The BronsonBirthPlace

We’ve thought of everything

The Bronson BirthPlace was designed to create a calming

environment that’s as much like home as possible. It’s

part of Bronson Methodist Hospital, a state-of-the-art

hospital that incorporates art, music, light and nature

to create a total healing environment. The Bronson

BirthPlace was designed around your needs. From start

to finish, we focus on the concerns of new moms.

Experienced and caring nurses, nurse midwives and

doctors work in the most technologically advanced

birthing center in southwest Michigan.

Is anything more exciting, inspiring or perplexing than anew life? Whether you’re expecting or just pondering thepossibility, the prospect of having a baby inspires greatjoy and big questions. Believe it or not, where you chooseto have your baby may be the most important decision ofall. As your baby’s birth nears, you’ll have plenty on yourmind. So choose Bronson and rest assured that the birthenvironment will be as caring, nurturing and safe as youalways hoped it would be.

2

A baby?!

•Withmorethan3,400birthseachyear,theBronson

BirthPlace is the leading birthing center in southwest

Michigan.

•Bronsonisaffiliatedwithanextensiveselectionof

obstetric, gynecologic and pediatric healthcare providers,

so you can easily find experienced specialists who will

oversee your pregnancy and monitor your newborn’s care.

•Bronsonhasthelargestcertifiednursemidwiferypractice

in the area. Certified nurse midwives are registered nurses

who have completed advanced training in gynecology

and obstetrics. They are certified by the American

College of Nurse-Midwives to deliver babies.

•TheBronsonBirthPlaceisfullypreparedtohandle

multiple births, delivering many each year.

•Bronsonhastheonlyhigh-riskpregnancycenterin

southwest Michigan. Our physicians are board certified

in maternal-fetal medicine, and our midwives have

specialized training.

•Bronsonhasthearea’sonlylevel3neonatalintensive

care unit, providing babies with the highest level of care.

Here are just a few things to know about the Bronson BirthPlace:

3

•Securityformomsandbabiesismonitoredwith

Bronson’shigh-techsecuritysystem,calledHUGS,which

helps ensure your baby’s security while you’re here.

•AccesstotheBirthPlaceissecureforsafety,forprivacy

and to help mom and baby recover.

•Accesstoanewbornhospitalistwhocanactasa

primary point of care for your baby while you are

a patient at the hospital

Children need special doctors, nurses, equipment and

treatments. Our children’s health team is dedicated

solelytocaringforchildren24hoursaday.Thismeansa

full continuum of care from birth to adolescence. That’s

what we offer at the region’s only children’s hospital.

Everything about our pediatric care is specially designed

just for them.

4

Small touches mean so much

They may seem like minor considerations at first, but

little things can make this amazing experience as stress-

free as possible.

•Allofourroomsareprivateandlargeenoughto

accommodate the people with whom you want to

share the birth experience.

•Ourfurniturefoldsouttoallowalovedonetorestor

stay overnight.

•Bathtubsareavailableineveryroomtohelpsoothe

and relax moms.

•Mealsaremadetoorderfromourspecialmenu.

•Speciallydesignedgownsmakeiteasyand

comfortable for new moms to breastfeed.

•Ourspeciallytrained,caringanddedicatednurses

respond to your needs and give you individualized

attention.

•Waterbirthsareavailableformomswithuncomplicated

pregnancies and approval from their provider.

Patient and Family Centered Care

Whenyouneedhealthcare,yourfamilyneeds

support and care too. That’s why we focus on the

entire family. At the heart of patient and family

centered care are dignity and respect, information

sharing, participation and collaboration. That means

everyone has input into decisions and choices to best

meet the needs of the patient. This partnership helps

achieve the best outcomes, improves quality and safety,

and reduce costs.

WealsohaveaPatientAdvisoryCouncilthatgives

families a voice in decisions that affect patient care and

family experiences. The council consists of staff, family

members and former patients. It gives input on facility

design, staff training, hospital policies and procedures,

and ways Bronson can support patients and their

families. The council continually invites new members.

Peace of mindfor every parent

5

Most pregnancies and deliveries proceed without

problems, but if a complication does arise, Bronson

isready.Wearetheonlybirthingcenterinsouthwest

Michigan equipped to handle high-risk pregnancies

and complicated deliveries. In fact, we’re the hospital

other hospitals turn to when babies are born with

critical health needs.

•TheBronsonBirthPlaceoffersunparalleled24-hour

access to specialists for mother and baby.

•TheBronsonBirthPlacehastheonlymaternal-fetal

medicine program in the region. Maternal-fetal

medicine is a subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology

that deals with high-risk pregnancy. Pregnancies can

become high risk due to diabetes, hypertension,

multiple births and/or other conditions.

•BronsonMaternal-FetalMedicinehasateamof

experts for pre-pregnancy and genetic counseling.

•Bronsonhastheregion’sonlylicensedneonatal

intensive care unit (NICU). And our NICU features

all-private rooms. Research shows that private

rooms help reduce hospital-acquired infections.

Private rooms also foster babies’ development,

and protect patient and family privacy. The NICU

at Bronson is one of only a handful in the country

to deliver neonatal intensive care according to this

new level of care.

•TheNICUcaresforapproximately600babieseach

year, and many are transported here from hospitals

that do not have NICU services. Neonatologists

are specialists in newborns and care for critically

ill babies.

At the heart of patient and family centered care are dignity and respect, information sharing, participation and collaboration.

6

Understanding the facts aboutbreastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the most healthful way to feed your

baby, and it provides the best nutrition. Although

breastfeeding is perfectly natural, it is not necessarily

instinctive. The Bronson Breastfeeding Center provides

individual support for breastfeeding moms in the

hospitalandaftertheyleave.We’llguideyoustep-

by-step, through pregnancy concerns, nursing and

eventually weaning. It’s our goal to make breastfeeding

a positive experience for you and your baby.

The Bronson Breastfeeding Center can help ease your

transition to breastfeeding:

•Ourlactationconsultantsareregisterednurses

certified in breastfeeding consultation. They provide

prenatal and postpartum education, advice on

breastfeeding and personal consultation services.

•Afterdelivery,everynewmotherinthehospital

receives a visit from one of our lactation consultants.

•SuccessfulBreastfeedingclassgivesnewmomsbasic,

practical information about breastfeeding, making

the adjustment back to work and other issues.

•TheBronsonBreastfeedingCenteroffersafullline

of products, including breast pumps, nursing bras,

layette clothing (preemie sizes) and breastfeeding

apparel.

The Breastfeeding Center is open Monday through

Fridayfrom10a.m.to3p.m.ItislocatedinSuiteN-1300

of the North Pavilion at Bronson Methodist Hospital. You

cancontactaconsultantat(269)341-8849.

Bronson Mothers’ Milk Bank

A mother’s own milk is the best food for her baby. But

when a mother can’t provide breast milk, milk from

healthy donor mothers is the next best thing. That’s

why Bronson has opened the Bronson Mothers’ Milk

Bank to collect, screen, process, store and distribute

donated human milk. The milk bank allows us to

give the best nutrition to babies whose mothers can’t

provide breast milk. Human milk is easier for babies to

digest and offers better nutrition than formula. And

research shows human milk helps sick and premature

babieshavebetteroutcomes.Whentheneedsof

Bronson’s patients are met, we share milk with other

hospitals whose patients have a need.

BreastfeedingSupport

7

Confidence Comes with Knowledge

Bronson’s family centered education classes provide

knowledge and training to help boost your skills and

confidence as you get ready to welcome your baby.

They also give you the opportunity to compare notes

with other expectant parents who have many of the

same questions.

Our classes are designed and taught by experienced

childbirth education instructors. They cover a range

of topics, including:

•PrenatalClasses

•SuccessfulBreastfeeding

•PregnancyFitnessPrograms

•ToursoftheBronsonBirthPlace

•BootCampforDads

•BabyCare

•CarSeatSafetyClass

•SiblingsClass

•OngoingSupportClasses

Additional classes may be offered on a bimonthly or

quarterly basis. To register, call Bronson HealthAnswers

at(269)341-7723or(800)451-6310,orvisit

bronsonhealth.com to register online. Prices subject to

change.

Share the Joy Online

Bronson makes it easy for you to share the news about

your new baby with friends and family through our

WebNursery.Ifyouchoose,yournewborncanbe

photographedfortheWebNursery,whichincludes

stats such as length, weight and time of birth. To visit

theWebNursery,gotobronsonhealth.comandclick

ontheWebNursery.

Does your healthcare provider deliver at the Bronson BirthPlace?

For the region’s most advanced obstetric care, choose

a provider who delivers at Bronson. Be sure to tell

your provider you would like to have your baby at

the Bronson BirthPlace. For help finding a healthcare

provider,callBronsonHealthAnswersat(269)341-7723

or(800)451-6310,orvisitbronsonhealth.com.

Bronson’s family centered education classes provide knowledge and training to help boost your skills and confidence

15080-17/13

The Bronson BirthPlace is located on thefourth and fifth floors of the North Pavilion atBronson Methodist Hospital, 601 John Street.For your convenience, you can park in theJasper Street Ramp.

(269) 341-6433bronsonhealth.com