Labor and Delivery
Divine Savior Healthcare has comfortable patient rooms for you and your family during labor. Comfortable seating for support people is available in each of our labor and delivery rooms and guest sleeping for one is available in our postpartum rooms as well.
Plenty of options are on hand to help you go through labor in the most comfortable fashion possible with available hand-held massagers, birthing balls and luxurious massaging showers.
In this stage of labor, provided there are no complications, you will be able to drink fluids, listen to music, walk around or do anything within reason to help keep you comfortable. If it appears that it would be helpful, your doctor may offer to assist your labor by “breaking your water.” You may also be offered Pitocin to help your labor progress.
A small amount of your blood will be drawn for lab evaluations and your contractions will be monitored along with your baby’s heartbeat. If labor was induced or when you advance to active labor, an IV is usually started. An inserted IV does not necessarily mean that you will be receiving fluids, however it provides the medical staff with instantaneous access to provide you with medications in the event of a sudden emergency.
During active labor your body will reach a point where the contractions are stronger and more frequent. Some individuals choose to request IV pain medications, an epidural, intrathecal analgesia or continue with natural labor. The choice for pain relief is a private choice which is entirely up to you. Divine Savior Healthcare does not favor or recommend one pain relief choice over another and we will support the choice you make.
Our Birthing Center does not require a certain minimum cervical dilation before you can request an epidural. We also recognize that there is no window of time in which the epidural must be placed. The choice to have an epidural will mean that you will be required to stay in your bed afterwards.
Image courtesy of GE Healthcare
Delivery takes place in one of our specially designed delivery rooms, located directly down the hall inside the Birthing Center. Here is where you, and those you choose to be present for the birth, will go to prepare to give birth to your baby.
Prior to delivery, we do not routinely shave the pubic area or give enemas. During the process of pushing you may push in any way which feels comfortable to you. Women often choose to push in a reclined position, but this is not something that is required. Episiotomies are also not routine, however we do recognize that there are times when it becomes appropriate.
Provided there have been no complications, the baby will be placed on mom’s abdomen for skin to skin contact immediately after delivery. If you desire, we can dry your baby off prior to placing your baby with you for skin to skin contact. After you have bonded with your baby, we will bathe your baby in your presence. You will also be encouraged to breastfeed your baby within the first hour after birth, if you desire.
Post-delivery care such as sutures and the birth of the placenta are carried out in the delivery room as well. Visitors are allowed in the delivery room after birth if you so desire or you can ask them to wait until you have returned to your postpartum room. When the recovery process is complete, it is then that mom and baby can be moved back to their room to bond and rest.
In the event that a cesarean delivery (c-section) is required, you will be taken to our nearby operating room with the physician and accompanying staff. You will be given anesthesia which may vary depending on the circumstance. The procedure takes about 45 minutes to an hour, with the majority of that time being dedicated to closing the incision. Baby is kept with mom when it is possible immediately following the cesarean. After the incision is closed and other required care is administered, mom and baby will be returned to their original room to recuperate.
Find out more about our Birthing Center:
Classes/Support
Visitors
Our Facility
Prior to Your Stay
Pain Relief
Postpartum Care
Infant Care
Breast Pump Rental
Our 365 WebNursery
Contact our Birthing Center:
Phone: (608) 745-5150