Labor and delivery

We are committed to making your birthing experience as comfortable and special as possible. We also value your safety, which is why our center is equipped with a central fetal monitoring system. This system allows our nursing staff to check on you and your baby from different locations in the center, ensuring the health and safety of you both.

In addition, our labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum (LDRP) rooms allow you to labor and give birth in the same place, instead of having to be moved from one location to another. If a Cesarean section (C-section) or another type of surgical intervention is needed, we have operating rooms nearby on the same floor.

Our registered nurses (RNs) are skilled in caring for low- and high-risk babies, and several of our RNs are nationally certified in neonatal and obstetrical care. All licensed personnel are NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) and BLS (Basic Life Support) certified, and lactation consultants are also on staff. Our nurses are here to answer any questions that you might have.

We have a well-baby nursery and a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on site. Our NICU has six board-certified neonatologists who specialize in caring for premature and high-risk babies. They are supported by neonatal nurse practitioners who can provide you with additional information during this important time.

Many women begin breastfeeding in the hospital but may find themselves weaning earlier than planned due to circumstances that are actually avoidable or manageable. We're here to help. Our lactation boutique, Best Beginnings, provides a team of professionals dedicated to promoting, educating and encouraging the breastfeeding family.

Our nurses are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) and offer their services before and after your baby is born, as well as throughout the breastfeeding experience. Best Beginnings carries accessories for breastfeeding mothers, including nursing pillows, footstools and nursing bras. Small, portable electric breast pumps are also available for short- or long-term rentals or purchase.

Best Beginnings lactation boutique is located in our patient entrance lobby.

To help expectant parents before, during and after birth, we offer a variety of classes and tours of our childbirth center that will familiarize you with our maternity unit prior to going into labor. Our classes cover a range of topics, including:

• Breastfeeding basics: This class introduces moms and their partners to the basics of breastfeeding. We cover anatomy and physiology, correct latch-on positioning, and tips for expressing and storing breast milk.
• Labor and childbirth process: In this class, we discuss the hospital and birthing process, from signs of labor and breathing and relaxation techniques to pain management and postpartum care.
• Newborn care: We teach new parents, adoptive parents, grandparents and other caregivers how to care for a newborn. This includes bathing, diapering, swaddling and dressing. A class on infant CPR is also offered.

You can register online for a childbirth class or tour that fits your specific needs.

The OB ER attends to the unique needs and health concerns of pregnant women, offering greater ease of access and privacy than traditional emergency room settings. More importantly, our OB emergency department is staffed by obstetric hospitalists 24/7.

The OB ER is located on the second floor of the main hospital and is easily accessible through our main entrance or after hours through our emergency room entrance.

In emergency situations, you may also call our 24-hour OB emergency line at (615) 316-4250.