Baby born at Sibley - am I supposed to apply for the birth certificate?

[Anonymous]

I received my newborn's social security card in the mail. However, I have not received a birth certificate. Am I supposed to apply for one, or pick it up somewhere? Thanks, Tired and Stupid FTM

[ThatSmileyFaceGuy]

It might take a few weeks, but you should just get them sent without having to request them.

[Anonymous]

Just curious...how did you get the social security card without the birth certificate?

I'm trying to think back 4 months to when we did this. I think the hospital sent us a confirmation registry of birth (or something like that), which we sent in to the state with $ to get the birth certificate. I thought we had to have the BC to get the SSN, but now I'm not sure.

Anyway, once the hospital registers the birth with the state, you can order the birth certificate by mail. Holy Cross told us it would take 4-6 weeks to receive the confirmation of registry of birth in the mail; I think we got it in about 4. (not sure how old your DC is). If you haven't received something like this by 6 weeks, I would check back with Sibley (ask for the office that does birth registry). They can tell you how to follow up.

[Anonymous]

They DEFINITELY do not just send it to you; you have to pay a fee and request that it be sent. There is a form on the Maryland State website.

[Anonymous]

You need to apply for it. The package you got from Sibley should have included instructions on how to get a paper copy of the birth certificate.

Since you got the SS Card, I think it is safe to assume that Sibley registered the birth.

[Anonymous]

During your last day at Sibley you should have been given the forms to apply for it. Perhaps you weren't because you'd certainly remember deciding how many (we ordered two) and paying for them. Maybe call over to Sibley and see if they have copies of your forms and can check if that one is in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They DEFINITELY do not just send it to you; you have to pay a fee and request that it be sent. There is a form on the Maryland State website.

Sibley's in DC. You have to contact the DC Dept. of Health.

http://www.doh.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,1371,q,581955,dohNav_GID,1787,dohNav,%7C33120%7C.asp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They DEFINITELY do not just send it to you; you have to pay a fee and request that it be sent. There is a form on the Maryland State website.

Sibley's in DC. You have to contact the DC Dept. of Health.

http://www.doh.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,1371,q,581955,dohNav_GID,1787,dohNav,%7C33120%7C.asp

Yes, OP. I gave birth at Sibley and went personally to the DOH in DC (near Union Station) because I was in a hurry to do my baby's passport. But if you can wait, you can request the birth certificate by mail. Here's the form: http://www.doh.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,3,q,573401,dohNav_GID,1787,dohNav,%7C33120%7C33139%7C.asp

Now before you do that, I would call Sibley registrar's office (Birth Registrar: 202-537-4784) just to check if they have already sent your baby's info to the DC DOH. This page at Sibley also explains the process: http://www.sibley.org/patients_visitors/medical_records.aspx#birth. So no, you definitely do NOT get it in the mail automatically. Good luck and congratulations!

[Anonymous]

ThatSmileyFaceGuy wrote:It might take a few weeks, but you should just get them sent without having to request them.

this is 100% wrong. they do not send it to you unless you request it and pay for it. you can request it online (costs extra) or you can just fill out the form online and print it out and mail.

http://dchealth.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,3,q,573401,dohnav_gid,1787,dohnav,%7C33120%7C33139%7C.asp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

ThatSmileyFaceGuy wrote:It might take a few weeks, but you should just get them sent without having to request them.

this is 100% wrong. they do not send it to you unless you request it and pay for it. you can request it online (costs extra) or you can just fill out the form online and print it out and mail.

http://dchealth.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,3,q,573401,dohnav_gid,1787,dohnav,%7C33120%7C33139%7C.asp

In fairness, while DC doesn't just send it, VA does. Maybe smiley guy poster lives in VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They DEFINITELY do not just send it to you; you have to pay a fee and request that it be sent. There is a form on the Maryland State website.

Sibley's in DC. You have to contact the DC Dept. of Health.

http://www.doh.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,1371,q,581955,dohNav_GID,1787,dohNav,%7C33120%7C.asp

Yes, OP. I gave birth at Sibley and went personally to the DOH in DC (near Union Station) because I was in a hurry to do my baby's passport. But if you can wait, you can request the birth certificate by mail. Here's the form: http://www.doh.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,3,q,573401,dohNav_GID,1787,dohNav,%7C33120%7C33139%7C.asp

Now before you do that, I would call Sibley registrar's office (Birth Registrar: 202-537-4784) just to check if they have already sent your baby's info to the DC DOH. This page at Sibley also explains the process: http://www.sibley.org/patients_visitors/medical_records.aspx#birth. So no, you definitely do NOT get it in the mail automatically. Good luck and congratulations!

Thank you thank you thank you! I love this site - it cuts my Googling in half.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ThatSmileyFaceGuy wrote:It might take a few weeks, but you should just get them sent without having to request them.

this is 100% wrong. they do not send it to you unless you request it and pay for it. you can request it online (costs extra) or you can just fill out the form online and print it out and mail.

http://dchealth.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,3,q,573401,dohnav_gid,1787,dohnav,%7C33120%7C33139%7C.asp

In fairness, while DC doesn't just send it, VA does. Maybe smiley guy poster lives in VA.

No, VA makes you pay too. $12 per BC.

[Anonymous]

I had to go to the DC DOH and apply, pay and pick it up. I was not told this when I applied for the SS Card at the hospital. After about 4-5 months of waiting, I finally called and was told what I had to do. The SS card came in the mail, since I applied for it at the hospital. Altogether, it took about and hour and a half once I got to DOH (on N. Capital near H Street).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ThatSmileyFaceGuy wrote:It might take a few weeks, but you should just get them sent without having to request them.

this is 100% wrong. they do not send it to you unless you request it and pay for it. you can request it online (costs extra) or you can just fill out the form online and print it out and mail.

http://dchealth.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,3,q,573401,dohnav_gid,1787,dohnav,%7C33120%7C33139%7C.asp

In fairness, while DC doesn't just send it, VA does. Maybe smiley guy poster lives in VA.

No, VA makes you pay too. $12 per BC.

PP is correct, it is not automatic in VA either. That said, Fairfax, at least, will do the ordering for you IF you give them a check or money order while you're in the hospital.