Choosing the right hospital for you and your baby
Published: December 29, 2014
By: Lori Chandler Pruitt Associate Editor
As a parent you’re going to make plenty of decisions for your child, and one of the most important comes before they are even born: choosing where you will give birth. In most cases, you will deliver your baby at the hospital where your doctor has admitting privileges. So, that is something to keep in mind when choosing your obstetrician.
In Birmingham and the surrounding areas, you have many different options when it comes to where you want to have your baby. Many hospitals now offer birth suites, where you can have your baby in the comfort of your own private room. Others throw in little extras, like dinner for the new parents and welcome baskets. The goal is to try and make the first steps into parenthood as “painless” as possible.
Brookwood Medical Center
Brookwood Medical Center is in the midst of building a brand new Women’s Medical Center. The 121,000-square-foot facility was designed exclusively for Brookwood’s maternity and neonatal programs. It will offer expecting mothers a family-centered birthing experience with all private suites, panoramic views of the city and five-star amenities. Brookwood also has received Aetna’s Elective Delivery Infant Safety Program Recognition and the International Board Certified Lactation Consultants Facility Care Award.
DCH Regional Medical Center/Women’s Center
DCH Regional Medical Center’s Women’s Center offers Early Infant Discharge for families who chose to make their hospital stay a short one for personal or financial reasons. A follow-up visit by a nurse is available. The hospital also has a breastfeeding support group that meets monthly and each mother is given a videotape covering topics relating to the care of their baby for the first few months after birth.
UAB Medical West
At Medical West, mothers-to-be receive a “mini-spa” bag and a showering of baby gifts including a hat and T-shirt. They also enjoy a special celebration steak dinner and sparkling juice in champagne glasses on the night of the baby’s birthday. Friends and family are invited to log on to the Growing Family Web Nursery to view pictures of the newborn and a 24/7 Newborn Channel on your in-room television offers infant care instruction on 30 topics including breastfeeding, bathing, immunizations, adjusting to fatherhood and car seat safety.
DCH Northport Medical Center
The Women’s Pavilion at Northport Medical Center makes having a new baby a celebration. Besides private suites for the family, they provide a sibling party with ice cream and cake for the big brother and/or sister. They also offer a special meal for the new mom and a guest, served in her room.
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Princeton Baptist
Well babies and moms can enjoy a modified rooming-in experience while in the hospital at Princeton Baptist. The baby stays in-room with mom during the day and then goes to the well baby nursery at night in order to promote rest for the new mother. The nursery has a security door and is only accessible by women and infant staff. The infants are observed the entire time they are in the nursery.
St. Vincent’s
St. Vincent’s Women’s and Children’s Center offers spacious birth suites that allow for single-room maternity care. They also include a loveseat that folds out for dad, a family member, or a special friend to spend the night. In addition to birth suites, the center includes triage rooms for monitoring women who think they may be in labor, operating and recovery rooms for Cesarean sections, and a Lactation Center. And plenty of convenient parking is located just beneath the building for easy access to all services.
Shelby Baptist Medical Center
At Shelby Baptist Medical Center, patients enjoy a dedicated maternity entrance with emergency labor parking, a spacious family waiting area with children’s area, located on the first floor and an infant security system with limited access to the area. The hospital also boasts a Medical Spa offering mother-to-be packages.
St. Vincent’s East
At St. Vincent’s East, the entire birthing event – from admission to discharge – will take place in a birthing suite. Each private suite features a birthing bed that converts to a regular bed and overnight accommodations for your spouse or support person. Also, siblings are allowed in the rooms at all times. Each suite includes the latest in birthing technology, which is tucked away behind doors after delivery.
Trinity Medical Center
Trinity Medical Center not only strives to help expectant parents through the birthing process, but also with prenatal and postnatal care through their BabyFirst Fitness program. They offer aerobic, weight training and pool classes to help keep fit during pregnancy and shrink your waistline afterwards.
UAB
UAB is home to the nation’s largest all private room special care nursery consisting of the Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (RNICU) and the Continuing Care Nursery (CCN). In conjunction with The Children’s Hospital of Alabama, the RNICU provides comprehensive neonatal services while the CCN provides extended step-down care for preterm and term babies with medical conditions.
Birthing Classes
Many facilities offer birthing classes for the parents-to-be. Here are some of the more common ones found in Birmingham-area hospitals.
- Birthing Class: Explains to new parents what they can expect on delivery day.
- Breastfeeding Class: Educates and prepares mothers in the basic techniques of breastfeeding.
- Grandparents Class: Teaches grandparents what’s changed since they raised children.
- Sibling Class: Teaches big brother or sister about their new responsibilities.
- Infant CPR: How to help revive a child in an emergency situation.