The Birthing Suite at Pennsylvania
Hospital
Expectant couples seeking a homelike atmosphere
for their birth experience have an excellent delivery
alternative at Pennsylvania Hospital’s Birthing
Suite. The Birthing Suite blends the best of both
worlds, giving you and your family the opportunity
for a low or no-intervention birth in a warm,
comfortable setting. Situated within Pennsylvania
Hospital, the Birthing Suite is just minutes away
from state-of-the-art delivery and intensive care
nursery facilities.
Located on the eighth floor of the hospital’s
Spruce Building, the Birthing Suite contains
two birth rooms. These birth rooms feature a
private bath, bentwood rocker, comfortable chairs,
and a soft, homelike décor that create
a relaxed setting for the birth. A jacuzzi bath
is available to provide relief from labor discomfort.
To make family members as well as the mother
feel at home, the Birthing Suite offers a living
room with a sofa bed, fully equipped kitchen
and such amenities as a television and stereo
system.
See also: Other
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the special
advantages of the Birthing Suite at Pennsylvania
Hospital?
If you choose, other members of your family can be with you in the suite along
with your primary support person.
The Birthing Suite is located within a tertiary
care hospital therefore you have immediate access
to the hospital’s intensive care nursery.
If you need to be transferred to the hospital’s
labor and delivery area, your nurse-midwife or
obstetrician will continue to care for you. Mother’s
and their babies are able to stay together for
at least four hours after birth in the Birthing
Suite. This enables breastfeeding to begin immediately
if desired.
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Who provides my prenatal
care and my care during labor and delivery?
Prenatal care and care during labor and delivery is provided by certified
nurse-midwives and/or obstetricians, depending on your choice. Women using
the Birthing Suite can choose among several nurse-midwife or physician practices.
Pennsylvania Hospital’s obstetrical health
providers believe that birth is a natural and
normal process. They take a personal approach
to childbirth, stressing the importance of educational
and emotional support for the parents. You will
receive comprehensive care during your pregnancy,
including childbirth education, nutrition and
exercise counseling, breastfeeding instruction
and early parenting information.
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What is a certified nurse-midwife?
Certified nurse-midwives are highly educated professionals who are licensed
as registered nurses. They are certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives
after successfully completing post-graduate work and national certification
examinations. Through their extensive training and education, nurse-midwives
are qualified to serve as experts in normal pregnancy and childbirth. Nurse-midwives
work in conjunction with obstetricians who are available in case complications
arise.
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How long do I stay in
the Birthing Suite?
You may use the Birthing Suite for as long as your labor and delivery take
to progress naturally. Your nurse-midwife or physician will be with you in
the Birthing Suite from active labor until after your baby is born.
After you give birth, your baby can remain in
your room with you while a nurse conducts a brief
examination. The family can return home within
eight hours of the birth, or the mother can choose
to be transferred to a Pennsylvania Hospital
recovery room for a postpartum stay. If you choose
to stay in the hospital, your nurse-midwife or
physician will continue to manage your care.
You may have your baby with you as much as you
like.
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Who is eligible to
deliver in the Birthing Suite?
Any healthy woman who is experiencing a low-risk, uncomplicated pregnancy may
choose to use the Birthing Suite. The National Association of Childbearing
Centers estimates that 85 percent of women giving birth are eligible to use
a birthing center.
What other options do I have for having my baby
at Pennsylvania Hospital?
In addition to the Birthing Suite, Pennsylvania Hospital offers a full range
of maternity services, including:
Labor, Delivery and Recovery rooms
These home-like facilities, with advanced obstetrical equipment and private
baths, offer mothers the convenience of staying in the same room before
and during birth, and for a short period after delivery.
Neonatal Nursery and Level III Intensive
Care Nursery
We offer a traditional neonatal nursery
and a Level III Intensive Care Nursery, which
currently has 45 beds, including intensive
care and transitional care sections. Pennsylvania
Hospital with one of the largest Level III
ICNs (the highest care level) in the Philadelphia
region, is staffed by physicians from The Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and nurses
who specialize in infant intensive care.
Breastfeeding Education and Support
Pennsylvania Hospital offers the most comprehensive breastfeeding assistance
program in the Philadelphia region. Breastfeeding classes are offered before
and during your stay and we provide a Women's
Health Boutique named Solutions for Women to assist you with breastfeeding
after you leave the hospital. In addition, a lactation consultant will
visit you during your hospital stay to assist you with breastfeeding questions
and techniques.
Experienced Staff
Pennsylvania Hospital’s team of skilled professionals includes certified
nurse-midwives, obstetricians, perinatologists, pediatricians, neonatologists,
registered nurses, social workers and genetic counselors. Together they provide
family-centered obstetrical care to meet your special needs.
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