Pregnancy and postpartum care in Pittsburgh.
A plain guide for moms in Pittsburgh: where to deliver, what Medicaid covers, free local help, and the warning signs that matter for a full year after birth.
Key takeaway
Six hospitals near Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh
As of October 2026, these hospitals have labor and delivery units.
Hospital | NICU |
UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital | Ask on your tour |
West Penn Hospital | Ask on your tour |
Forbes Hospital | NICU on site |
Jefferson Hospital | Level II |
Wexford Hospital | Ask on your tour |
St. Clair Hospital | Ask on your tour |
Heritage Valley Sewickley stopped delivering babies in 2023, and births moved to Heritage Valley Beaver, which became part of Allegheny Health Network in July 2026. UPMC Magee-Womens has one of the largest NICUs in Pennsylvania.
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 Community Care Behavioral Health |
Certified doula care | Covered, may need a clinician’s recommendation |
Medicaid health plans in Allegheny County
Allegheny County is in the HealthChoices Southwest 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 Community Care Behavioral Health. Call 1-800-553-7499 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 Pittsburgh
Program | What you get |
WIC | Healthy food, breastfeeding help and nutrition support for moms and kids under 5. Run by Allegheny County Health Department. 10 clinics across the county, including one at UPMC Magee-Womens. U.S. citizenship is not required. |
Healthy Start Pittsburgh doulas | Free birth doula support plus 8 weeks of postpartum doula help, if you give birth in Allegheny County. |
Healthy Families Allegheny | Free home visits until your child turns 3. Sign up while pregnant or within 2 weeks of birth. |
Nurse-Family Partnership | A nurse visits you at home from pregnancy until your baby turns 2. For first babies, income limits apply. |
County Breastfeeding Helpline | Feeding questions answered by phone, weekdays 8:30am to 4:30pm. |
Hello Baby | Help finding services for new parents in Allegheny County. |
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. |
resolve Crisis Services | 24/7 by phone, walk-in or mobile team. |
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 Pittsburgh deliver babies?
As of October 2026: UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, West Penn Hospital, Forbes Hospital, Jefferson Hospital, Wexford Hospital, St. Clair Hospital.
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 Pittsburgh?
Yes. Healthy Start Pittsburgh offers free doulas, Healthy Families Allegheny offers free home visits, and the county runs a breastfeeding helpline at 412-687-2243.
Is Phia available in Pittsburgh?
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: UPMC and Allegheny Health Network labor and delivery pages. St. Clair Health. Keystone Birth Collaborative, PA maternity closures. PA DHS HealthChoices MCO list, 2026. Community Care Behavioral Health. PA Department of Health WIC agencies. Allegheny County family and child health programs. PA 211. UPMC resolve Crisis Services. 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.
