The Bronson BirthPlace

The Bronson BirthPlace

A baby?! Is anything more exciting, inspiring or perplexing than a new life? Whether you re expecting or just pondering the possibility, the prospect of having a baby inspires great joy and big questions. Believe it or not, where you choose to have your baby may be the most important decision of all. As your baby s birth nears, you ll have plenty on your mind. So choose Bronson and rest assured that the birth environment will be as caring, nurturing and safe as you always hoped it would be. We ve thought of everything The Bronson BirthPlace was designed to create a calming environment that s as much like home as possible. It s part of Bronson Methodist Hospital, a state-of-the-art hospital that incorporates art, music, light and nature to create a total healing environment. The Bronson BirthPlace was designed around your needs. From start to finish, we focus on the concerns of new moms. Experienced and caring nurses, nurse midwives and doctors work in the most technologically advanced birthing center in southwest Michigan. 2

Here are just a few things to know about the Bronson BirthPlace: With more than 3,400 births each year, the Bronson BirthPlace is the leading birthing center in southwest Michigan. Bronson is affiliated with an extensive selection of obstetric, gynecologic and pediatric healthcare providers, so you can easily find experienced specialists who will oversee your pregnancy and monitor your newborn s care. Bronson has the largest certified nurse midwifery practice in the area. Certified nurse midwives are registered nurses who have completed advanced training in gynecology and obstetrics. They are certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives to deliver babies. The Bronson BirthPlace is fully prepared to handle multiple births, delivering many each year. Bronson has the only high-risk pregnancy center in southwest Michigan. Our physicians are board certified in maternal-fetal medicine, and our midwives have specialized training. Bronson has the area s only level 3 neonatal intensive care unit, providing babies with the highest level of care. Security for moms and babies is monitored with Bronson s high-tech security system, called HUGS, which helps ensure your baby s security while you re here. Access to the BirthPlace is secure for safety, for privacy and to help mom and baby recover. Access to a newborn hospitalist who can act as a primary point of care for your baby while you are a patient at the hospital Children need special doctors, nurses, equipment and treatments. Our children s health team is dedicated solely to caring for children 24 hours a day. This means a full continuum of care from birth to adolescence. That s what we offer at the region s only children s hospital. Everything about our pediatric care is specially designed just for them. 3

Peace of mind for every parent Small touches mean so much They may seem like minor considerations at first, but little things can make this amazing experience as stressfree as possible. All of our rooms are private and large enough to accommodate the people with whom you want to share the birth experience. Our furniture folds out to allow a loved one to rest or stay overnight. Bathtubs are available in every room to help soothe and relax moms. Meals are made to order from our special menu. Specially designed gowns make it easy and comfortable for new moms to breastfeed. Our specially trained, caring and dedicated nurses respond to your needs and give you individualized attention. Water births are available for moms with uncomplicated pregnancies and approval from their provider. Patient and Family Centered Care When you need healthcare, your family needs support and care too. That s why we focus on the entire family. At the heart of patient and family centered care are dignity and respect, information sharing, participation and collaboration. That means everyone has input into decisions and choices to best meet the needs of the patient. This partnership helps achieve the best outcomes, improves quality and safety, and reduce costs. We also have a Patient Advisory Council that gives families a voice in decisions that affect patient care and family experiences. The council consists of staff, family members and former patients. It gives input on facility design, staff training, hospital policies and procedures, and ways Bronson can support patients and their families. The council continually invites new members. 4

At the heart of patient and family centered care are dignity and respect, information sharing, participation and collaboration. Most pregnancies and deliveries proceed without problems, but if a complication does arise, Bronson is ready. We are the only birthing center in southwest Michigan equipped to handle high-risk pregnancies and complicated deliveries. In fact, we re the hospital other hospitals turn to when babies are born with critical health needs. The Bronson BirthPlace offers unparalleled 24-hour access to specialists for mother and baby. The Bronson BirthPlace has the only maternal-fetal medicine program in the region. Maternal-fetal medicine is a subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology that deals with high-risk pregnancy. Pregnancies can become high risk due to diabetes, hypertension, multiple births and/or other conditions. Bronson Maternal-Fetal Medicine has a team of experts for pre-pregnancy and genetic counseling. Bronson has the region s only licensed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). And our NICU features all-private rooms. Research shows that private rooms help reduce hospital-acquired infections. Private rooms also foster babies development, and protect patient and family privacy. The NICU at Bronson is one of only a handful in the country to deliver neonatal intensive care according to this new level of care. The NICU cares for approximately 600 babies each year, and many are transported here from hospitals that do not have NICU services. Neonatologists are specialists in newborns and care for critically ill babies. 5

Breastfeeding Support Understanding the facts about breastfeeding Breastfeeding is the most healthful way to feed your baby, and it provides the best nutrition. Although breastfeeding is perfectly natural, it is not necessarily instinctive. The Bronson Breastfeeding Center provides individual support for breastfeeding moms in the hospital and after they leave. We ll guide you stepby-step, through pregnancy concerns, nursing and eventually weaning. It s our goal to make breastfeeding a positive experience for you and your baby. The Bronson Breastfeeding Center can help ease your transition to breastfeeding: Our lactation consultants are registered nurses certified in breastfeeding consultation. They provide prenatal and postpartum education, advice on breastfeeding and personal consultation services. After delivery, every new mother in the hospital receives a visit from one of our lactation consultants. Successful Breastfeeding class gives new moms basic, practical information about breastfeeding, making the adjustment back to work and other issues. The Bronson Breastfeeding Center offers a full line of products, including breast pumps, nursing bras, layette clothing (preemie sizes) and breastfeeding apparel. The Breastfeeding Center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is located in Suite N-1300 of the North Pavilion at Bronson Methodist Hospital. You can contact a consultant at (269) 341-8849. Bronson Mothers Milk Bank A mother s own milk is the best food for her baby. But when a mother can t provide breast milk, milk from healthy donor mothers is the next best thing. That s why Bronson has opened the Bronson Mothers Milk Bank to collect, screen, process, store and distribute donated human milk. The milk bank allows us to give the best nutrition to babies whose mothers can t provide breast milk. Human milk is easier for babies to digest and offers better nutrition than formula. And research shows human milk helps sick and premature babies have better outcomes. When the needs of Bronson s patients are met, we share milk with other hospitals whose patients have a need. 6

Bronson s family centered education classes provide knowledge and training to help boost your skills and confidence Confidence Comes with Knowledge Bronson s family centered education classes provide knowledge and training to help boost your skills and confidence as you get ready to welcome your baby. They also give you the opportunity to compare notes with other expectant parents who have many of the same questions. Our classes are designed and taught by experienced childbirth education instructors. They cover a range of topics, including: Prenatal Classes Successful Breastfeeding Pregnancy Fitness Programs Tours of the Bronson BirthPlace Boot Camp for Dads Baby Care Car Seat Safety Class Siblings Class Ongoing Support Classes Additional classes may be offered on a bimonthly or quarterly basis. To register, call Bronson HealthAnswers at (269) 341-7723 or (800) 451-6310, or visit bronsonhealth.com to register online. Prices subject to change. Share the Joy Online Bronson makes it easy for you to share the news about your new baby with friends and family through our Web Nursery. If you choose, your newborn can be photographed for the Web Nursery, which includes stats such as length, weight and time of birth. To visit the Web Nursery, go to bronsonhealth.com and click on the Web Nursery. Does your healthcare provider deliver at the Bronson BirthPlace? For the region s most advanced obstetric care, choose a provider who delivers at Bronson. Be sure to tell your provider you would like to have your baby at the Bronson BirthPlace. For help finding a healthcare provider, call Bronson HealthAnswers at (269) 341-7723 or (800) 451-6310, or visit bronsonhealth.com. 7

The Bronson BirthPlace is located on the fourth and fifth floors of the North Pavilion at Bronson Methodist Hospital, 601 John Street. For your convenience, you can park in the Jasper Street Ramp. (269) 341-6433 bronsonhealth.com 15080-1 7/13