Family Birth Center Visiting Hours and Policies
Our visitor policies prioritize safety, security and comfort to support families as they experience the birth of their newest loved one.
Visitor Restrictions
Last updated: May 2, 2024
Visitor access is limited as outlined below. In some cases, visitor access may not be allowed at all. Limited exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis.
Masking
Masks are welcomed at the University of Chicago Medicine and may be mandatory in certain spaces within our medical facilities as well as for some patients, visitors and staff. These policies and guidelines are subject to change. In addition, as a patient, you and your family can request that your healthcare providers wear masks during appointments or during your hospital stay. Let our teams know about this request when you check in and you will be given a teal sticker to wear. Visit our masking page for the latest information.
Entryway Health Screening
Visitors will be required to undergo a health screening. Anyone with a fever, cough, or flu-like illness will not be allowed to visit patients or accompany them to appointments. Visitors who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 10 days will not be allowed.
During labor and delivery:
There are no visiting hour limitations for adults.
During postpartum recovery:
One visitor (usually the support person) may have 24-hour visitation privileges as long as they are at least 18 years old or the parent of the baby. All other visitors may visit between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
These guidelines apply to patients who test negative for COVID-19. Patients who test positive are allowed one visitor.
Family Birth Center Emergency Department
- One support person is allowed.
Laboring Patients
- Two support people are allowed in the patient room.
- Switching support people during delivery will not be allowed.
- A certified doula is allowed as one of your two support people.
Antepartum and 3 North Obstetrics and Newborn Units
Visiting hours:
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Two support people are allowed in the patient room.
- Visitors will not be allowed to wait in the Family Lounge.
To meet the individualized emotional, psychological, safety and physical needs of each patient, the number and age of visitors and hours of visitation may need to be amended through consensus between the nurse manager, charge nurse and the physician.
No. Children are not allowed to visit during labor and delivery.
Antepartum and Postpartum Recovery Units
Children of the birth parent and/or siblings of the newborn may visit between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m., but must have accompanying supervision from an adult other than the patient the entire time the children are present.
- They will be asked to state their date of birth when presenting to the department.
- They may visit between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. (Exception: when the minor is the father of the baby)
Siblings/Children Visiting
- Maximum four people at bedside at one time.
- Siblings/children must be asymptomatic to visit.
- Sibling visitation hours are daily from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Flu Season
For the safety of our mothers and babies, children under the age of 12 are not allowed visitation during flu season.
To meet the individualized emotional, psychological, safety, and physical needs of each patient, the number and age of visitors and hours of visitation may need to be amended through consensus between the nurse manager, charge nurse and the physician.The birth parent and one designated support person will have ID bands to match the one placed on the baby at birth. ID bands are connected to a hospital-wide electronic monitoring system. In addition to ID bands with unique matching identifiers for birth parent, support person, and infant, your infant will have a security tag and band placed on one leg. Bands are checked whenever a baby is taken out of a room or brought back in. The baby will keep the ID band and security tag on until birth parent and baby are discharged at the front desk.
Visitors will have to present photo identification (i.e. driver’s license or state ID) for verification. All visitors will be checked against the visitor list and visitor restriction list.
All visitors coming in contact with the newborn will be instructed on performing hand hygiene before and after contact with the infant including after diaper changes.
Yes. For the safety of our patients, we enforce additional visitor restrictions during flu season each fall and winter, including:
- No children under the age of 12 allowed
- No one with flu-like symptoms allowed to visit