One of the reasons so many mothers choose St. Mary’s Maternity Services is the overall quality of the birthing experience at the medical center. At St. Mary’s, maternity staff members focus on individualized care with a home-like touch. All patient care, including labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care, happens in one room.
St. Mary’s Maternity Services might be small in size, but makes up for it in performance. With 500 deliveries each year (an average of nearly 10 each week), the staff stays busy, but not so busy that they lose focus on why they do what they do.
“We’re able to provide a more personal and comfortable environment throughout childbirth,” said Mary Beth Stewart, clinical manager of Maternity Services. “We want to celebrate these births with each mom and each family.” That celebration takes on special meaning when Brahms’ Lullaby plays over the hospital intercom after every birth.
On the floor
St. Mary’s maternity floor includes 14 beautifully decorated rooms, which enable new moms and their families to stay together through the course of childbirth. All rooms are private, with private bathrooms, and are styled in a general pale-pink-and-blue décor with wallpaper, oak trim and wood-like flooring. Rooms are equipped with televisions and wireless Internet access. They also include a small dinette set, rocking chair and sleep chair for family members.
“These are good-sized rooms — larger than standard hospital rooms, with a place for the new father or another family member to stay overnight,” Stewart said.
Each room is equipped with appropriate equipment for the labor and birthing process. The equipment is brought into the room when needed and removed when finished to maintain a home-like atmosphere.
Babies are welcome to stay in the labor and delivery suites 24 hours a day, though Stewart said many new moms take advantage of the well-staffed nursery overnight.
“Most of the time, the babies stay with the moms during the day and evening,” Stewart said. “Then the parents send the baby to the nursery at night. If a mom is breastfeeding, we’ll bring the baby back to her.”
Should a mother require a C-section, she can rest easy knowing that the nurses who cared for her in labor also will care for her and the baby during and after delivery. Babies are transported to either the Well Baby Nursery or a Special Care Nursery.
“We are classified as a level II nursery, which means we can take care of babies who need some added assistance after delivery, such as oxygen, IV therapy and special monitoring,” Stewart said.
Education
The maternity staff includes 23 registered nurses, four licensed practical nurses and three technicians. This staff includes two lactation consultants, two breastfeeding counselors, eight nurses who are certified in inpatient obstetrics and four who are certified in fetal monitoring.
Nurses work with new moms and families to give support and direction on how to feed, diaper, bathe and care for babies. This helps new parents become more comfortable before going home with a new baby.
St. Mary’s Maternity Services offers childbirth education classes in a once-a-month, all-day format. Classes are currently conducted on the second Saturday of each month.
“This is especially helpful for people who work during the week so they don’t have to sit through class a couple of hours in the evenings,” Stewart said.
Additional educational programs about infant care skills are offered on closed-circuit TV.
New big brothers and big sisters are invited to visit the new baby immediately following delivery. Grandparents are welcome on the maternity floor from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Extended family members, friends and well-wishers are encouraged to visit between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Safe and secure
The safety and security of infants and their families is of utmost importance to the St. Mary’s staff members. The maternity unit has only one entrance and exit, which is located by the central nurses’ station.
“We also give parents detailed instructions about keeping their babies safe, including use of the hospital’s infant security system,” Stewart said. Parents are advised to never leave their baby unattended and not to give their baby to a stranger who cannot produce photo identification.
Celebrate good times
St. Mary’s Maternity Services staff recognizes the joyous occasion of a new birth with a celebration dinner for new moms, dads and siblings.
In addition, parents can request footprints – either in their own baby books or on plain white cards supplied by the hospital. They also may select a special outfit for their newborn’s first photograph. “Everything we do is about trying to provide family-centered care,” Stewart said. “We want to be more focused on mom and baby and make the time as memorable as possible.”
For more information about the maternity services offered at St. Mary’s, call 304-526-1393.
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