Giving birth is a very special experience. The birth of your baby is an extraordinary time, and it should happen in a unique place. Rutherford Regional's "The Birth Place" gives you an exceptional way to welcome the newest member of your family.

In her own unique way, each woman experiences the variety of emotions and physical changes that pregnancy brings. Our role as healthcare professionals is to help our patients understand these changes and guide them to the resources they need.

Available Options and Services include:

• Prenatal Education classes -- learn what to expect
• Family participation -- have the ones you love with you in labor and delivery
• Delivery in one of our 3 comfortable birthing suites
• Time to get acquainted with your newest family member right after birth
• Nursing staff specially trained in - labor, delivery, breastfeeding, and infant care
• Newborn hearing screens 
• Keep your baby with you - all the time or choose nursery care when you need to rest.

Highlights of the Birthing Suites:

• Space dedicated to family privacy
• Triage Rooms for ante-partum testing
• A choice of "rooming in" for babies
• Nursery includes a well baby nursery; level two nursery and bonding room
  for moms to visit with their infants that are unable to leave the nursery.
• Greater security for infants
• Convenient access to surgical suites which affords privacy for C-section patients
• Ten Post-partum rooms with tubs and showers
• Classroom to provide a learning environment for expectant families, and new parents
  and their families.
• Newborn Photo Packages available by in-house photographer

Amenities in the rooms to help make the mother's stay as pleasant as possible.

• Suite environment
• TV
• DVD Player
• Ceiling fans
• Refrigerator
• Microwave
• Glider rockers
• Sleeper chair for Dad
• Room Service Meals
• Private dining table and chairs for Celebration Meal
• Private bathroom with vanity area, tub and shower

Comfort, privacy, peace of mind, flexibility - these are all important considerations for you and for Rutherford Regional. We want you to know that - It's All About Baby. Giving birth is a very special experience. While having the comforts of home is important, knowing you are surrounded by a specially-trained nursing staff and modern equipment will make your birthing experience even more rewarding.

Education for You and Your Family

The birth of your child is one of the most exciting times in your life - but it can also produce many questions. We offer a variety of classes from childbirth to grandparenting to educate and prepare expectant parents for childbirth and baby's first days. Gain more confidence in caring for your soon-to-arrive newborn (or new grandchild) in classes that cover everything from nutrition to care of mom and baby after the delivery.

Prenatal Classes for Expectant Mom and Her Family

1. Childbirth Education Class. Helps expectant parents and families prepare for the birth of their child.  Nutrition, common discomforts of pregnancy, fetal growth and development, process of labor and birth, coping strategies for labor, pain management, vaginal and cesarean births and care of the mom and baby after birth are some of the topics of discussion.  The class also includes a tour of The Birth Place.  We offer two different class schedules. We offer a four week class which meets one night a week and we also offer a one day (7-8 hours) class on Saturday.

2. Grandparenting Class. This class is designed to provide expectant or new grandparents with information about the current labor and birth practices as well as breastfeeding information.  We also discuss how to be supportive of new moms and dads as they bring their little ones home.  This class is offered every other month.

3. Breastfeeding Class. Provides information about the benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby, general breastfeeding education, positions for breastfeeding your baby, breastfeeding challenges and much more.  This class is beneficial to first time moms as well as moms who have breastfed another child.  This class is offered every other month.

4. Baby and Me Club. This class is designed to help big brothers and sister prepare for their new baby when they are born.  During class we will read stories about becoming a big brother or big sister, practice feeding and diapering our new babies, watch a video and take of tour of The Birth Place. This class is offered on Saturday mornings every other month.

*REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL CLASSES

To register for class or if you have questions please contact Lucy Calhoun, RNC, LCCE, IBCLC at 828-286-5065 or email her at Lucy.Calhoun@rutherfordregional.com

In-Hospital Post-Delivery Education. 

• Baby basic classes held in the nursery for mothers and fathers to learn how to care for their baby at home. Topics include: Bathing, temperature, feeding (breast or bottle), infant care, diaper change, sleep questions.
• Bathing, temperature, feeding (breast or bottle), infant care
• Infant CPR-- learning how to do CPR on your infant
• Infant Car Seat Safety -- correctly installing the car seat.

Follow-Up Visits 

HOME VISITS:  All moms who give birth at Rutherford Regional will receive a home visit after discharge by a registered nurse.  This home visit is to make sure mom and baby are doing fine at home and also gives new moms and their families an opportunity to ask questions.  A physical assessment of the mom and baby are done during the visit.  During the home visit we also re-enforce all the education the mom received while she was in the hospital.

Lactation Consultant:  RR has a certified lactation consultant on staff who will help moms with breastfeeding while they are in the hospital as well as the nursing staff will be glad to assist new moms with breastfeeding.  If you have questions about breastfeeding you can reach our lactation consultant, Lucy Calhoun, RNC,LCCE,IBCLC at 828-286-5065. 

The Birth Place nurses are happy to answer your questions at any time. Call us day or night to ask questions - big or little - and to let us help you with our needs.

Tours of The Birth Place are included with our educational classes. If you are not enrolled in these classes and you would like to arrange a tour of The Birth Place, please call 828-286-5065.