Pregnancy and postpartum care in Lancaster.
A plain guide for moms in Lancaster: where to deliver, what Medicaid covers, free local help, and the warning signs that matter for a full year after birth.
Key takeaway
Four hospitals near Lancaster deliver babies. If you have Medicaid, you stay covered for 12 months after birth. Know the warning signs, and keep support close for the whole first year.
Having a baby in Lancaster means choosing a hospital, sorting out coverage and knowing where to turn after you go home. This guide covers where to deliver, what Medicaid covers, free local help, and the warning signs to know for the whole first year.
Where babies are born near Lancaster
As of October 2026, these hospitals have labor and delivery units.
Hospital | NICU |
Women & Babies Hospital | Level IIIB |
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center | Level II, opening fall 2026 |
WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital | Level III-A |
UPMC Lititz | Ask on your tour |
Women & Babies Hospital has the most advanced NICU in Lancaster County.
Questions to ask on a hospital tour
What level is your NICU, and can my baby stay here if they need intensive care?
Who can stay overnight with me after the birth?
Will a lactation consultant see me before I go home?
How will you check my blood pressure after I leave?
Who do I call at night if something feels wrong after discharge?
What Medicaid covers after birth
If you have Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid), your coverage now lasts 12 months after your pregnancy ends. It used to stop at 60 days. The change took effect on April 1, 2022.
What | After birth |
How long Medicaid lasts | 12 months |
Doctor and nurse visits | Covered |
Mental health and substance use care | Covered, through PerformCare |
Certified doula care | Covered, may need a clinician’s recommendation |
Medicaid health plans in Lancaster County
Lancaster County is in the HealthChoices Lehigh/Capital zone. These plans cover physical health care:
Health plan | Phone |
AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania | 888-991-7200 |
Geisinger Health Plan | 855-227-1302 |
Jefferson Health Plans EverWell | 800-553-0784 |
Highmark Wholecare | 800-392-1147 |
UPMC for You | 800-286-4242 |
Mental health and substance use care for Medicaid members goes through PerformCare. Call 1-888-722-8646 to find a therapist or treatment program. To find a doula, ask your health plan which certified doulas are in network.
Free and low-cost help in Lancaster
Program | What you get |
WIC | Healthy food, breastfeeding help and nutrition support for moms and kids under 5. Run by Community Action Program of Lancaster County. U.S. citizenship is not required. |
Nurse-Family Partnership, LG Health | A nurse visits first-time moms at home, from pregnancy until baby turns 2. |
Healthy Beginnings Plus, LG Health | Prenatal and postpartum support with home visits and a lactation consultant. |
Parents as Teachers, Community Action Partnership | Home visits for expecting parents and kids up to 3. |
Statewide WIC line: 1-800-WIC-WINS.
Why the year after birth matters
Pennsylvania extended Medicaid to a full year after birth because many serious problems, like high blood pressure, infection and depression, can show up weeks or months after the six-week checkup. Checking in, catching warning signs early and getting help fast is what changes outcomes.
Warning signs to know
These signs matter for up to a year after birth, not just the first few weeks.
If you have | Do this |
Chest pain | Call 911 |
Trouble breathing | Call 911 |
A seizure | Call 911 |
Thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else | Call 911 |
Bleeding that soaks a pad an hour, or egg-sized clots | Call your doctor or midwife |
An incision that isn’t healing | Call your doctor or midwife |
A red, swollen, painful or warm leg | Call your doctor or midwife |
A temperature of 100.4°F or higher | Call your doctor or midwife |
A headache that won’t go away, or one with vision changes | Call your doctor or midwife |
If you can’t reach your provider, call 911 or go to the emergency room. Tell them you recently had a baby.
If you are struggling emotionally
Feeling overwhelmed, anxious or low after a baby is common, and it is treatable. You don’t have to wait until it feels like a crisis.
Who to contact | How to reach them |
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline | 24/7, in English and Spanish. |
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | 24/7. |
Lancaster County Crisis Intervention | 24/7. |
Postpartum Support International | 8am to 11pm ET. Support and referrals, not a crisis line. |
Where Phia fits
A licensed perinatal medical group you text. Phia doesn’t replace your OB. It covers the stretches between visits.
01
Every message is checked
A nurse steps in when something looks wrong, day or night.
02
Phia remembers you
A headache this week is read alongside last week’s blood pressure.
03
Help that follows through
Phia connects you with programs like these, then checks that you got care.
Between visits, Phia is there.
16 min
Median time for a clinician to pick up a flagged concern
Any language
Text Phia from the phone you already have. No app to download.
Common questions.
Which hospitals near Lancaster deliver babies?
As of October 2026: Women & Babies Hospital, Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center, WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital, UPMC Lititz.
How long does Medicaid cover me after I give birth in Pennsylvania?
12 months after your pregnancy ends. Pennsylvania extended postpartum Medical Assistance coverage from 60 days to 12 months on April 1, 2022.
Is there free help for new moms in Lancaster?
Yes. LG Health runs Nurse-Family Partnership and Healthy Beginnings Plus, and Community Action Partnership offers Parents as Teachers home visits.
Is Phia available in Lancaster?
Yes. Phia works by text, in any language, from pregnancy through postpartum. It costs $19 a month, and some employers and health plans offer it at no cost. Phia is not an emergency service. If you need help now, call 911.
Sources: Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health. Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center and Penn State news, January 2026. WellSpan Ephrata maternity. CPBJ, UPMC Magee-Womens in central PA. PA DHS HealthChoices and behavioral health MCO lists, 2026. PerformCare. PA Department of Health WIC agencies. PA 211. PA DHS postpartum coverage bulletin, 2022. CMS State Plan Amendment PA-25-0003 (doula services). AWHONN POST-BIRTH warning signs. HRSA National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. 988 Lifeline. Postpartum Support International.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Programs, phone numbers and hospital services change, so confirm details directly. Phia is not an emergency service. If you need help now, call 911.
