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Having Your Baby Close to Home

Having a baby is one of life's miracles. It is an intensely personal experience, and a special time for you and those who love you.

Choosing where to have your baby is a key decision. The closer to home, the better for you when your labor begins — and afterward, for your family and visitors. The more pleasant the surroundings, the more comfortable you'll feel. The more advanced the technology and training, the more trust you'll have in the hospital and your care team.

You'll feel almost like you're delivering at home when you choose one of Lake Hospital System's Family Birthing Centers at LakeEast or LakeWest hospitals, where we offer 24-hour anesthesiology coverage.

You'll find peace and comfort in the sophisticated Family Birthing Centers where you can labor and deliver. At the same time, you'll be secure in knowing that advanced medical technology is there if you need it.

The Birthing Suites Include:

• Highly skilled, personalized care and technologically advanced services for new mothers and infants
• A special suite for mothers-to-be who need extra care before giving birth
• A surgical suite for cesarean births
• A specially trained “code pink” team, always ready to provide supportive care and, if needed, breathing help for your baby at birth.

Special Care for Special Babies

Sometimes, a baby needs special care that might make parents anxious and concerned. Prem Mehandru, MD, is one of two neonatologists who offer compassionate care to high-risk infants. 

We can keep special care babies close to home in LakeEast Hospital's Level II Special Care Nursery. Here, sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic methods are used by caring, specially trained professionals to tend to infants born prematurely or with conditions that require specific treatment, continuous monitoring and close observation. You can relax knowing that Lake Hospital System offers 24-hour neonatology availability at both LakeEast and LakeWest hospitals, along with a fully qualified support staff.

Special care babies usually need to stay in the hospital after mothers have been discharged. For mothers who wish to remain until the baby is ready to go home, we offer courtesy rooms.

Getting Ready for Baby's Arrival

Being prepared for giving birth and parenting can help you relieve stress and feel more confident. Lake Hospital System offers a broad range of childbirth and child care classes.

Decisions, Decisions

What are my options for labor support? What about pain management? How do I choose a physician to care for my baby after the birth? Lake Hospital System can guide you in making decisions that are right for you:

•  Labor support. You might choose your spouse, a friend or relative, or both to act as your coach. If you seek added support, LHS can help you contact a doula, who is a trained childbirth professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support before, during and after delivery.
• Pain management. An LHS nurse and an anesthesiologist will talk with you about options, including pain medication or epidural anesthesia, which offers a higher level of pain relief. You also may opt for natural childbirth.
• Infant feeding. Breastfeeding provides unique benefits to both mother and baby and helps to create a special bond between them. To help new and expectant mothers with breastfeeding, LHS offers a variety of lactation services. If you choose to bottle-feed, your physician will help you choose the formula that's right for your baby.
• Car seat rental. Ohio State law requires all infants to be secured in an infant car seat. You may rent an infant car seat from Lake Hospital System for a minimum deposit. We return your deposit when you bring back the car seat. Tell your nurse if you're interested.
• Special care. If you find that you have special needs - financial, nutritional or otherwise - during your pregnancy, help is here. Contact the OB Social Worker at LakeEast Hospital (354-2400, ext. 1670) or LakeWest (953-9600, ext. 6195). Regarding financial issues, please call 354-2400, extension BABY.

Come See for Yourself

If you'd like a personal tour of the Family Birthing Centers, or if you'd like a referral to an obstetrician/gynecologist who delivers at Lake Hospital System, call the Best of Health Line at 440-953-6000 or 1-800-454-9800.

Breastfeeding Your Baby       Breast Pumps and Supplies