MATERNITY & BIRTH CARE

Proven Expertise for Your Most Important Delivery
The preferred birthplace for families across Maryland.

Every year, more than 10,000 babies are born at Holy Cross hospitals in Silver Spring and Germantown – more than any other health system in Maryland. Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring also cares for more newborns with complex medical issues than any other hospital in Maryland or D.C.

Holy Cross Health has been welcoming new life for generations of families, with compassionate care that stands the test of time. From pregnancy planning and prenatal care to delivery, recovery, and newborn support, our maternity centers offer private labor and delivery rooms, comfortable maternity suites and expert care at every step of your journey. 

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Why Chose Holy Cross Health
Life Starts Here.

Bringing a baby into the world is one of life’s most meaningful beginnings—filled with unconditional love and a deep sense of purpose. At Holy Cross Health, we combine comfortable, family-centered facilities with advanced technology and a compassionate care team, all dedicated to making your birthing experience safe, personal and memorable.

With more newborn births than any other health system in Maryland, we offer a full range of specialized services to meet the unique needs of expectant mothers and newborns:

• Perinatal Diagnostic Center
  For pregnancies requiring extra care – due to age, medical conditions or multiple births – our maternal-fetal specialists work closely with your obstetrician to help ensure the best outcomes for you and your baby.
• High-Risk Perinatal Center 
  Our experienced team provides around-the-clock inpatient care for women who need hospitalization during pregnancy due to medical complications, preterm labor risks or other concerns.
• Level II Special Care Nursery – Holy Cross Germantown 
  Staffed by expert specialists and clinicians, our Level II nursery provides advanced care for babies born up to 2 months early, those requiring short-term ventilator support, or full-term newborns who need extra help adjusting after birth.
• Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring 
  With advanced technologies, specialized expertise and a dedicated 46-bed unit, our compassionate team cares for more newborns with complex medical needs than any other hospital in the region – giving fragile babies the strongest possible start.
• Nationally Recognized Quality
  Our maternity centers are accredited and recognized by third-party organizations such as Healthgrades and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, validating our commitment to safe, effective, and patient-focused care. 

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Facility Highlights
A Home-Like Environment, Backed by Clinical Excellence

At Holy Cross Health, we are dedicated to creating a safe, personal and memorable birth experience for you and your growing family. Our maternity centers are thoughtfully designed with your comfort, care and connection in mind. Our state-of-the-art infant security system keeps you and your baby safe while you are here. 

• Labor and Delivery Suites 
  Enjoy the privacy and warmth of home in our state-of-the-art labor and delivery suites. Each room includes a family zone with a sleeper sofa and other comforts, and is fully equipped for cesarean and high-risk births.
• Private Maternity Suites 
  After delivery, you will recover in a spacious private suite with a bassinet for “rooming-in,” to keep your baby close. Calming colors, soft lighting and modern amenities create a restful environment that supports healing and bonding. Our registered nurses will care for mom and baby in your suite, and lactation consultants are also available.
• Special Care Nurseries
  If your baby needs extra care, our advanced nurseries are ready. Holy Cross Germantown offers a Level II Special Care Nursery, while Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring features a 46-bed Level III NICU – staffed by experienced specialists and equipped with the latest technology.
• Perinatal Diagnostic Center
  For high-risk pregnancies, our diagnostic center provides advanced testing and ongoing monitoring. Maternal-fetal medicine specialists work closely with your obstetrician to help ensure the health and well-being of both mother and baby.
• High-Risk Perinatal Center 
  For women who need hospitalization during pregnancy, our expert team provides 24/7 care in a safe, supportive environment. Whether due to medical complications, preterm labor risks or other concerns, we provide personalized, attentive care focused on protecting the health of both you and your baby.

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High-Risk Pregnancies
Extra Support When It Matters Most

High-risk pregnancies call for focused, specialized care. At Holy Cross Health, our maternal-fetal medicine specialists walk beside you with expert guidance, advanced monitoring and compassionate support – helping you and your baby have the healthiest beginning possible.

Our key areas of expertise include:

• Specialized Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) team led by a board-certified perinatologist, with experts in gynecology, obstetrics, genetics and neonatology.
• On-site Perinatal Diagnostic Center offering advanced prenatal testing, including non-stress tests, amniocentesis, detailed ultrasounds and more. Preconception evaluations are also available. Our center at Holy Cross Hospital is accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and designated by MIEMSS as a Level IIIB Perinatal Referral Center.
• High-Risk Perinatal Center provides inpatient care for high-risk pregnancies, preterm labor risks or other concerns.
• Advanced Neonatal Care with a Level III NICU in Silver Spring, a Level II Special Care Nursery in Germantown and 24/7 neonatology coverage for medically fragile newborns.
• Seamless collaboration with Children’s National Hospital for rare or complex fetal conditions.
• Comprehensive care for high-risk conditions such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, multiple births and preterm labor.

Whether you are managing a health condition or expecting multiples, our team surrounds you with expert care, advanced technology and heartfelt compassion so you can focus on what matters most: welcoming your new baby.
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Advanced Neonatal Care
Where Fragile Beginnings Find Strength

At Holy Cross Health, our experienced neonatal team is dedicated to giving your baby the strongest possible start—providing compassionate, specialized care to support a lifetime of milestones and memories. 

Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring
Newborns with complex medical needs receive focused care in our 46-bed Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit—the largest and most experienced NICU in the region. With leading-edge technology and continuous expert monitoring, we ensure your baby receives the highest level of support.

To keep families connected, our NICVIEW secure video system allows parents to check in on their baby from any web-enabled device, no matter where they are. When it’s time to go home, we offer helpful resources including a discharge class, infant CPR training and a caregiver support group. Chaplains are also available to provide spiritual support to families of all faiths and backgrounds.

Holy Cross Germantown Hospital
Our Level II Special Care Nursery, with eight private rooms, cares for babies born at 32 weeks’ gestation or later who need extra medical attention. Our team can provide respiratory support for short periods, assist with feeding and provide care for issues such as difficulty maintaining body temperature or moderate illnesses. The same expert team that staffs the Silver Spring NICU supports this unit, ensuring seamless, coordinated care.

Babies requiring more intensive care after the first 24 hours are transferred to the Level III NICU at Holy Cross Hospital or another appropriate facility.
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Maternity Visitation Guidelines 
Welcoming Family and Friends

Visitors to the hospital's maternity and newborn care areas must be screened and provided with a wristband (“banded”), except as noted below. 

All visitors must wear a mask throughout our facilities and will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms when entering our hospitals. For those without a mask, we will gladly provide one. Visitors must be:

• 18 years of age or older.
• Either immediate family members, powers of attorney, guardians or patient representatives.
• Healthy with no symptoms of illness, including no respiratory or fever symptoms upon arrival at the hospital and thereafter.
• Wearing a mask and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), as requested.

Triage 
During triage, you may have one visitor with you in the patient care area. Visitors under the age of 18 are not permitted at this time.

Cesarean Birth
Expectant mothers may designate one adult support person to be with them for a cesarean birth and in the post-anesthesia care unit after a cesarean birth.

Maternity Suites and Pediatrics 
One banded visitor may be present 24/7. Two banded visitors are permitted from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Up to two friends and family members (children and non-banded visitors) are welcome from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily, with a maximum of four visitors in a patient room at a time (banded or non-banded) -- unless public health considerations do not permit children, as determined by the hospital. One adult visitor may stay overnight during designated quiet hours.

High-Risk Perinatal Center and Antepartum Unit
For postpartum, high-risk perinatal and pediatric units, one banded visitor may be present 24/7. Two banded visitors are permitted from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Friends and family members (children and non-banded visitors) are welcome from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily. A maximum of two visitors is permitted in a patient room at a time.

Neonatal Units
Banded visitors to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) may come at any time but are asked not to visit during shift change periods (6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.). One additional “special pass” may be requested by NICU banded visitors.

*Additional visitor restrictions may apply, and exceptions may be granted for legally authorized support persons to accompany, visit, or stay with patients who have a disability.
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Maternity and Postnatal Support 
Knowledge Builds Confidence

Being informed empowers you to navigate every stage of your pregnancy with confidence and peace of mind. When you understand your care and know what to expect, you can feel more prepared – physically, emotionally and mentally – for childbirth and the journey ahead. That’s why we offer a variety of classes and programs designed to support your birthing experience and transition home. 

Visit our Support & Resources page to learn more.

Support and Resources