A birth plan serves as a road map to follow during your labor and delivery. This can include everything from who you want in the room with you to pain management. Here are some items your birth plan might cover:
The basics: List your name, your doctor’s name and contact information, where you plan to give birth, and who you are planning to have there with you.
Atmosphere: Think about what will help you feel most comfortable. Would you like the lights dimmed? Do you want your room as quiet as possible or would you prefer soft music? Would you like a support person to take photos or video of your labor or birth?
Labor preferences: Include any preferences you have for your labor. For example, do you want to walk around freely? Do you want to use a birthing stool, ball, or chair? Would you like to take a warm shower or bath?
Pain meds: Pain management during labor is an important consideration. You may not plan to have an epidural, but you could change your mind during labor. Or you may know that you definitely want to have an epidural if possible. As you’re defining your birth plan, ask your doctor about your options for pain relief as well as any questions you have about them. These could include breathing or massage.
Delivery preferences: There are many options to consider for your baby’s birth. If you’re planning on a vaginal birth, would you prefer not to have an episiotomy unless it’s medically necessary? Do you want a mirror to see your baby’s birth? Would you like your partner to cut the umbilical cord? Do you want your baby placed on your abdomen right after delivery?
Feeding and Care in the Hospital: Once your baby’s born, you’ll need to think about feeding and care. For example, do you want to breastfeed right after delivery? Or are you thinking about bottle feeding or combining bottle feeding with breastfeeding? Would you like your baby in the hospital room with you at all times, or would you prefer your baby stay in the nursery sometimes? Is it OK for the medical staff to offer your baby a pacifier or sugar water? If your baby is a boy, would you like him circumcised at the hospital? (Sugar water may be used at time of circumcision.)
Review your birth plan with your partner or anyone else who will be with you in the delivery room such as a labor coach or doula. Then ask your doctor and the birth center to resolve any potential conflicts.
Once your birth plan is set, give a copy to your doctor to keep with your medical records, and take another copy to the hospital or birth center. You’ll also want to give copies of your birth plan to anyone who will be with you during labor. It’s a good idea to bring a few copies with you to the hospital or birth center when you go into labor, too. Another doctor may wind up delivering your baby if your regular doctor isn’t available.
Download the Family Birthplace birth plan here.
Are you all set for the big day? Your baby might arrive earlier than expected, so it’s worth having your baby hospital bag organized and packed around month eight of your pregnancy – just in case.
The New Mom Checklist will help you prepare everything you’ll need for yourself and your new baby. Once all the bags are packed, keep them handy, either in the car or near the door, so you’ll be ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Your Doula is welcome at MMC. Please let our staff know If your doula is going to be with you at MMC for the birth of your baby.
It’s time, and you are on your way to The Family Birthplace at MMC to give birth! When you arrive at the main entrance of the hospital, first check in at the Registration Desk. Do not be surprised if you are taken to the Emergency Department before being admitted into the Family Birthplace.
Once you are settled in your private room, we'll make sure to care for you based on any special instructions we have received from your healthcare provider and your birth plan. We will review your medical history and obtain any necessary consents for care.
A fetal monitor will be applied to obtain baseline information; monitoring will be continuous or intermittent, depending on the baseline information and/or the orders of your healthcare provider. If blood work is needed, it may be drawn at this time.
During labor, we strongly encourage you to get out of bed and walk to speed up the labor process and increase relaxation during contractions. Please keep in mind:
Maintaining adequate hydration is essential for you and your baby’s well-being. Depending on the orders of your healthcare provider, your options may include:
For a vaginal delivery:
For a Cesarean Birth:
Recovery will take place in your Family Birthplace room while the nursing team supports you and your partner with skin-to-skin, breastfeeding, and bonding as a new family.
As you recover from delivery, the nursing staff will begin providing you with extensive education in the care of you and your newborn. All new families receive individualized mom and baby care instructions. Because we know just how overwhelming being a new parent is, all of our education material is written out in an easy to follow printed form for you to take home. We also have the on demand Newborn Channel for you to view.
All nurses are trained to assist you with breastfeeding in the hospital. In addition, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is available after delivery to assist you 1:1 to support breastfeeding success.
Some of the topics covered during your time at The Family Birthplace include:
We are committed to ensuring your baby is safe, healthy and happy. We enforce strict security measures to protect your baby.
Staff Identification
All hospital personnel must prominently display a Memorial Medical Center identification badge. This badge shows the authorized staff member’s name, title and department. If you are unsure about a staff member, please ask a nurse to verify the person’s identity.
Baby Bracelets and Security Tags
As soon as your baby is delivered, two bracelets will be placed on your baby’s wrist or ankles. The bracelets are marked with a code, your baby’s sex, birthdate and time, and the mother’s name. For further identification verification, you and your support person will also receive a bracelet with the same information that is listed on your baby’s bracelet. Your bracelet and your baby’s bracelet will be matched and verified throughout your stay and before leaving our hospital.
In addition, there is an electronic medical record ID tag is attached to baby’s ankle.
Locked Unit
The Family Birthplace is a locked unit. To enter and leave the unit, you have to get buzzed in and out by a staff member.
Video Surveillance
Most areas of our hospital, including the Family Birthplace, exits, stairways, elevators and hallways, are under 24-hour video surveillance.
Transporting Your Baby
All babies are transported in their bassinets. Staff members and parents may not carry babies out of the rooms in their arms. Please stop anyone who tries to do so or contact your nurse immediately.
Walking in the Halls
You may walk in the hallways of the Family Birthplace with your baby as long as your baby remains in his or her bassinet. As an extra security precaution, we ask that you do not leave your baby unattended at any time, even when you use the bathroom or shower in your room. If a family member is not available to watch your infant, please ask your nurse to watch your baby until you return.
Going Home
At the time of discharge, a nurse will escort you safely to your car. We recommend having your car seat installed and checked by an authorized car seat inspector to ensure the continued safety of your child on your journey home.
The Family Birthplace supports and encourages breastfeeding. We provide mothers the information, confidence, and skills that are needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding safely.
All nurses are trained to assist you with breastfeeding in the hospital. In addition, we have several Certified Lactation Counselors to assist you.
Skin-to-Skin Contact
Following the birth of your baby, we strongly encourage skin-to-skin contact in which your baby is placed belly-down, directly on your chest, right after he or she is born. The first hours of snuggling skin-to-skin lets you and your baby get to know each other. Newborns crave skin to skin contact. This is the best way to start breastfeeding, as skin-to-skin babies’ breastfeed better and keep breastfeeding longer.
The Golden Hour
This is the first hour after the birth of your baby. Your baby is placed skin-to-skin on your chest, and your healthcare team will care for the two of you as your baby transitions to life outside of the womb. It is a special time for you and your partner to bond with your new little one. We recommend that you preserve this special time of bonding by limiting visitors for this first hour. Learn more about the Golden Hour here.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
When it comes to breastfeeding, there are many benefits for both mother and baby.
Breastfeeding has been shown to have multiple benefits for moms and babies. Breast milk provides the perfect infant nutrition and is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as the “normative way to feed your infant.” Babies who are fed breast milk have less risk of diabetes, childhood cancers, and obesity. Recent studies show that women who breastfeed have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, anemia, and osteoporosis, and suggest that children who were fed breast milk have a higher IQ. In addition, breastfeeding also conveys emotional benefits to mothers and babies.
Breastfeeding also:
Breast Pumps
The Family Birthplace does not rent or sell breast pumps. Prior to delivery, check with your insurance company to determine your benefit. If your insurance covers a breast pump we will have your physician complete an order and our nursing team can have it ready before discharge home. We will assist you in making the process as easy and as hassle-free as possible.
Breastfeeding support is just a phone call away. Please call 715-685-5338 if you need additional information or assistance with breastfeeding.
Outpatient Lactation Consultants are available by appointment and need to be ordered by your physician. These consultations may be covered by your insurance company. Please contact your insurance provider prior to making your first appointment to determine your benefit. To make an appointment, please call 715-685-5338
Preparing to welcome your bundle of joy can be overwhelming. We’d like to help!
The Journey Through Parenthood program is designed to help parents during this exciting time in your lives, both as you get ready to welcome baby(s), and when you go home as a family after delivery.
Our Perinatal Outreach Educator will contact you in your second trimester to get to know you and your specific needs. She will send you a packet of information that fits you, and set up a visit at the Memorial Medical Center’s Family Birthplace.
At this visit you can start the paperwork that needs to be filled out, learn about the services that are offered here, discuss what you would like your birth plan to be, and tour the facility. We’ll talk about available support in our community that applies to your individual situation.
You will also have the opportunity to pre-register at our registration desk, streamlining your arrival when you are in labor. And of course, ask questions anytime!
It will help speed up the admission process and increase the time you get to spend with your new baby. In fact, most of our admission questions, education,and paperwork can be done before you even get to the hospital!
Additionally, the Family Birthplace is always changing and evolving as new standards of practice are established this is a convenient way to learn about any updates since your last delivery. If you aren’t interested in the education and supportive resources in the area, that’s okay – our goal is to help you get what you need.
Fill out the Journey Through Parenthood form with your most up-to-date contact information so we can call you in your second trimester, and start talking about what it is you want/need.
Give us a call! We’re happy to help.
We would still love to see you! We can work with you to help you get education, wellness or supportive services in the community. You’ll have the added benefit of having pre-admission paperwork done to speed up the process if you need to be seen at the Family Birthplace prior to your delivery.
We’ll continue to follow up with you for the first year, and to help connect you with the services that you might want or need during that time.
The Family Birthplace and the Journey Through Parenthood program collaborates with the following organizations:
And Many More!!
This is a FREE program, by appointment only.
Please email prenataleducation@ashlandmmc.com to find out about available virtual classes or call 715-685-5338.
Pre Birth
• Journey Through Parenthood Program
Post Birth
• Lactation Services
• Compassionate H.E.A.R.T.S. (Helping Empty Arms Resolve Through Sharing)*
Services are offered by Memorial Medical Center at no cost to you. Registration is required.
Click HERE to view the latest births at MMC!
