The Ultimate Guide

In this guide: Advantages of delivering

at a hospital

Access to breastfeeding support

Information about pain management at Baptist Health

Information about postpartum suites

Things to consider about breastfeeding

How to apply for your baby’s birth certificate

to Delivering a

Healthy Baby at

Baptist Health

Your Due Date is Almost Here, Congrats!

We’re thrilled for you! It is our pleasure to provide information about the delivery process and how Baptist Health can ease your transition from pregnancy to motherhood.

At Baptist Health, your baby will enter the world in a safe, nurturing environment. This guide will help you prepare for your due date and let you know how Baptist Health can make your delivery as worry free as possible.

Should your physician not be available when you arrive, a board-

certified obstetrician from our laborist group will evaluate your progress

and react to any complications with your pregnancy, if needed. This

constant presence makes childbirth safer for women and babies.

1. IT’S THE SAFEST OPTION FOR YOUR BABYWhether it’s before or after birth, your baby will have highly qualified

healthcare professionals that are trained to handle your newborn with care

and perform the necessary tests to ensure that your baby is healthy before

they go home with you.

2. OPERATING ROOMS ARE NEARBYEven if you’ve planned for a vaginal delivery, we know that things don’t

always go according to plan. At a hospital, you will have access to an

operating room at the moment you need one.

3. YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU WON’T AT HOMEAt hospitals, you will be in close proximity to heart rate monitors, blood

pressure monitors and fetal monitors.

4. YOU HAVE ACCESS TO PAIN RELIEFDuring delivery, you may find that you require some type of pain relief. At a

hospital, options will be readily available to you.

Here are some of the reasons that physiciansrecommend delivering at a hospital:

THE ADVANTAGES OF

Delivering at a Hospital

Hearing Screening This non-invasive and painless hearing

screening is a test that every newborn

undergoes prior to discharge. A cable

with a rubber tip will be placed in each

ear. Small clicks will be passed through

the cable to observe whether your

baby can hear the sounds or not.

Infants who are not able to hear the

clicks will be referred to an audiologist

in infant testing. Gestational age or

fluid in the ear can affect the first

hearing screening and its results.

If your baby does not hear the initial

clicks, it does not mean that your

baby cannot hear.

PKU (Phenylketonuria) When your baby is 24-48 hours old,

the PKU test will be conducted. A

small amount of blood is taken from

the baby’s hand or heel. The blood is

then sent to the State Department of

Health, who will notify you and your

doctor if there are any problems. This

test is mandatory in the United States,

and will determine if your baby has

the rare inherited disorder that causes

an amino acid called phenylalanine to

build up in the body. Babies with PKU

will need further testing with their

doctor.

After delivering your baby, Baptist Health will conduct a series of tests.

Leave the HospitalBEFORE YOU AND YOUR BABY

Jaundice (Bilirubin) A bilirubin test is done if your baby

has yellow skin or eyes. The test

measures the amount of Bilirubin in

the blood. Bilirubin is a waste product

that occurs naturally in your baby

when red blood cells are broken

down. A small amount of blood is

taken from the hand or heel and sent

to our lab. Results are known in 2- 3

hours. High Bilirubin levels may be

treated with phototherapy (also

known as light therapy-pictured).

During phototherapy, your baby may

be placed under a special blue-green

light that will change the structure of

the bilirubin molecules in a way that

they can be excreted by the baby.

Critical Congenital Heart Disease This test measures the amount of

oxygen in a baby’s blood using a

machine called a pulse oximeter, with

sensors placed on the baby’s skin.

The test is painless and takes only a

few minutes. Low levels of oxygen in

the blood can be a sign of critical

congenital heart disease.

BEFORE YOU AND YOUR BABY

Leave the Hospital

Newborn baby with high bilirubin levels being treated with phototherapy

Breastfeeding is physician recommended as the best and safest feeding

method for infants. Because we want to make sure that you are comfortable

with and informed about breastfeeding, our staff is here to make sure you

receive up to date education and assistance on breastfeeding your new baby.

Our goal is to give you the confidence to care for your baby at home. Every

new mom is offered postpartum breastfeeding support from our International

Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) while in the hospital. Once you

and your baby are home, Expressly For You at Baptist Health is Arkansas’s

place for breastfeeding resources, advice and even supplies for purchase or

rental.

Click to access more information about Expressly For You.

Because Baptist Health is baby-friendly, we believe breastfeeding is the best feeding option for infants.

BREASTFEEDING

Support

If you’re worried about how to handle family, here are some tips:

You can limit the number of visitors during the first few days. People love you,

and will want to visit you at the hospital, but consider limiting visitors to close

family and friends. The day of delivery and the days after are for you to recover

and for you to bond with your baby.

You can also have a conversation with extended family before your delivery

date. Set boundaries and expectations beforehand with family. It can be

important to make your expectations clear. Communicate that you would like

time with your partner and your child for the first few days and set up a day for

your family to visit you at home once you’ve had a chance to recover. If they

want to help, ask for something you may need like homemade food or running

an errand. Family and friends will appreciate the chance to help.

You may also consider delegating the scheduling of visitors to someone you

trust whether it’s your sister, friend or partner.

Having your extended family with you on the delivery day is a blessing, but it’s important to make sure that there’s time for you and your partner to bond with your newborn alone.

HOW TO HANDLE EXTENDED FAMILY ON

Delivery Day

YOUR DEVELOPMENT:

1. NON-MEDICATED MEASURESMany women opt to deliver without medication. There are specific techniques

to manage pain during labor and birth, such as: breathing and relaxation, heat

on the lower back, a cold washcloth on the forehead, changing positions,

sitting on a birthing ball or walking around.

2. ANALGESICSAnalgesics are medications that relieve pain without affecting your ability to

push during labor. You will not lose feeling or muscle movement, and the pain

is more tolerable.

3. ANESTHESIAAnesthesia is a type of medication that limits your pain during medical

procedures. These medications will also block muscle movement.

There are 3 main types of pain management for labor and birth:

MANAGING PAIN AT

Baptist Health

During delivery, you will have options for managing pain. This is usually

something you will plan before the actual date of delivery. This choice will be

a discussion between you and your physician and will be made based on your

preferences and what your doctor believes is safest for you and your baby.

Your baby may arrive at 12 PM or 2 AM, but at Baptist Health, we offer

24-hour anesthesia capabilities so we can respond quickly and efficiently

to your needs.

1. EPIDURAL ANESTHESIAThis anesthesia works by adding numbing medications through a thin

catheter that has been inserted into the space that surrounds the spinal

cord in the lower back, causing loss of sensation of the lower body.

The medicine may be increased or stopped as needed. This type of

anesthesia is used during labor for vaginal and cesarean deliveries. The

most common complication of epidural anesthesia is low blood pressure in

the mother. Because of this, all women need to have an intravenous

infusion of fluids before epidural anesthesia is given. One risk of epidural

anesthesia is a postpartum headache. It may develop if the epidural needle

enters the spinal canal, rather than staying in the space around the canal.

The anesthesiologist will discuss the risks, benefits and alternatives to the

various methods of pain relief with the patient.

2. SPINAL ANESTHESIAOften used for cesarean deliveries, spinal anesthesia involves injecting

a single dose of the anesthetic agent directly into the spinal fluid. It acts

swiftly and causes a complete loss of sensation and movement in the

lower body.

3. GENERAL ANESTHESIAThis type of pain relief involves giving a medicine that causes the

patient to go to sleep. General anesthesia may be used in emergency

cesarean deliveries.

There are multiple types of anesthesia:

MANAGING PAIN AT

Baptist Health

Spacious and quiet, our postpartum suites have been described as a little

slice of heaven. They serve as the ideal setting for welcoming your new baby

into the world. The suites are equipped with two sleeper sofas, two private

bathrooms, two flat screen televisions, a refrigerator, a microwave, a rocking

chair and seating for your loved ones. A welcome basket and birthday cake

are provided, while other amenities are just a phone call away through

concierge services.

How can you reserve a postpartum suite?

Postpartum suites are in high demand, and will be booked on a first-come,

first-delivered basis. Suites can be reserved for $150 per night. The suites are

reserved through Baptist Health Foundation. Be sure to communicate with

the Foundation staff if your due date changes and you need to reserve on a

different day.

For any questions you might have on postpartum suites, please call

501-202-6332.

There’s no better time to treat yourself than after you’ve delivered your baby. At Baptist Health, we’ve designed our postpartum suites to be stylish, warm and comfortable. These suites are available at Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock.

Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock

POSTPARTUM SUITES AT

1. ALCOHOLIt’s important to remember that alcohol can be passed

through the breast milk into your baby’s system.

2. CAFFEINECaffeine in moderate doses is fine while breastfeeding.

However, it’s important to remember that caffeine can also

be passed through breast milk to your baby. Caffeine can

cause jitteriness in babies, especially newborns, so we

advise mothers to limit their caffeine.

3. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS • Drink to thirst - it is not necessary to drink more water

than usual while you breastfeed

• If you are vegetarian or vegan, supplement your B12

vitamins with fortified cereal, fortified plant-based milk

or nutritional yeast

• Eat to hunger - it is not necessary to eat more than usual

while you breastfeed

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN

BREASTFEEDING

Sometimes, babies require intensive care and at Baptist Health, we realize that premature and sick newborns need the loving attention of parents to thrive.

IF YOUR BABY IS IN THE

Working in partnership with Baptist Health staff, parents can do a lot to

comfort and protect their baby in the NICU. Introducing stimuli nurtures your

baby’s development. Although it may be difficult to interpret your baby’s

responses at first, practice makes perfect. At Baptist Health, our goal is to

ensure that parents and babies can respond to each other in a positive way.

Our NICU staff is committed to helping you understand your baby’s behavior.

To learn more about how the NICU helps your baby, click here.

The types of positive touch that are added as your baby grows or his/her health becomes more stable include:

HAND CONTAINMENTPremature babies enjoy the

warmth of loving hands around

them. This is the foundation for

all comforting touch and

involves cupping your hands and

holding your baby’s head, chest,

back, bottom, legs and feet.

SKIN-TO-SKIN OR “KANGAROO CARE”This involves nestling the baby on either

parent’s bare chest, clothed only in a

diaper. Even if your baby isn’t ready to

nurse, Kangaroo Care can help to increase

the mother’s milk production. Non-nutritive

sucking allows the baby to suck without

taking milk.

NICU

During the admission process, you will be asked for some information for your

baby’s birth certificate. Since the birth certificate is a permanent, legal

document the completion of this document is vital.

Once the birth certificate has been completed, Baptist Health will send it to the

State Health Department Division of Vital Records to be registered. As you are

leaving the hospital, a Baptist Health administrative staff mamber will give you

a form you can mail with a check to request a legal copy of your baby’s

certificate. This form should be mailed or submitted online about two weeks

after your baby is born to allow the State Health Department Division of Vital

Records time to file the information you provided at the time of birth.

A Social Security card will be applied for automatically with the registration of

your baby’s birth. You should receive this card by mail within 10 weeks.

You’ve probably been wrapped up in the research of pregnancy and the physical aspects of delivery, but it’s important to know a little information about your baby’s birth certificate.

YOUR BABY’S

BIRTH CERTIFICATE

CAPTURING THE MOMENT

Newborn Photos at: BAPTIST HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER-LITTLE ROCK AND BAPTIST HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER-NORTH LITTLE ROCKNewborn photography is a service provided by Bella Baby at Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock and Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock. To contact them, please call 1-800-886-5719 or email bellababyabccs@bellababyphotography.com.

BAPTIST HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER-ARKADELPHIA AND BAPTIST HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER-STUTTGARTNewborn photography is a service provided by Our365 at Baptist Health Medical Center- Arkadelphia and Baptist Health Medical Center- Stuttgart. To contact them, please call 1-800-433-0855 or visit Our365.com.

Newborn Photos

The care you receive at Baptist Health doesn’t end after you

deliver your baby. Our knowledgeable and dedicated nurses will

call after you have settled in at home to make sure everything’s

going well and to answer any questions you have.

At Baptist Health, your baby will enter the world in a safe,

nurturing environment. Our staff is dedicated to helping you

navigate the delivery process.

YOUR BABY IS HERE

Support Doesn’t Stop