Each birth is unique, as is each pregnancy. Family-centered compassionate care and advanced
technology combine to provide each family with the
best possible care.
Maybe
that's why St.
John's Mercy is the first choice of expectant mothers in St. Louis.
Before the Event
Admission
Care Team
Your Room
Visitors
Before the Event
St. John's Mercy Childbirth
Center is known for the tremendous personal commitment of our obstetrics
staff. As partners in your baby's birth, we are committed to meeting
your needs through personal care and attention.
We invite you to
use our interactive Healthy
Pregnancy Guide to help prepare for each phase of your pregnancy.
You can also try our due
date calculator.
St. John's Mercy
provides parents with information for the baby's delivery and any special
care that may be needed for the newborn. St. John's Mercy is noted
for its expertise in caring for high-risk pregnancies, diagnostic
ultrasound and also offers a genetic-counseling
program.
We welcome and encourage
you to take a tour
of our Labor & Delivery areas before the special
event, or register for a class to help you prepare.
Admission
The
Women's Evaluation Unit, located on the ground floor of the Medical
Center, is nine-bed evaluation
and treatment unit staffed by experienced labor and delivery
nurses, certified nurse-midwives, and resident physicians.
Your admission
will begin at the front desk where you will need to complete any
necessary forms. If you have chosen to preregister,
this process will be expedited. You and your baby will be assessed
by a registered
nurse, and your obstetrician
will
be notified.
Care Team
A highly skilled care team is here to assure that your labor and birth
experience is safe and rewarding. You will have a primary registered
nurse (RN) each shift. RNs work in teams of two to four, all of whom
will be aware of your labor status. OB-GYN resident physicians are on
duty at all times, and are prepared to handle any emergency situation.
Your RN will communicate often with your obstetrician to keep him/her
updated on your progress. A Patient Care Associate (PCA) and OB technician (OBT)
are members of your care team, who will prepare your room for delivery,
and may help
during your labor, birth and recovery process.
We are proud to provide
anesthesia personnel who specialize in labor and birth. An anesthesiologist
and certified registered nurse anesthetists
are available to assist in timely pain management.
St. John's Mercy
is proud to have our registered nurses in Labor & Delivery educated
by Lamaze International™ in labor support techniques. Referrals
to doulas (trained labor specialists) and lactation consultants are
available to expecting mothers.
Our Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a Level III,
the only Level III NICU in the St. Louis County. Neonatologists, neonatal
nurse practitioners,
respiratory therapists, and registered nurses, all of whom specialize
in the care of premature or special care babies, are always here to provide
quality care for your baby.
Your Room
Take a virtual tour of our
24 private Labor, Delivery, Recovery (LDR) rooms, which include a telephone,
television with cable, a DVD/VCR/CD player, and a birthing ball. C-section
surgical suites are also located on the unit. Cell
phones and lap top computers may also be used in your room. A shower
and jacuzzi are available on the unit for your use. Labor and massage
tools are also available, such as massagers, relaxation CDs, aromatherapy
and heated rice packs. Review
our suggestions on what to bring with you to
the hospital.
While in our Labor & Delivery area, we will monitor your contractions
and your baby's well-being. Our central monitoring system allows staff
to monitor you and your baby, even when they are away from your room.
After your baby's
birth, you may share your first special moments with your baby immediately
while you rest in your LDR suite. Later, you'll be moved to a post-partum
room closer to the nursery where a team of specialized nurses will
provide attentive, personalized care for you and your baby.
Your baby may stay
in your room for all or part of your stay at St. John’s Mercy.
We'll help you learn to feed, bathe and diaper your baby, and we'll
answer your questions to help ease the transition to home. The length
of your stay will vary according to your physician’s recommendations
and insurance company’s guidelines. Visitors
At Mercy Childbirth Center, we know birth is a family celebration, and
we welcome your visitors. We recognize that although family and friends
can provide you with comfort and support in labor, we encourage you
to limit visitors to allow your needed rest.
After the birth of your baby, you are welcome to invite
your healthy visitors into your Labor, Delivery, Recovery (LDR) room
or OB recovery
room. Fathers
may visit anytime, but our general visiting hours are noon to 8:30 p.m.
daily. If you would like to restrict visitors,
your nurse can place a "do not disturb" sign on your door.
While you are in the LDR, family and friends can call your room directly.
The telephone number will be 314-567-22+ your room number. Your telephone
number on the postpartum unit will be 314-251+ your room number (6107 - 6180 and 7107 - 7180).
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