Monday, December 8, 2014

Mother Baby Care Unit

So what's next?  After delivery, mom & baby remain in Labor & Delivery for approximately 2 hours.  This time is important for bonding, initiating feeding, and welcoming this new member of the family.  We encourage you to spend this precious time with your infant and celebrate your delivery.  If that celebration includes your family and/or friends, we welcome them when you feel the time is right.


As nurses, we assess bleeding and vital signs of both mom & baby frequently during this initial recovery time.  A nurse from our Newborn Nursery will visit during this time to discuss your preferences for baby's care during your stay and complete a thorough assessment of your newborn.  She will gather all of those important statistics - How much does your baby weigh? How long is your baby? How big is your baby's head?  Although we attempt to minimize interruption during this time, you will see us often as we assist you in this phase of your stay.


Once both mom & baby are stable, you will be transferred to our Mother Baby Care Unit.
This is a locked unit, and is located on the 8th floor.  The exits are all alarmed and there is someone sitting at the front desk at all times.  She is there to welcome you to the unit when you arrive and open doors for you should you need to leave.  We take your safety and security very seriously and this unit is intentionally located far away from exits as possible.



One of the best parts of this transition is the view you will enjoy day or night as you care for your new baby.....
 Every room has a spectacular view regardless of the position.  Your view may be over the BSU stadium and toward the airport, over the city and Capital building, the foothills and a baseball diamond, or the morning sunrise and TableRock.  I encourage you to open the blinds and enjoy.  It is one of my very favorite parts of the Mother Baby Care Unit!

We recognize that babies arrive 24 hours a day, and when the big moment arrives, there are often visitors who have waited an entire pregnancy to get to meet this new little one.  Visiting hours on our Mother Baby Care Unit are strongly encouraged to be between 10am and 8:30pm.  This allows quiet time for our new moms to sleep when excited visitors are not frequently making noise in hallways.

Our Mother Baby Unit has been undergoing a re-model lately.... 




and the updated rooms are beautiful! 



You will find that the rooms are not as large as the labor rooms since this is not a place we anticipate large numbers of staff or equipment being needed to attend to your care. At the same time, the rooms are sized to get you to your baby and the bathroom quickly and easily.


Every room has its own private bathroom.



Hospital stays on our Mother Baby Unit are typically 24-48 hours after a vaginal delivery and 48-72 hours after a cesarean section. The amount of time you remain with us is coordinated between your provider, and the provider you choose to care for your baby.


During your stay, our staff is always available to assist you with breastfeeding, bonding and learning the initial parenting skills you will need once you arrive home.

All of our Mother Baby nurses are breastfeeding experts.  They are available to help you with tips and tricks for success!  We also have Certified Lactation Consultants available to assist you throughout your stay as well as after you are discharged home. We are a breastfeeding friendly hospital and our goal is to provide all the education and support necessary for you to be successful!

All of our rooms have a place for your support person to sleep.   Fold out chairs are in every room and a cot can be requested. We encourage your family to spend time together getting to know this new addition.  Younger siblings are welcome as well.  If you choose to have them stay over night with you, a responsible adult needs to be with them at all times so that we can care for you and your new baby.


We are excited to offer double beds in some rooms as well.  Double beds are most often used for women who have minimal complications and intervention.  It is more complicated to assess heavy bleeding or surgical incisions when there is more than one person in the bed. Your safety is once again at the top of our priority list.




Getting out of bed will help your body recover faster.  If you go for a walk in the hallways we ask that you always place your baby in the bassinet provided; never carry your baby in your arms in the hallways.

Inside the drawer of the bassinet, you will find items to help you care for your baby while you stay with us.


 Our Mother Baby Care Unit offers a full Newborn Nursery.  Some new moms choose to utilize this service while others do not.  Whether it is just long enough for a quick shower or a longer stay while you take a deep nap, the Newborn Nursery is always staffed with nurses and aides to provide a safe and secure place for your baby.
 Only those with proper identification are allowed into the Newborn Nursery.  All other visitors can watch activities through the large windows. 

We offer a rocking corner in the Newborn Nursery.  Come and join our staff here.  Try the swings and visit with us as you rock and feed your baby.  We can provide privacy screens should you choose.
We are here to welcome and support you as you start on this new journey! 

~ Welcome to Parenthood ~