Preparing for Childbirth: The Basics
It’s normal to feel jittery before the big day — the birth of your newborn. Still, there are also some things you can do to ease some of the pre-delivery anxiety. Here are some preparation tips for soon-to-be moms:
Take a childbirth class. It will help you and your family prepare for the birth and offer tips and techniques for a stress-free delivery. Florida Hospital offers a variety of well-known and established classes for you, the father and siblings. Check out the back page for specifics.
Ask questions. Talk to your doctor and birth coordinator about your expectations for delivery. Discuss birthing options and your preferences with your birth coordinator and design the birth experience you desire. Don’t hesitate to discuss any concerns you may have about the delivery. Remember: There is no such thing as a stupid question!
Eat Right. Good nutrition during pregnancy, and enough of it, is very important for your baby to grow and develop. But eating better doesn't mean eating more – or rather, not much more. You should consume about 300 more calories per day than you did before pregnancy. Although nausea and vomiting during the first few months of pregnancy can make this difficult, try to eat a well balanced diet and take prenatal vitamins.
Take a tour of the maternity department. Just so you are not nervous about where you will be, get acquainted with the birthing area, the recovery room and general waiting area for family and friends. A birth coordinator will be happy to show you around.
Just contact us and we’ll schedule an appointment for your tour.
Get packed. Well before your due date, you and your partner should prepare a bag with the items you’ll need (visit our website for a suggested list) and map out the most direct route to Florida Hospital.
Prepare to nest. Once you have the little one, you will not have time to do the regular everyday errands you did before. So do them while you can. This may include restocking the fridge and pantry, doing a big load of laundry and buying plenty of diapers. You’ll be glad you did!
What To Expect During Your Hospital Stay
Wireless Labor: Fetal Monitors Give Soon-To-Be Moms Freedom to Roam
Expectant moms always want to increase baby safety and reduce labor time, that’s where fetal monitors can help.
Studies show that moms who walk during labor shorten their delivery time, but that’s difficult when they are tethered to a bedside monitor. Next generation wireless monitors allow the OB staff to keep a close eye on both mom and baby, while giving mom the freedom to roam.
This smart phone-sized device has leads that stick to mom’s belly and carefully track/record both the maternal and baby heartbeats separately, as well as contractions, for as long as 24-hours. This information instantly transmits to the nurses’ station where our OB team charts the labor progress and baby’s well being.
And Blessed Beginnings Birthing Center is the
only place in Florida that offers this technology.
Special Delivery!
Personalized birth coordinators help tailor the birth experience to each mom...
Every expectant mother wants a birth experience that feels right to her. That’s where personalized birth coordinators at the new Jarrett Family Blessed Beginnings Birthing Center can help. They are available for you as you prepare to welcome your new baby into the world.
“We try to help each mother deliver in the way that suits her individual preferences,” says Florida Hospital OB Registered Nurse Amy Andrews, a personalized Birth Coordinator. “We want to make her feel as comfortable as possible.”
As part of her role, the birthing coordinator will meet you and answer your questions on prenatal and postnatal care, delivery and pain-relief options, and develop a birth plan especially for you. As a result, you know what to expect and can choose what’s best for you and your baby.
“It gives me a lot of pleasure to see the process as expectant mothers become new moms,” Andrews says. “And we are right there alongside them, helping them along the way. It’s very personally rewarding.”
Pediatric Hospitalist – Big Care for Little Ones
Children are not just small adults. They can’t always say what hurts. They don’t understand medical questions. That’s where a Pediatric Hospitalist is essential.
A pediatric hospitalist works inside the hospital with your family’s pediatrician and other hospital specialists to care for your child in a way that is comfortable and reassuring for you and your child.
If your child has an illness or injury requiring admission to Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center, he or she will be cared for by a pediatric hospitalist. They care for children in many hospital areas, including the pediatric unit, labor and delivery, and the emergency department. If there is a significant change in your child’s condition, a pediatric hospitalist will update your pediatrician immediately.
When your child leaves the hospital, a pediatric hospitalist will give your pediatrician an overview of your child’s hospital stay and detailed instructions about follow-up care. Florida Hospital is proud to be the only facility in the Heartland offering this important service to families.