Labor & Delivery
It's Time!
Despite your preparation, "Should we go now?" will still be your first question. The knowledge gained from classes and books will be more important than ever. Your trip will be filled with anticipation and excitement.
Arrival Time
Drive into the parking ramp on 8th Street SE, off 8th Avenue. Park at the south end of Level 3. The entrance is clearly marked "BIRTHPLACE."
If you feel you are in an emergency situation or that birth is imminent (you have a strong urge to push) at any time of the day or night, have the driver of the vehicle pull directly to the Emergency Room. Help is just inside and to the right.
If you are concerned about symptoms you are experiencing or have any questions, please call your doctor's office or the Birthplace at (319) 398-6350. These resources will help you determine if your condition should be monitored at the Birthplace.
Services
When it's time, the Birthplace offers a variety of state-of-the-art medical services to ensure a safe delivery.
Of course, all babies are special, but some need more care than others. That's the role of our Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With its highly trained and expert staff, the NICU delivers and cares for babies born as early as 30 weeks.
Comfort Measures During Labor
Many mothers come with a birth plan or ideas of what they would like during their labor and delivery, and your Birthplace nurses encourage you and your support person to ask questions and be an active participant in yourlabor and delivery.
You may also bring in items from home to help decrease anxiety, such as your own personal care items, music, essential oils and massagers. Additionally, the following are also available to Birthplace patients to decrease anxiety and/or manage pain associated with labor:
- Shower and whirlpool tub in every room
- Glider with footrest in every room (some women like the swaying motion)
- Adjustable labor bed to allow for different laboring positions, such as squatting
- Various lighting options in the rooms, as lowered lights may help you relax
- Aromatherapy diffusers and lavender essential oil are available; you may also bring your own diffusers and essential oils (no open flames, please)
- Birthing balls and peanut balls to allow for different positions during labor
- A rooftop garden, which is available for patient use even during labor
- 1:1 nursing care for personalized attention
Pain Relief Options
Your approach to pain relief will be up to you. For example, some mothers choose a non-medicated delivery, which includes the comfort measures noted above. Patients usually have a quicker recovery after a non-medicated birth. Others opt to try comfort measures first, then IV pain medication, and later get an epidural, if needed. You do not need to make a firm decision on pain control at the very beginning of your labor. Medication options include:
- IV Pain Medication: Fentanyl is the most commonly used IV pain medication and while it will not take the pain away completely, it does take the edge off so you can relax.
- Labor Epidural: Anesthesiologists are available 24/7 to place a labor epidural, which is the most common pain medicine used during labor. In an epidural, a small tube is placed in your lower back, through which pain medicine is delivered until you deliver. An epidural lessens the feeling of pain in your lower abdomen, legs, and birth canal, and lasts through your delivery. Note that some anesthesiologists will perform a slightly different placement technique called a combined spinal epidural, which gives more immediate pain relief.
The Golden Hour
At delivery, there is a nurse dedicated to caring for you, as well as a second nurse focused on baby, so that both mother and baby receive the personalized attention they need. Immediately after baby is born, we encourage skin-to-skin time between mother and baby or the support person and baby, as this helps baby's transition and allows for bonding with the newborn.
Then, when you're ready, your nurse will measure baby's weight and length and perform a head-to-toe assessment. These are all done at the bedside so you can observe and be involved. We encourage you to spend an hour or two bonding with your newborn (the "golden hour") before inviting additional visitors into the room. Your nurses will also teach you how to carefor yourself and your newborn after delivery.
Mercy Birthplace & NICU is one of only a few of its kind in the U.S. and is setting a new standard for care: 100% of Mercy’s Birthplace suites are equipped with NICU technology. This more patient-centered approach improves safety and allows both parents to stay with your newborn in one room for their entire stay – from labor and delivery to postpartum and NICU care.
