Every Night Is A “Starry, Starry Night” On New Obstetrics Floor

When newborn babies at Blanchard Valley Hospital are resting in the nursery, they will gaze upon an enchanting night sky dotted with twinkling lights and shooting stars. The scenic nursery ceiling is one of many special features—both high tech and high touch—in the new obstetrics wing of the Thomas B. and Kathleen M. Donnell Patient Pavilion.

“We’ve tried to create a calming atmosphere and homelike setting for bringing a new life into the world,” says Donna Fabean, RN, BSN, clinical manager of obstetrics. The intent is to ensure an “incredible and memorable experience” for the more than 1,000 women who give birth at the hospital each year.

In the new obstetrics wing, the birth experience will begin with a smooth hospital admission, thanks to a new system that allows local doctors to electronically transmit a patient’s medical records to the hospital a few months before her scheduled due date.

“We will have instant access to the patient’s complete records when they check in,” says Fabean.

The patient will then be escorted into one of 17 spacious and beautifully decorated rooms equipped for labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care. The multi-purpose rooms mean that most patients won’t have the inconvenience of being moved during their stay.

Once in the room, the patient will be hooked up to a new computerized monitoring system that feeds data on the baby’s heart rate and the mom’s contractions into an Internet-based computer system. Physicians can view the data “real time” from an office or home computer. According to Fabean, this system is the best technology available in obstetrics.

“Doctors don’t have to rely on the nurse to relay information to them, they can get an accurate picture of how the mom and baby are doing at any time.”

Because every labor and delivery is different, the new obstetrics wing was designed to support alternative birthing methods. For women who prefer natural childbirth, a water tub is available during labor to help relieve pain. For those who want to block the pain with an epidural, an OB-dedicated anesthesiologist is available 24-7. And, women who need Cesarean sections don’t have to dread entering a cold and claustrophobic operating room. All c-sections will take place in a spacious and inviting room with large windows that filter in natural light. Perhaps most exciting, says Fabean, is the new Level 2 Special Care Nursery, which means that the hospital is fully-equipped to care for most of the premature or sick newborns who, in the past, had to be transferred to another hospital.

Once the baby makes a miraculous entrance into the world, his or her safety will be ensured through a new high-tech security system. Baby and mom will be immediately fitted with matching security bands, eliminating the need to worry about baby mix-ups or abductions.

“The bands send a signal every five seconds,” explained Fabean. “So if a baby gets too close to an exit or elevator, the doors automatically lock.”

After delivery, says Fabean, the staff will also focus on creating beautiful memories of the baby’s first few hours of life. This is made possible through several patient and visitor-focused services and amenities. For example, there are no set visiting hours and each room has a sleeper sofa (so dad can spend the night) and a small refrigerator stocked with snacks. In addition, new moms and dads will be treated to a birthday party, complete with cake, sparkling juice and baby gifts.

The nursing staff will also encourage “rooming in” so that families can spend as much time as possible with the baby.

“A baby never has to leave the mom’s room,” adds Fabean. “This helps the parents learn the baby’s cues so they are more prepared when they go home.”

If mom and baby do want to venture out, however, they can head down the corridor to a lovely dayroom with large windows, fireplace, café-style nutrition center and plenty of rocking chairs.

“It’s a great room for relaxing and socializing with extended family,” says Fabean.

Fabean adds that the dayroom will also be the location for daily educational classes on topics ranging from baby care to breastfeeding. “New moms especially have a lot of concerns and questions. We want to create a relaxed environment where moms can meet one another and feel comfortable asking questions.”

When it’s time to go home, says Fabean, the obstetrics staff hopes to send each new mom and dad out the door with a warm bundle of joy, and many warm memories. “We want it to have been the most wonderful birth experience they could have imagined.”