At the Meriter Birthing Center, we want to do more than help you welcome a healthy new baby. We want to make your entire childbirth experience personal, relaxed and memorable.

A family celebration in your own private suite.

    
While you're here, you'll experience labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care in a single room - one of our beautiful birthing suites. Our suites are full of comforts and conveniences to make labor and delivery more pleasant and your recovery more like being at home.

Meriter's spacious birthing suites are equipped with private bathrooms and homelike furnishings. You can soak in your own whirlpool tub or enjoy a soothing shower massage. You can watch a movie with your partner on your room's TV/VCR or play music on your room's CD player. There's even a pull-out couch for your partner and older children to sleep.

Complete state-of-the-art equipment is right here, but it's hidden away.

        
Tucked away in each room is everything our staff needs to welcome your baby into the world. Special equipment is immediately available if the unexpected occurs. And should the need arise, cesarean birth suites are located within the Birthing Center for immediate access.

You have choices every step of the way.

       
At Meriter, we believe childbirth is a personal experience. You can choose to have music, your own clothing, and video or audio equipment to document your family milestone. If you want to share your baby's arrival with family and friends in your room, or ask them to wait in our comfortable Family Lounge, that's your choice as well.

Options for a more comfortable childbirth.

To help make childbirth as comfortable as possible, we offer a range of pain management options. Epidural anesthesia is available 24 hours a day. You may bring in your own acupuncturist or massage therapist as planned with your physician or nurse midwife.

Personal support from professional nursing staff.

     
Of all the resources the Meriter Birthing Center offers, of all the comforts we provide, new parents agree - our knowledgeable and caring nursing staff is one of the most appreciated. Whether you need help breathing through a contraction or someone to suggest new labor positions, you can count on our nurses for support. And our nurses follow your birth plan as closely as possible, so you can welcome your baby into the world the way you desire.

Your Hospital Stay

     
Parking Pass - You will receive one parking pass that can be delegated to a family member or friend. To get the pass, go to the Guest Services office in the lobby. They are open Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Other visitors can also park in the ramp, for a small fee. Parking is free on holidays.

Visitors - You decide who visits and when. You may want to ask some relatives or friends to wait to visit until after you've returned home so you have plenty of time to rest after your baby's birth. To protect you and your baby, we recommend that you ask relatives or friends with colds and/or flu-like symptoms not to visit. Children under age 12 must check in at the nursing station.

Photography and Videotaping in the Birthing Center - We welcome you to take pictures and videotape those important moments of your labor/birth and of your newborn. However we do request that you ask permission from your provider and nursing staff before doing so. While we want you to have the opportunity to take pictures and video, we also want to make sure these activities do not interfere with providing safe patient care. Your provider and/or nurse may request that taking pictures or videotaping should not occur at certain times or in certain situations or during certain procedures. We appreciate your cooperation during these times and we will inform you when picture taking and/or videotaping is appropriate to resume.

Meal Service - The Food & Nutrition team strives to provide high quality food to promote health and healing. Meal service consists of a house select meal delivered to your room three times a day. A diet clerk will visit you before your second meal to "personalize" your meals and accommodate your preferences, desired portion sizes or any allergies you may have. If your physician has ordered a special diet, the menu may be modified to adjust for changes in calorie, texture, fluids or other nutrients.

Birthing Center Family Kitchen - Since we know that new moms can be hungry at any time, we make every attempt to keep healthy foods ready for you whenever you may need it. We also know that expecting dads and labor support persons need an opportunity to grab a quick snack without having to go too far from their loved one's room.

Each floor of the Birthing Center has a kitchen for between-meal use by you and your labor support person. You will find juices, fruit, sandwiches, soup, milk, yogurt, crackers, fresh vegetables, bagels, muffins and cereals.

Visitor Snacks And Meals - Visitors are welcome to ice water and coffee in the kitchen. You can suggest the following options for your hungry visitors:

• Cafeteria - Located on Level 1. It is open from 6:30 a.m. - 7 p.m., seven days a week.
• Coffee Shop - Located in the lobby. It is open on weekdays for breakfast, lunch and dinner with limited hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Vending Machines - The machines are located on Level 1.
• Guest Trays - These can be delivered with your meal. These trays must be ordered and prepaid for at the Cashier's Office on the lobby level, or from Guest Services after business hours.

The Newborn Channel And Videotapes - We are pleased to offer the Newborn Channel, a 24-hour free television service in your suite. It features a variety of topics for new parents including breastfeeding, infant care and parenting. You will find a program guide at your bedside. This service is offered in English and Spanish.

Each birthing suite is also equipped with its own VCR. Videotapes on breastfeeding, bathing an infant, general care and parenting are available. You may also want to bring a favorite tape or two from home for your entertainment.

Smoking - Meriter Hospital has adopted a smoke-free policy to provide a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors and staff. The smoke-free policy applies to all Meriter Hospital facilities and vehicles.

Going Home - Routine discharge is by 1 PM - You and your physician or nurse midwife will decide together when you are ready to go home. Mothers who have a vaginal birth generally go home the second day after giving birth. Mothers who have a cesarean birth usually go home about three days after giving birth. Factors that could extend or shorten your stay include complications, personal preference and insurance coverage.