Description
Washington Health System provides a full range of obstetrical and gynecological services. We focus on family-centered care, encouraging new parents to spend as much time as possible with their newborn. Our highly skilled staff members are available 24/7 from admission to discharge to answer any questions you may have about a variety of topics. Our certified childbirth educators and lactation consultant offer a full range of classes for new and/or expectant parents. We also offer a comprehensive lactation program to encourage breastfeeding, giving new babies the best start in life. We promote the importance of bonding time by allowing newborns to remain in the mother’s room throughout their stay.
The CARE Center for Family Birth and Women’s Health is now open! View photos or take an online tour of the updated unit.
Visiting Hours
The hospital welcomes visitors 24 hours a day. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult at all times in the hospital. During labor and delivery, we allow three (3) visitors at a time, with the discretion of the nurses and physicians. Your additional visitors may stay in our comfortable family waiting room and may take turns with your other visitors if and when you desire. During a cesarean delivery, we allow one (1) visitor to be present, as long as the mother remains awake during the surgery. Children may be permitted in the labor and delivery room at the discretion of staff for some time but must be at least 14 years old to remain for your baby’s birth.
Family-Centered Care
As part of Washington Health System’s family centered maternity care, we encourage rooming-in for you and your baby 24 hours a day. Babies are placed skin to skin with mother immediately after delivery and encouraged to stay skin to skin until the first feeding and as often as possible during your hospital stay. Since typical hospital stays are 1-2 days for a vaginal delivery and 2-3 days for a cesarean delivery, rooming-in allows you to learn how to care for your baby from our expert staff before you go home. Rooming-in allows you to learn your baby’s feeding cue’s and be able to feed as soon as your baby is ready for a feeding. Rooming in also allows for the mother and baby to be cared for by the same nurse, called “couplet care”, and lets you and your family get to know your baby.
The nursing staff is available to help you whenever needed. If you are unable to care for your baby or your baby needs special care or monitoring, your baby will be brought to the nursery. If your baby is receiving special care or monitoring in the nursery, you and your significant other may visit the baby in the nursery.
Patient Education
Our staff members are available 24 hours a day. They are skilled in caring for you and your baby during labor and delivery and your recovery period. Even after your discharge from the hospital our staff is available to answer questions by phone. Explanations and educational videos are offered to all mothers on a variety of topics, such as breastfeeding, formula preparation and feeding, diapering, bathing, and car seat safety. We offer prenatal classes to expectant parents on these subjects as well. Additionally, a lactation consultant at Washington Health System is available for phone or outpatient consult as needed.
Read our article on Choosing a Pediatrician and call us today with any questions!
Posts
