The Birthing Center: Family-Centered Maternity Care

The Birthing Center at Baptist Regional Medical Center offers expectant families up-to-date maternity care in a warm, family-centered environment. From the latest in equipment to the tender touch of caring nurses and physicians, we offer a truly memorable childbirth experience.

Maternity Facilities with All the Features Today's Young Families Want

Perinatal Diagnostic Services
Expectant mothers want to give their babies the very best possible start in life. For this reason, your doctor may recommend special tests to take a look at the growing life inside you. Baptist Regional Medical Center's Radiology Department offers both obstetrical ultrasound and amniocentesis.

Obstetrical ultrasound can help your doctor determine:

• how far along you are in your pregnancy;
• if you are going to have more than one baby;
• if your baby has any major health problems and is growing properly; and
• the position of the placenta, which can affect whether or not a vaginal delivery is safe.

Amniocentesis is a simple procedure that involves withdrawing amniotic fluid from around the growing fetus through a slender needle. Your doctor may recommend amniocentesis for many reasons, including:

• if your baby is at risk for certain types of birth defects such as Down syndrome, spina bifida or anencephaly;
• to determine if the baby's lungs are mature enough for delivery;
• if you have an infection; or
• if there is maternal blood sensitization (usually Rh sensitization) to make sure the baby is developing normally.

Preregistration
You can preregister on-line at www.baptistregional.com four to six weeks before your due date.  Although you will still have to check in at Emergency Room Admissions when you enter the hospital, your admission will be easier and take less time. Baptist Regional Medical Center recommends preregistering at the beginning of your eighth month of pregnancy.

LDR Rooms
Baptist Regional Medical Center's four LDR rooms provide laboring mothers and their families with a relaxed atmosphere during the childbirth process. Each LDR is equipped with a television, telephone, private bath and a lounge chair where your coach can rest. You will labor, give birth and recover (for about an hour) in your own private LDR room until you and your baby are ready to be moved to the Women's Health Center.

Upon admission you will be asked to select one primary support person. Your support person will be encouraged to remain with you throughout your labor and delivery. In addition to your support person, you may have two other persons visit you at any time. Big brothers and sisters ar allowed in the LDR, if supervised at all times by an adult other than the patient or support person. The visitors may take turns coming into the LDR, trading places with those in the Family Waiting Room provided on the floor.

Camera and Photography
Bring the camera, videocamera and plenty of film to capture those first few moments after baby's birth. Once the baby is born, and your physician says everything is ok, you may photograph or videotape. Photography or videotaping of medical procedures including the actual birth is not allowed. After a C-section, only still photography is allowed.

Anesthesia
Pain relief options for laboring mothers at Baptist Regional Medical Center include:

• IV medications, such as nubaine, morphine and stadol, which can help take the edge off pain;
• Epidurals (continuous and bolus), given through a needle and tube which are inserted and left in place in the lower back, once the mother has dilated to four or five centimeters. Epidurals provide pain relief from the belly down.
• Spinals, which are given as a single injection of drugs into the mother's spinal canal prior to Caesarean delivery; and
• "walking epidurals", which are given as an injection of medication into the spinal sac, followed by the placement of the epidural catheter.

Women's Health Center
After the baby is born and you are in stable condition, you will move to Baptist Regional Medical Center's Women's Health Center where you will be cared by our experienced staff until you are ready to go home. Both private and semiprivate rooms are available.

Visiting hours allow your family and friends to be with you on a convenient schedule, as well as give you a chance to rest during your hospital stay:

1. Fathers, siblings and grandparents are welcome anytime.
2. Others are welcome to visit from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Anyone over 12 years of age, as long as he or she does not have a contagious disease, may visit with the baby.

Newborn Nursery
Mothers at Baptist Regional Medical Center can keep their babies with them as much as they want. When you want to rest, your newborn will be lovingly cared for by the experienced professionals in our Newborn Nursery. If you choose to have your baby cared for in the nursery, the baby will be brought to you for "demand" feedings.

Level II Neonatal Intermediate Care Nursery Baptist Regional Medical Center's Level II Neonatal Intermediate Care Nursery is designed to care for babies born prematurely or those who need a little help adjusting to their new environment during the first few days of life. Our Level II Nursery is one of only eight in the commonwealth providing services to residents of Southeastern Kentucky. It is equipped to care for all but the most critically ill newborns.

Lactation Consultant
Baptist Regional Medical Center has a board-certified lactation consultant and specially trained registered nurses (RN's) on staff to answer your questions about breastfeeding and help you get started. Your doctor or nurse can write an order for a lactation consultation during your hospital stay. After you go home, you may also call the lactation consultant at (606) 528-1212 extension 2644 to discuss any questions or concerns you have about breastfeeding.

Pediatrics
Pediatrics provides medical and surgical care to our young population. Pediatrics also promotes family-centered care encouraging the parents to assist in the patients care.

Women's Health:
Women's Health provides family-centered care for new mothers and those requiring mid-life care and beyond.

In Celebration of New Life

The arrival of a new baby is always a special event. Excitement and anticipation abound as you welcome your new baby into the world. At Baptist Regional Medical Center, we share in your excitement and realize that the birth of a baby is a cause for celebration for you and your family. We are proud to assist in the delivery of babies from all over the region and to share in the joy of welcoming each new life. To help share in the celebration of a new birth, the hospital plays "Brahms Lullaby" over the intercom whenever a new baby is born. Parents receive a tray of cookies at that time.

Educational Classes to Prepare Families for the Childbirth Experience

Baptist Regional Medical Center offers a variety of classes to meet the unique informational needs of expectant parents, including:

• Early Prenatal Class, designed to answer many of the questions newly pregnant mothers and fathers-to-be have about nutrition, exercise and physical discomforts during the early months of pregnancy;
• Breastfeeding Class, to help prepare expectant parents for the breastfeeding experience.
• Prenatal Class, which covers Lamaze childbirth techniques, infant care and infant CPR. 

During your hospital stay, you will receive individual instruction to prepare you to care for both yourself and your newborn after discharge. You can also watch educational television programs about infant care on the hospital's Newborn Channel (24/7).

For more information about Women's and Children's Services at Baptist Regional Medical Center, call (606) 528-1212. We look forward to meeting you and sharing your childbirth experience.

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