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The Birthing Center
During Labor
 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. Meriter
is the only hospital in the area to provide single room maternity care, and this
is a difference your family will appreciate. 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 26 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 in your room's CD player. There's even a pull-out
couch for your partner and older children to sleep, so you can spend your first
night together as a family.
Because we can't predict when women will begin their labor, there are
occasions when the Birthing Center becomes very busy and we must move families
to another Birthing Center room on a different floor following their birth and a
short recovery time.
 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.
When your baby arrives, one nurse will care for both you and your
baby. Our nurses are specially trained to meet the needs of both mother and
child. This way you have a chance to learn as much as possible from the experts
about your baby's needs (as well as your own) before you go home.
You begin bonding with your baby from the very beginning.
One of the joys of having your own suite is that your baby stays with
you from the moment of birth. You will discover your newborn's
preferences, begin a feeding relationship and ask questions of your
nurse every step of the way. By spending time together, you will
discover the uniqueness of your new baby.
With the support of your nurse, you care for your baby in your own
birthing suite. However, a nursery is available if your medical
condition does not allow you to care for your baby or you need to rest
for a short time.
The role of medical education in the
Birthing Center.
As we have a strong commitment to medical education, the
Birthing Center provides educational opportunities for
University of Wisconsin Medical School residents and medical
students in many specialties.
Residents have graduated from medical school and are
receiving further training in specialty areas. Residents will
assist in your care in many areas - from your initial exam to
delivery. They will also assist with the care of your newborn.
Medical students are currently in medical school and work
under the supervision of your physician or nurse midwife. They
play a support role in the Birthing Center, and may be present
during your labor, birth and postpartum care.
Through our partnership with the university, our patients
benefit from a broad base of medical knowledge and diversity
of services not found in other community hospitals. Our
residents and medical students also benefit from our patients
- you have valuable information and insight that can help
residents and medical students become better physicians. |
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