Pomerene hospital offering maternity care your way
By Shelly Webb
July 25, 2011
376
According to the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, home births are at the highest level since 1990. Most women choose this option because they want to deliver their baby in a familiar environment and maintain control over the various interventions available during delivery.
Despite the increase in home births, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) isnt exactly sold on the practice. They recently issued a statement saying that although the risk of planned home births is low, evidence shows it does carry a two- to three-fold increase in the risk of newborn death over hospital births.
As physicians, we have an obligation to provide families with information about the risks, benefits, limitations and advantages concerning the different maternity care providers and birth settings, stated Richard N. Waldman, M.D., ACOG president. Its important to remember that home births dont always go well, and the risk is higher if they are attended by inadequately trained attendants or in poorly selected patients with serious high-risk medical conditions such as hypertension, breech presentation, or prior cesarean deliveries.
While many women continue to opt for delivery at home, its great to have an excellent hospital environment available as another birth setting choice.
Debra Eppley, BSN, RN, manager of maternal child nursing for Pomerene Hospital, said that Pomerene provides great care for expecting moms and newborns and the hospital is grateful to be of such a valuable service to the area.
Pomerene provides a great experience for moms, babies, and their families in the Pomerene Birthing Center, Eppley said. We focus on family centered care, and the nursing staff is dedicated to providing families with compassion, support, guidance, and education throughout the birth experience. The nursing staff works very hard with families to assure that the birth is what they envision it to be.
Providing care your way is a goal at Pomerene and the staff takes that goal to heart. Currently a new approach to deliveries is being implemented at Pomerene and this approach is sure to be embraced well by area moms.
We are integrating a new approach to deliveries at Pomerene at this time; it is called Kangaroo Care, Eppley explained. Babies are placed with mom immediately after birth, skin to skin, to allow the bonding process to begin immediately. This is wonderful for both the bottle and breastfed baby.
There are many different interventions and techniques when it comes to labor and delivery and Pomerene works hard to offer as many as possible. Kangaroo Care is just one of many innovative concepts being practiced at the hospital. There are many more great options to consider when delivering at Pomerene.
Pomerene provides many avenues to labor and delivery, Eppley added. Some patients like to labor in our whirlpool tubs and showers, some walk, some use a birthing ball, or a rocking chair. We can assist and coach with natural labor techniques or we have various medications for relief. However patients are comfortable our nursing staff aims to assist and please. The setting is to promote a relaxed environment for the family, while having nurses and physicians readily available when necessary.
Pomerene also accommodates the patient with their preferred variation of OB specialist. The hospital offers services from an OB/GYN, family practice physician or a midwife; whichever the patient is most comfortable choosing.
The OB staff at Pomerene Hospital wants to help every expecting mother experience all the joy and wonder that occurs with the birth of a new child, Eppley said. We will support every patient in the choices they make whether they prefer an obstetrician, certified nurse midwife, or family physician. Most importantly, our staff and facility always strives to make every birth a memorable time and a safe experience for both mom and baby.
So even if youre considering a home birth, just bear in mind that you might be able to deliver at Pomerene and still have the exact experience youre seeking with at home. You can have your baby in a safe environment and still make all the decisions and you accept or decline whatever interventions are available at that time.
To tour the birthing center or for questions regarding the option of labor and delivery at Pomerene Hospital, call Debra Eppley at 330-674-1584, ext. 1289.
