At Community Memorial Hospital, we’re happy to be a part of your birth experience. We believe the family is the strongest unit of our society. That’s why our obstetrical care is family-centered. We also offer you many choices because we know that no two families are just the same.
Take a moment to view a video tour of our Birthing Center. We look forward to playing an important role in your new beginning!
For more information about The Birthing Center at Community Memorial Hospital, please read on. Or, give us a call at 262-257-5040.
The joy you will experience with your new baby is unparalleled. But the choices you face before that can be overwhelming. The Birthing Center at Community Memorial Hospital is here to provide the best care available for you, your family and your baby.
The birth of your baby is yours to plan. Our Right From The Start program was designed by Community Memorial Hospital health professionals to accommodate all of your needs and give you peace of mind. With personalized care that focuses on your needs, we can make your pregnancy comfortable and rewarding.
You will have many concerns, and the health of your baby is one of the biggest. From the moment your pregnancy is confirmed, the health of you and your baby is our main concern. This commitment to quality care continues throughout your pregnancy to delivery and beyond.
Our Right From The Start program is the first personalized prenatal program in Wisconsin. Staffed by experienced neonatal nurse practitioners, obstetric nurses, expert neonatologists and perinatologists, pediatricians, obstetricians and family practice physicians, we can offer you the best care possible.
Community Memorial Hospital is a facility where you, the parents, are your newborn’s most important care provider.
Our staff is dedicated to teach, assist and support the family right from the start when the Patient Care Coordinator contacts you during your pregnancy to create, with you, an individualized birth plan. Upon arrival at the hospital, your birth plan will be carried out in a home-like setting, and will include supportive care and education as needed to increase your confidence and competence in caring for your infant. This care continues after discharge if you have further needs.
Should your baby require specialized care in our Special Care Unit, you and your family will be welcomed and encouraged to participate in your infant’s care, helping to prepare you for the day you bring your baby home.
Your baby’s birth will involve a number of people. The most important members of your team, of course, are you and your family, especially your labor support person.
Your Personal Care Coordinator will be there for you throughout the duration of your pregnancy. As a registered nurse, your care coordinator will help answer your questions regarding pain relief options, nutrition, exercise and feeding your baby so you will know exactly what to expect. Your doctor and your personal care coordinator will oversee your birth experience from early pregnancy through your post-partum period. You should feel free to discuss any of the services, procedures or programs described in this manual with your doctor or care manager. They will advise you on what type of birth options best suit you and your baby, based both on health factors and your wishes.
Your labor nurse will lead you throughout the entire labor process and stay close by. Your labor nurse can also familiarize you with our advanced procedures in the unforeseen event of any complications.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioners work closely with Birthing Center neonatologists in the daily management and follow-up care of newborns who need intensive care. They also provide ongoing clinical education and support to obstetric nurses caring for babies in the Newborn Special Care Unit.
Our board-certified lactation consultants can help make breastfeeding a rewarding experience from the beginning with your preferences and needs in mind.
Experienced perinatologists and neonatologists (doctors who specialize in the care of mothers and babies at high risk of complications are available 24 hours a day). But the Birthing Center goes beyond post-delivery care; our neonatal care specialists are there for you for as long as you need them. And care is extended through our expert staff of pediatricians, nutritionists and developmental experts.
We care about your health and the health of your baby right from the start. Sometimes, doctors will order special tests for a women who may be at risk for problems during pregnancy. We offer a full array of perinatology services, including:
If you have any questions about these procedures, please talk with your doctor.
The Birthing Center is built around 13 spacious LDRP suites that allow labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum to take place in one room. Each suite welcomes families with soft, warm decor, arched ceilings and tall windows that fill the room with natural light. A private ceramic-tiled bathroom with a large shower features a hand-held shower spray that massages and soothes. A comfortable couch opens to an extra bed for baby’s father or a family member to spend the night.
The Birthing Center is designed around the needs of the family. The warm, inviting rooms and liberal visiting policy encourage the bonding process to begin immediately. The suites become a gathering place where family members can get to know the newest member of the family. Away from the busy LDRP rooms and nursery are five separate suites for women who need rest and extended care during pregnancy or after cesarean delivery.
We want to help you and your family get ready for the birth of your baby. We offer classes taught by registered nurses for you, your children and the grandparents.
To prevent any delay in your admission to the hospital when you are in labor, you should pre-register. This is accomplished by completing the Birthing Center Pre-admission Reservation. This form should be mailed to the Birthing Center at Community Memorial Hospital between the 16th and 20th weeks of pregnancy.
The admitting office uses this information to start your chart. This will be ready for your review when you come to the hospital. In addition to reviewing the information you previously provided, you will also need your insurance card which will be photocopied and returned to you.
If you have any questions about the information requested on the form, contact the Admission Office at Community Memorial Hospital, 262.257.3883.
You and your doctor will decide when it is time for you to come to the hospital. When you arrive at Community Memorial Hospital, enter at Driveway "A". Enter the building at the door marked INPATIENT REGISTRATION / EMERGENCY and go to the inpatient admitting area. After completing the admission procedure you will be taken to the Birthing Center on the second floor.
You should make preparations for coming to the hospital at least four to six weeks before your expected date of delivery. Babies have been known to come before their due date, so a bit of early preparation is helpful. When you pack you suitcase, we suggest you include the following:
What You Should Bring For Your Baby
While packing your suitcase, include these items for your baby’s trip home. Wash all baby items before using them.
Disposable diapers are provided at the hospital.
Once you are settled in your birthing room, your labor and delivery nurse will ask you for a brief obstetrical history, assess your contractions and your baby’s heart tones with a fetal monitor. Following this initial assessment, you may be encouraged to walk, sit in the rocking chair or take a shower as some of the methods you can use to stimulate contractions and cope with labor pain. Your support person is encouraged to provide you with coaching and emotional support during this exciting time of your labor and delivery. Overhead mirrors in our birthing rooms and cesarean birth room permit you and your support person to witness your child’s grand entrance into the world.
As the labor coach or support person, you provide an invaluable source of emotional and physical support for the expectant mother. Offer your partner lots of encouragement. Feel free to wipe her brow, rub her neck or back, adjust her pillows or coach her through a difficult contraction. Here are some helpful hints to guide you.
Once labor and delivery are behind you, it’s time for your and your support person to relax and get acquainted with your baby. The immediate recovery period usually lasts about two hours. Your nurse will frequently check your blood pressure, pulse, size and firmness of your uterus and the amount of vaginal bleeding. She will also be available to assist you in feeding your baby.
During this recovery period, you will also have an opportunity to call family and friends. Long distance calls may be made using a calling card or charge card. To charge the call to your home telephone, dial 9-0-area code-and the number you want to reach. An outside operator will then assist you with the billing options.
Wisconsin law requires that all persons in a car wear a seatbelt. Infants are required to ride in an approved infant car seat. Prior to the birth of your baby, install the car seat in the car and learn how to use it. Check your car owner manual for specific information about installing the car seat correctly in your vehicle. One the day you take your baby’s home, bring your car seat to your hospital room. You will secure your baby in the car seat just before leaving the Birthing Center.
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