The Birthing Center has spacious Labor/Delivery/Recovery/Post Partum (LDRP) rooms which provide a soothing and homelike atmosphere. The beautifully appointed rooms offer a color scheme that is warm and inviting, complete with private showers and soft lighting giving a comforting backdrop for labor and childbirth. Each room has a large picture window which overlooks the “Healing Garden”, complete with the ambience of a waterfall. The windows are coated to allow complete privacy during the day even with the curtains open. All of the Birthing Center’s rooms are equipped with the latest centralized fetal monitoring technology and bedside charting so that your nurse can be where she is needed, at the bedside.
To further enhance your birthing experience, St. Mark’s follows the obstetric and pediatric guidelines for standard of care. When you arrive at the Birthing Center a professional nurse, trained and certified in labor and delivery will attend to your every need. Our professional nursing staff will give you that one-to-one nursing care that big city hospitals are unable to provide. The goal of each and every nurse in the Birthing Center is to make your birthing experience an unforgettable landmark event that meets your expectations.
If a cesarean birth becomes necessary, the Birthing Center has a fully-equipped c-section room conveniently located in the unit to provide seamless care. For non-emergency cesarean birth, we encourage the father or support person to attend.
Following your baby’s birth, we encourage you and your family to spend time together. This period is focused on getting to know your baby, and the nurses in the Birthing Center will do all we can to enhance this bonding experience. The same room that you delivered in will also be your postpartum room which includes a sleep chair that makes into a full length twin bed for the father or your support person, allowing you and your family to enjoy privacy and comfort as you both bond with your new baby.
Security is a priority at St. Mark’s Medical Center, and the Birthing Center is at the top of the list. The Birthing Center is a locked unit and only accessible to visitors through the front entrance. Closed circuit security cameras monitor the entrance 24/7 giving our new parents peace of mind.
Our nursing professionals are dedicated to preparing parents for the arrival of their new baby. St. Mark’s Medical Center offers a Birthing Class once monthly that can provide answers to your questions concerning childbirth, baby care, breastfeeding, sibling relations and much more.
Once you have delivered, the Birthing Center offers new mom’s one-to-one breastfeeding instruction following the arrival of your baby. Even if you have breastfed before and need assistance the nurse is readily available to assist at all times. This individualized instruction from our professional nursing staff helps you to feel confident and assured in feeding your baby.
The Birthing Center offers family centered care which includes “rooming in” with your newborn. Our nursery area is utilized for newborn procedures as needed. Once your baby has arrived, the initial newborn assessment, first bath and other care needs are attended to in your room. This unique service allows for the family to participate and take pictures of important “newborn happenings” for your new baby. The only time your baby needs to be away from you is for newborn pictures, or other routine procedures.
If you need help choosing an obstetrician, please call the birthing center for a list of physicians that deliver at our hospital. Pregnancy is also the time to select a pediatrician for your baby, and we can tell you the names and numbers of the pediatricians in our area that service the Birthing Center.
To learn more about the family-centered childbirth services at St. Mark's Medical Center we invite you to visit our facility and take a tour. The tour will help parents become familiar with our staff, facility and our services. This will also be an opportunity to address any questions you may have.
You may call the Birthing Center to inquire about a tour at 979-242-2199.