Labor and delivery

Our team is committed to providing all types of birthing options for expecting mothers, including access to Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) at our hospital. If you are expecting a low-risk birth, a CNM-attended hospital birth might be the right choice for you.

A CNM is an advanced practice registered nurse who has completed, at minimum, a master's degree in nursing. They are certified with the American Midwifery Certification Board and, at our facility, undergo a credentialing process similar to physicians.

CNMs can offer a low-intervention birth with as much help as you want or need along the way. Their deliveries occur in the hospital, and they promote different pain management options while assisting in labor and childbirth. They remain with you throughout labor, and are highly trained to recognize problems that might require a doctor's attention. Like an obstetrician, a CNM provides regular education and counseling during pregnancy (including developing a personalized birth plan) and offers postpartum care.

CNMs cannot perform surgical interventions in an emergency, and are generally not recommended for high-risk pregnancies, such as multiple births or women with diabetes, high blood pressure or pre-existing health conditions.

Our "We're Having A Baby" class begins with our Certified Lactation Consultants teaching the benefits and importance of breastfeeding. Next, the focus of the class shifts to labor and delivery and postpartum education. A local pediatrician continues your education with a focus on newborn care. The class ends with a tour or our Women's Center and labor and delivery units.

This class is ideal for expectant parents at least six months into pregnancy, and occurs on the second Saturday of the month, from 9:00am to 1:00pm, in EIRMC Classroom A&B. You can register for this class and others online.

We want you and your baby to have the birth experience you desire. We also want you to feel comfortable, safe and heard.

You can read our blog post about how to create a birth plan to discuss in advance with your physician. Our team will do our very best to honor your wishes, while maintaining our obligation to keep you and your baby safe and healthy.

We offer many services to keep your baby safe, including wireless, beltless fetal monitoring, which allows for your free movement while keeping baby safe. In addition, we have two designated suites for Cesarean sections (C-sections) to expedite delivery in emergencies, and postpartum tubal ligation with your C-section or after vaginal delivery, if you choose.

We offer many more amenities to keep you, your support person and your baby comfortable, including:

• Adjustable room temperature
• Bathrobe
• Being able to choose your own clothing during labor (or no clothing)
• Complimentary meal trays and snacks and an open nutrition room for you and your support person
• Cool cloths and ice packs
• Dim or minimal lights
• Family-friendly atmosphere that encourages family presence
• Flavored syrups for clear fluids and ice chips
• Freedom to room-in with your support person
• Freedom to walk in your room and down hallways
• Hearing tests for newborns
• Infant security system to protect your baby throughout your hospital stay
• Jaundice testing and monitoring; light therapy when needed to prevent kernicterus (brain damage)
• King-size beds
• Preferred musical options
• Quiet environment where talking is kept to a whisper or quiet voices
• Skin-to-skin contact between you and your baby immediately after delivery to facilitate bonding and promote newborn stability
• Sleeper sofa, recliner, TV and internet access
• Special three-course "stork" dinner for you and your support person
• Support from our international board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLC), if you choose to breastfeed
• Warm blankets, cloths and heating pads
• Welcome basket

We understand the delicate nature of childbirth and want to make sure your needs are tended to, with medication for pain, nausea and sleep, as well as epidural services. Our specialists make a selection of balls available to you, such as birthing, peanut ball, birthing stool and massage for your comfort during labor. In addition, you are always welcome to request position changes through labor and counter-pressure, as well as guided imagery and visualization and breathing techniques.

Sometimes after birth, your baby may require a bit more help, and we know this can be a stressful thought. We offer the region's most experienced Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with specialists providing around-the-clock care for critically ill newborns. We are equipped to care for babies born as early as 23 weeks gestation or with severe health conditions requiring immediate attention.

Our specialists in our Level III NICU have your child's health as their highest priority. With a multidisciplinary team and specialists in maternal-fetal and critical care needs, even if your child has a preexisting or newly developed condition, we can assess and treat them as soon as they arrive.

Our team can oftentimes identify problems and plan for them before you go into labor. We provide access to high-level specialists and physicians and offer prenatal services for mothers experiencing or expecting pregnancy complications.