiotomy rate?

Less than 10 percent.

Will my baby be able to sleep in the same room as me? Is there a nursery?

We have couplet care where the baby stays with the mother at all times unless the mother requests the baby to be watched temporarily in our new well baby nursery.

Average length of a postpartum stay?

An average postpartum stay is two days for a normal vaginal delivery and three days for a C-section.

Does the hospital offer anything new/cutting edge?

Huntington Hospital is a four time Magnet nursing facility. It’s the highest ranked community hospital in New York State as awarded by the U.S. News and World Report. Our Labor and Delivery nurses are all maternity certified. We have full-time in-house OB anesthesia.

Stony Brook Southampton Hospital

Posted on June 4, 2019June 4, 2019 by Jennifer Berger

631-726-8200 | View Map

Do you offer private rooms? If so, what is the cost?

Yes, all our rooms are private. We have 11 postpartum, four labor and delivery suites, one triage and one recovery (post-op).

Do you offer prenatal, sibling or other classes?

Yes, Southampton offers baby care basics, beyond delivery, baby safe CPR, breast-feeding, Lamaze and sibling classes.

What special things do you do for the mother and baby?

We play a lullaby throughout the hospital when baby is born, skin-to-skin immediately following birth, lactation specialist is available day and night and we also offer breast-feeding education.

Do you have an on-site neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?

No, we transfer to Stony Brook University Hospital, if necessary.

Do you have a labor and delivery room?

Yes, we have four.

Are doulas or midwives allowed?

Doulas and midwives are allowed. We also have a midwife on staff.

What kind of security measures do you have in place to make sure the baby is safe?

We have a Baby Safe system that uses the newborn’s umbilical cord.

Is there a breast-feeding coach and lactation consultant available on-site? Does the hospital support breast- and/or bottle feeding?

We have a lactation consultant on staff. We promote breast-feeding, but also bottle feeding if that is what the parents choose.

Is videotaping/photographing the birth allowed? A photographer for newborns available?

Yes, parents can take pictures. We do not have a professional newborn photographer at this time.

What do the rooms look like?

Stony Brook Southampton Hospital labor and delivery room. Credit: Stony Brook Southampton Hospital

Do you offer anything special for moms during labor (i.e. hydrobath, labor ball, etc.)?

Yes, Southampton offers hydrobath, labor ball and “peanut” assist during delivery.

Do you offer a hospital tour?

Yes.

Does the hospital do cord blood banking?

At request of the parent.

Do you offer any parting swag bags with samples?

Southampton participates in “Books for Babies” to encourage parent/child reading. Each baby receives several educational books in a canvas bag (we provide English or Spanish).

Are siblings allowed to visit? Can the spouse sleep in the room?

Yes to both. No restriction on children related to parents and baby. Unrelated children must be at least 16.

What are the visiting hours?

Our visiting hours are noon to 8 p.m.

What’s the rate of C-sections at the hospital?

26 to 30 percent of births.

What’s the rate of breast-feeding mothers?

To date, our exclusive breast-feeding rate is more than 50 percent.

What is the episiotomy rate?

16.1 percent of vaginal births included episiotomies.

Will my baby be able to sleep in the same room as me? Is there a nursery?

Yes. There is a nursery available, if needed.

Average length of a postpartum stay?

Two days for natural birth, three to four days for a C-section.

Does the hospital offer anything new/cutting edge?

We have a baby-friendly environment, and holistic/pain management natural delivery.

Stony Brook University Hospital

Posted on June 4, 2019June 4, 2019 by Jennifer Berger

631-689-8333 | View Map

Do you offer private rooms? If so, what is the cost?

All of the labor and postpartum rooms are spacious single patient rooms; each room is equipped with a private bathroom and shower.

Do you offer prenatal, sibling or other classes?

The hospital offers free prenatal classes regarding labor/hospital stay, newborn care and breast-feeding, as well as a sibling class. The SB midwifery practice also has a referral list of childbirth educators on its website.

What special things do you do for the mother and baby?

The nurses often play a “Happy Birthday” tune just after the baby is born in the birthing room. We encourage skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby to support transition, bonding and successful breast-feeding. We provide complete non-separation as our standard of care, which is an evidenced-based practice that continues to support baby’s transition, breast-feeding and the parenting role.

Do you have an on-site neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?

We have an onsite NICU staffed 24 hours a day, with neonatal intensive care physicians; it also serves as the regional perinatal center for Suffolk County. The NICU are single patient rooms (46 beds) with the ability for a parent to stay overnight; we also have available two transition rooms to support an easier transition from NICU to home for the family. There is a family respite room within the NICU; in addition we have a family waiting area equipped with bathroom facilities, refreshments, television and a children’s play area.

Do you have a labor and delivery room?

We have birthing rooms (labor/delivery rooms) , where mothers labor, birth and recover and are invited to have whomever they want in the room with them for support.

Are doulas or midwives allowed?

We encourage doulas and are in the process of developing a volunteer doula service at Stony Brook that would be available to all patients. We have the largest midwifery practice on Long Island, which has been providing obstetric and gynecologic care to women for more than 20 years, and has attended close to 12,000 births.

What kind of security measures do you have in place to make sure the baby is safe?

Each infant receives a special sensor at birth, which remains on them until discharge. This sensor is connected to a high-tech alarm system, which alerts staff if the infant is brought near any unit exit areas. In addition, each infant receives ID bands, which match the mother’s and are continuously checked throughout the hospital stay. Our non-separation policy also offers another level of security.

Is there a breast-feeding coach and lactation consultant available on-site? Does the hospital support breast- and/or bottle feeding?

A large percentage of our nursing staff and many of our providers are trained breast-feeding counselors and there are lactation consultants on site as well. The hospital is currently in the process of expanding its lactation consultant staff. In addition, there is a free breast-feeding support group, facilitated by midwives and nursing staff, that meets every Monday evening at our East Setauket office location for anyone who births at Stony Brook.

Is videotaping/photographing the birth allowed? A photographer for newborns available?

Photographs can be taken during the birth, but final discretion is left to the provider. Videotaping is under the discretion of the provider. The hospital has a contract with a photographer, who offers newborn photo shoots during the stay.

What do the rooms look like?

Stony Brook University Hospital delivery room. Credit: Stony Brook University Hospital

Do you offer anything special for moms during labor (i.e. hydrobath, labor ball, etc.)?

During labor, in addition to excellent support from well trained L&D nurses, we offer the use of birthing balls, peanut balls, hydrotherapy via private showers in every labor room, some with body sprays, as well as squatting bars for pushing. Many of our nurses and providers are familiar with spinning babies and rebozo techniques.

Do you offer a hospital tour?

The hospital offers tours of our labor and delivery, and postpartum areas on most weekends, and the midwifery practice hosts an open house and tour on the first Thursday of every month.

Does the hospital do cord blood banking?

Providers who attend births at Stony Brook participate in cord blood collection for stem cell banking, but the hospital itself does not “bank” stem cells from cord blood.

Do you offer any parting swag bags with samples?

Every newborn receives a hat handmade by our volunteer service, as well as a footprint card.

Are siblings allowed to visit? Can the spouse sleep in the room?

Siblings may visit and there are generally no restrictions on age. Fathers or significant others may sleep over and are accommodated by a cot/lounger type bed in each room.

What are the visiting hours?

The visiting policy is open and in general dictated by the mother’s needs.

What’s the rate of C-sections at the hospital?

26 to 30 percent total; primary C-section rate is 14 percent.

What’s the rate of breast-feeding mothers?

40 percent of moms exclusively breast-feed.

What is the episiotomy rate?

Less than 10 percent.

Will my baby be able to sleep in the same room as me? Is there a nursery?

Non-separation (baby in the room with you for the entire stay) is encouraged as it is known to enhance bonding, successful breast-feeding and parenting skills. There is a nursery for infants who need closer observation or whose mothers have medical conditions that prevent them for caring for their infants at times during their stays.

Average length of a postpartum stay?

For vaginal birth average stay is two nights and for C-section birth average stay is three to four nights. Mothers [who deliver vaginally] who desire earlier discharge (24 hours) are often accommodated.

Does the hospital offer anything new/cutting edge?

We offer delayed cord clamping for vaginally delivered patients and for C-sections on a case by case basis. We provide skin to skin contact for C-sections on a case-by-case basis. We are looking to develop a plan for an early labor lounge. We are also actively involved in a nationwide quality improvement campaign to decrease the primary C-section rate, which is being facilitated by an interdisciplinary group of providers including nurses, midwives and physicians. Our NICU provides a cutting edge whole body cooling program for neonates requiring higher level of intensive care.

St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center

Posted on June 4, 2019June 4, 2019 by Jennifer Berger

631-862-3000 | View Map

Do you offer private rooms? If so, what is the cost?

Yes, we offer private rooms and there is no extra cost. We currently have five private rooms in our mother/baby unit and all of our birthing rooms are private.

Do you offer prenatal, sibling or other classes?

We have the following classes and support groups: New beginnings maternity tour and prenatal breast-feeding class, offered once a week. The infant care class is offered monthly. Family and friends infant CPR is also offered monthly. Support groups include a lactation support group (once a week), mother’s circle of hope, for women experiencing pregnancy and postpartum depression/anxiety/ OCD, (meets the second Thursday of every month).

What special things do you do for the mother and baby?

Lullaby music plays throughout the lobby when a baby is born. We also offer rest periods at the patient’s request and a la carte meals.

Do you have an on-site neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?

We are a Level II NICU, providing care for neonates 30 weeks and older. The hospital can accommodate up to seven NICU babies and there is an isolation room, if necessary. We also have a neonatologist in-house available 24/7.

Do you have a labor and delivery room?

We have a labor and delivery suite with five birthing rooms.

Are doulas or midwives allowed?

If a patient would like a doula, she can hire one and have her present for support during labor and delivery. We do not have midwives on staff.

What kind of security measures do you have in place to make sure the baby is safe?

We have a locked unit with surveillance cameras throughout. Visitors use a phone outside our unit to announce themselves prior to entering. Security is also located outside our unit. All well newborns have a security band placed on them in the delivery room. In addition, we have identification bands, which identify the newborn to the mother.

Is there a breast-feeding coach and lactation consultant available on-site? Does the hospital support breast- and/or bottle feeding?

All of our nurses are breast-feeding coaches. We have a an international board-certified lactation consultant. St. Catherine supports and provides continuous education for all our patients who wish to breast-feed or formula feed.

Is videotaping/photographing the birth allowed? A photographer for newborns available?

Photographing and videotaping is allowed once the baby is born and stable. We also have a newborn photographer on site.

What do the rooms look like?

St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center maternity room. Credit: St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center

Do you offer anything special for moms during labor (i.e. hydrobath, labor ball, etc.)?

We offer a glider for them to rock in.

Do you offer a hospital tour?

Yes, any time. You just need to call in advance or register for our weekly new beginnings tour.

Does the hospital do cord blood banking?

Though we do not provide the kits, however, the nurses are competent in completing the requirement for cord blood banking collection for patients who bring in their own kits.

Do you offer any parting swag bags with samples?

As a means to include siblings, we provide “I am a big sister/brother” bracelet to all siblings.

Are siblings allowed to visit? Can the spouse sleep in the room?

Siblings are allowed to visit in our mother/baby unit. Yes, spouses can sleep in the room.

What are the visiting hours?

Though we have open visiting hours, we encourage family to call patients ahead of time as we are a family-centered care facility and encourage our moms, dads and babies to rest as much as possible.

What’s the rate of C-sections at the hospital?

50 percent.

What’s the rate of breast-feeding mothers?

To date, our exclusive breast-feeding rate is more than 50 percent.

What is the episiotomy rate?

16.1 percent of vaginal births included episiotomies.

Will my baby be able to sleep in the same room as me? Is there a nursery?

Yes, as part of our family bonding, we encourage all of our patients to room in with their newborns. We also have a nursery if needed.

Average length of a postpartum stay?

Normal vaginal delivery patients stay two days and our non-complicated Caesarean section patients stay three to four days.

Does the hospital offer anything new/cutting edge?

St. Catherine of Siena is the first and only designated baby-friendly birth facility in Suffolk County, an award that demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to supporting breastfeeding and family bonding. We renovated to accommodate more private rooms for our patients. Mothers, as well as fathers, are encouraged to do skin-to-skin with their newborns immediately after birth.

NYU Winthrop Hospital

Posted on June 4, 2019June 4, 2019 by Jennifer Berger

516-633-0333 | View Map

Do you offer private rooms? If so, what is the cost?

Yes, NYU Winthrop Hospital offers private rooms. There is a $200 surcharge for the entire stay.

Do you offer prenatal, sibling or other classes?

Yes, we have a number of prenatal class offerings such as baby care, breast-feeding, Lamaze and more. We also have a sibling class.

What special things do you do for the mother and baby?

There is a daily dessert cart brought to the mom’s room every afternoon with specialty treats.

Do you have an on-site neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?

Yes, NYU Winthrop has a Level III NICU. The NICU is equipped to care for babies with problems that require the use of the most sophisticated technology and possible surgical intervention. Special equipment is used to observe and monitor the babies closely, as well as to provide the correct balance of warmth, nourishment and, if necessary, oxygen in amounts carefully tailored to the special needs of each baby. We care for sick neonates and premature babies as early as 24 weeks’ gestation.

Do you have a labor and delivery room?

Yes. We have 16 labor, delivery, recovery (LDR) rooms, three operating rooms, six OB post anesthesia care unit (PACU) beds and seven exam/triage rooms.

Are doulas or midwives allowed?

Yes, NYU Winthrop developed the first volunteer doula program on Long Island and has trained more than 135 doulas. Doulas may provide support in the delivery room, and those that are hospital-based and trained may provide support for C-sections in the operating room. Midwives are permitted if credentialed and privileged through the hospital’s medical staff office.

What kind of security measures do you have in place to make sure the baby is safe?

We utilize an infant alarm system called Safe Place, which monitors the infant’s whereabouts through a central system. The areas are all locked down with card swipe technology.

Is there a breast-feeding coach and lactation consultant available on-site? Does the hospital support breast- and/or bottle feeding?

NYU Winthrop Hospital was the first hospital on Long Island to achieve Baby Friendly designation. All of the members of the nursing staff are certified breast-feeding counselors (CBC). In addition, we have two international board certified lactation consultants (IBCLC) on staff.

Is videotaping/photographing the birth allowed? A photographer for newborns available?

Yes, photographing and videotaping during the birth are permitted with the consent of the medical provider who is delivering the baby. MOM 365 has professional photographers, who are on-site and available to take newborn photos in the privacy of each patient’s room.

What do the rooms look like?

NYU Winthrop Hospital labor and delivery suite — NYU Winthrop Hospital labor and delivery room. Credit: NYU Winthrop Hospital

Do you offer anything special for moms during labor (i.e. hydrobath, labor ball, etc.)?

NYU Winthrop offers Peanut balls (birthing balls) to help reduce the length of labor and the need for Caesarean section. In addition, the Monica NOVII is a wireless Bluetooth fetal monitoring device, which allows for more mobility during labor. It monitors fetal heart rate, maternal heart rate and uterine activity, all with a single “peel and stick” patch.

Do you offer a hospital tour?

Yes, tours of the hospital’s New Life Center and recovery area are available upon request or can be arranged through prenatal classes.

Does the hospital do cord blood banking?

Cord blood banking is permitted and supported for any family that decides to contract with a cord blood company.

Do you offer any parting swag bags with samples?

No.

Are siblings allowed to visit? Can the spouse sleep in the room?

Siblings and families are welcome. Spouses and partners may stay.

What are the visiting hours?

There is no age requirement for visitation; however, families are encouraged to use discretion with small children. Visitors are welcome at any time during the patient’s stay.

What’s the rate of C-sections at the hospital?

The C-section rate is 38 percent. NYU Winthrop has also joined a multi-centered collaboration with the American College of Nurse-Midwives in order to safely reduce the primary C-section rate, and the rate for first time mothers has dropped 10 percent.

What’s the rate of breast-feeding mothers?

NICU babies have more than 90 percent initiation rate for breast milk including the availability of donor milk; more than 80 percent of well babies receive breast milk, with 50 percent receiving breast milk exclusively.

What is the episiotomy rate?

The hospital’s episiotomy rate is 18 percent.

Will my baby be able to sleep in the same room as me? Is there a nursery?

Rooming in is strongly encouraged. There is a respite nursery if needed.

Average length of a postpartum stay?

The average length of stay is two to three days.

Does the hospital offer anything new/cutting edge?

NYU Winthrop Hospital is the only hospital on Long Island to offer fetal surgery. Fetal surgery encompasses a broad range of surgical techniques used by our fetal surgeon-specialists to treat birth defects in fetuses prior to childbirth. The Monica NOVII is wireless Bluetooth fetal monitoring to allow for more mobility during labor. NYU Winthrop received the prestigious Joint Commission Gold Seal for Perinatal Care, a certification that recognizes, among other things, patient-centered care, a reduction in maternal complications and prematurity rates, key standards and measures for improving and maintaining the health of newborns and their mothers, and a reduction in costs associated with lengthy hospitals stays due to pregnancy-related complications.

Southside Hospital

Posted on June 4, 2019June 4, 2019 by Jennifer Berger

631-968-3000 | View Map

Do you offer private rooms? If so, what is the cost?

Southside Hospital has private rooms available upon request.

Do you offer prenatal, sibling or other classes?

We offer two complimentary prenatal classes to all of the hospital’s patients and employees. One class is labor and delivery, covering the basics of what to expect during your birth, as well as basic newborn care. Southside Hospital also offers a prenatal breast-feeding class taught by an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). Both of these classes include a tour of the maternity center.

What special things do you do for the mother and baby?

After the birth of a baby and upon transfer to the postpartum unit, the mother and her significant other push a button that plays a lullaby throughout the entire hospital. This was initiated by one of the hospital’s labor and delivery nurses and it really brings a smile to everyone’s face when they hear it.

Do you have an on-site neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?

Southside Hospital has a level two special care nursery with 24/7 neonatologists on site.

Do you have a labor and delivery room?

We have six beautiful labor and delivery suites.

Are doulas or midwives allowed?

Doulas are allowed at the mother’s request, but we currently do not have midwives who practice at Southside Hospital.

What kind of security measures do you have in place to make sure the baby is safe?

We have a state–of-the-art newborn security system. Every baby has a newborn security tag on his/her ankle, which is a transmitter. The patients are given instructions regarding the use of the tag, such as leaving it on the baby securely throughout the hospital stay. Both the labor and delivery, and maternity units are locked units and every baby is accounted for at all times. These transmitters can activate an overhead alarm system if any change in tag status occurs.

Is there a breast-feeding coach and lactation consultant available on-site? Does the hospital support breast- and/or bottle feeding?

All of the hospital’s maternal-child nursing staff are trained in supporting breast-feeding mothers, as well as our lactation consultants who do daily rounds on patients. Southside Hospital is on the journey to become a baby friendly designated hospital and has many resources for breast-feeding families. We offer a free prenatal breast-feeding class prior to birth, as well as breast-feeding support after discharge through its breast-feeding support group.

Is videotaping/photographing the birth allowed? A photographer for newborns available?

The hospital has a newborn photography company on the mother-baby unit (postpartum). However, videotaping during the actual childbirth on the labor and delivery unit is not allowed.

What do the rooms look like?

Southside Hospital maternity room. Credit: Southside Hospital

Do you offer anything special for moms during labor (i.e. hydrobath, labor ball, etc.)?

Southside Hospital has nonpharmacologic measures to help a mother during childbirth, such as birthing balls, peanut balls, rocking chairs and support to labor outside of the bed when the patient is medically stable.

Do you offer a hospital tour?

Yes, the tours are incorporated into the complimentary prenatal classes.

Does the hospital do cord blood banking?

Patients are encouraged to bank their cord blood privately with one of the many companies we are associated with. They are given multiple resources by their doctors regarding both banking for themselves as well as donating cord blood for banking.

Do you offer any parting swag bags with samples?

We offer a Northwell Health cooler tote to each of the mothers who are admitted to the NICU, so they can safely transport their breast-milk to and from the NICU. We also give each baby a complimentary Northwell Health newborn T-shirt.

Are siblings allowed to visit? Can the spouse sleep in the room?

Siblings are allowed to visit at any age. Spouses may stay overnight and are encouraged/taught to assist in the care of the newborn.

What are the visiting hours?

We have 24-hour visiting hours with a designated “quiet hour” during both the day shift and night shift to allow for the patients to rest.

What’s the rate of C-sections at the hospital?

Primary C-section rate is 20 percent.

What’s the rate of breast-feeding mothers?

50.68 percent.

What is the episiotomy rate?

16.8 percent.

Will my baby be able to sleep in the same room as me? Is there a nursery?

The baby is able to stay in the same room throughout the hospital stay and there is a nursery available at all times.

Average length of a postpartum stay?

The standard length of stay is two nights for a vaginal delivery and three to four after a Caesarean birth.

Does the hospital offer anything new/cutting edge?

We offer immediate skin-to-skin contact for all our mothers after birth. Even babies who are born via a Caesarean section can be placed immediately skin-to-skin after the birth in the operating room. They may stay with the mother throughout the remainder of the surgery and be transferred to the recovery room with the mother. Skin-to-skin can also be performed by the baby’s father in either setting (labor room or operating room), as well. Southside Hospital also has a Baby Café, a drop-in service for all mothers in the community to receive professional support by a board-certified lactation consultant, as well as support from other mothers.