Frequently Asked
Questions
about
the Birthing Suite at Pennsylvania Hospital
What are the special advantages of the
Birthing Suite at Pennsylvania Hospital?
Because the Birthing Suite is located within Pennsylvania Hospital and adjacent
to the labor and delivery unit, mothers have immediate access to the hospital's
intensive care nursery and emergency care if necessary. In addition, other members
of your family can be with you in the suite along with your primary support person.
If you choose to receive an epidural or require other advanced interventions
during labor and delivery, you will move to a standard labor and delivery room
and the same provider will continue to care for you.
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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. Once
recovery time is completed, you and your baby will
be transferred to the postpartum care unit. During
your 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.
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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 has one of the largest level III ICNs
(the highest care level) in the Philadelphia
region and 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. Solutions
for Women, a women's health boutique, is
available 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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Do I need to stay in bed during labor and
birth?
No. At the Birthing Suite, we encourage
you to walk around and move about as you choose
during labor. You can choose the positions
that are most comfortable and work best for
you during labor and birth. We use a hand-held,
portable, waterproof Doppler to listen to the
baby's
heartbeat during labor, so your movements are
not limited by an electronic fetal monitor strapped
to your belly.
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Who can be with me during labor and birth?
You
can have the support people of your choice with
you while you are in the Birthing Suite. There
is no age limit for your younger helpers, but children
under 12 years of age need to have their own
'support person' designated to them in case
they have questions or need special attention while
you are laboring. You are also welcome and encouraged
to have a doula or specially trained labor support
person with you during your labor and birth.
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Can I eat and drink when I am in labor?
Unless you are nauseated or vomiting, we encourage
you to drink fluids such as water and juices
throughout labor. If you are feeling hungry during
labor, we encourage you to eat small, low-fat
meals/snacks for energy such as energy bars,
crackers, clear soups and fruit. Feel free to
bring your favorite snacks or drinks for yourself
and your support people.
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How do you help mothers feel as comfortable
as possible during labor?
During labor, we encourage you to get into different positions and walk around. We have a birthing ball, a birthing stool and a private bathroom with a shower in each room. You can wear your own clothes and are welcome to bring a music player with you. We use heat packs, massage, accupressure and breathing techniques to help you stay as comfortable as possible without medication. If you choose to take pain medicine, we can usually give you pain medicine intravenously or in a shot in the Birthing Suite.
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What happens if I decide to have an epidural or require other advanced interventions during labor and delivery?
During labor and delivery some women may choose to receive
an epidural or require other advanced interventions,
such as administration of Pitocin or fetal monitoring.
Your obstetrician or nurse-midwife will strive
to make this transition as seamless as possible.
You will move to a standard labor and delivery
room to receive the epidural or whatever advanced
interventions are necessary, and the same provider
will continue to care for you.
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Does everybody need to have an IV? Routine
blood drawn?
No. In the Birthing Suite, there
is no 'routine' preparation,
IV or blood draws. However, if an IV or blood
draws are medically necessary, we are able to
do them quickly and easily.
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If I need to have my labor 'induced' or started with medications, can I still deliver in the Birthing Suite?
If your provider tells you that there is a
medical reason that you or your baby need to be
monitored continuously, then the Labor and Delivery
Unit is the best place for you to deliver your
baby. When you are receiving labor inducing medications,
such as Pitocin, your contractions and the baby's
heart rate need to be continuously monitored
the entire time the medication is being given.
Sometimes, labor can be started with medications
and then the medications can be stopped as your
body kicks in naturally with strong regular contractions.
We
evaluate on a case by case basis whether these
people can be moved from a standard labor and
delivery room to the Birthing Suite to birth
their baby.
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What happens if there's
an emergency in the Birthing Suite?
Because
the Birthing Suite is located within Pennsylvania
Hospital and adjacent to the labor and delivery
unit, mothers have ready access to emergency care
if necessary.
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How can I have my baby in the Birthing Suite?
The
Birthing Suite is designed for mothers experiencing
healthy, low-risk pregnancies with healthy babies
seeking natural childbirth. Talk to your provider
at your next prenatal visit to see if the Birthing
Suite is an appropriate delivery option for you.
To
schedule a tour of the Birthing Suite or Labor
and Delivery Unit, please call 800-789-PENN (7366)
or Family Education at 215-829-5020.
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Where is the Birthing Suite located?
The Birthing Suite is located at:
Pennsylvania Hospital
Preston Building, 3rd
Floor
801 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Driving Directions
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