Birth and Family Center (Maternity)
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We Provide Security, Freedom and Guidance So You Can Enjoy the Thrill of Bringing Your Baby into the World
With a history of community service and technical excellence, Grand View Hospital is not only a convenient choice for your new baby, it’s the preferred one. A baby is born at Grand View more than 1,400 times a year. In fact, more babies have been born here than at any other area hospital. Within an atmosphere of trust and caring, our staff is accustomed to bringing children into the world using a family-centered approach.
Our highly skilled nurses and specially trained educators guide you as you prepare for your baby’s arrival. For peace of mind, we offer 24/7 anesthesia service.You will receive the personalized attention we’re known for—from your initial contact with the Birth & Family Center until long after your baby’s birth.
You and Your Baby with a Doctor You Trust
Grand View is fortunate to be served by top-notch obstetricians who practice in the community. At Grand View, perinatologists—specialists in obstetrics who follow high-risk pregnancies—provide specialized prenatal testing, such as Level II ultrasound and amniocentesis. In some cases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia pediatricians will be involved in your baby’s care.
Surround Yourself with Trusted Faces Before and Immediately Following Your Baby’s Birth
Grand View Hospital is well-staffed with a higher-than-average nurse-to-patient ratio. With an average of 10 years of experience, many of our nurses have attained specialty certification in inpatient obstetrics, maternal-child nursing, fetal monitoring and third-trimester ultrasounds. Nearly all of our childbirth nurses are cross-trained for every phase of pregnancy and neonatal care. All are trained in neonatal resuscitation and certified in neonatal advanced life support.You can feel confident our nurses will answer your questions and offer appropriate support throughout your stay in the Birth & Family Center.
You will also benefit from the continuity of care provided by our mother/baby nursing care, which matches you and your baby with the same nurse. To meet your needs, our nurses will educate you in newborn care—including breast and bottlefeeding
instruction. In every way, we design our services to enhance your birthing experience and provide you with safety and comfort.
We Have a Room to Accommodate You, Your Spouse or Support Person and Your Newborn
For your comfort and relaxation, Grand View has created a home-like decor in our hospital setting, reinforcing our familycentered philosophy. Our labor/birth/recovery rooms are set up so you remain in one location throughout the birthing process. Rooms are equipped with electronic fetal monitors, which allow you to move around freely while your baby’s heartbeat is being monitored.
For years, Grand View has encouraged the popular “rooming-in” option, enabling your baby to be in your room. Our flexible feeding policy means you can respond to your baby’s needs as they arise.
The state of Pennsylvania requires hospitals to screen newborns for numerous health-care conditions at birth. Given the importance of early detection, Grand View Hospital provides additional genetic screening tests to identify more than 50 inherited diseases that are potentially treatable. Although rare, these conditions are serious since they often slow physical and mental development and, in some cases, are life-threatening. Serious effects can be lessened and even prevented by medical treatment begun early in life.
You and Your Baby Can Rest Safe and Sound
Grand View’s Maternity Department takes the safety of you and your newborn seriously. Our unit is locked 24 hours a day. At birth, baby is outfitted with a bracelet to match Mom’s, and baby wears a security button until it’s time to go home. The button sounds an alarm should your baby reach a specified security checkpoint in our department. As an added measure, our nurses check that bracelets match each time your baby is brought to you.
Visiting the New Baby
Grand View offers a flexible visiting program. While protecting your privacy and security, we allow visits by family and friends. All visitors to the Maternity Department are required to check in with a nurse and provide the name of the mother they are visiting. Whether Dad, a grandmother or a friend—our policy is such that visitors must be buzzed through our locked doors upon entry and exit.
Visitors are welcome during the hours of noon to 8 pm. Visits by children under age 12 are restricted to the baby’s siblings. Special consideration is given to Dad or your support person.
Support through the Birthing Process and Beyond
After leaving the hospital, new parents may use the services of our Maternal-Newborn Home Care Program, which is staffed by experienced maternity nurses trained in the assessment and care of mother and baby. During your home visit, these nurses identify problems you or baby may be experiencing so your physician can be promptly informed. They also provide instruction in proper infant care. Parents are welcome to call the Maternity Department for ongoing telephone support.
We’re Prepared to Tend to Your Special Needs
Although the majority of births proceed without special needs, Grand View has always provided an extra dose of tender-loving care to individuals experiencing difficulty surrounding childbirth. Our facility is designed to cope with challenges by offering a Level II nursery, which provides more intensive newborn care, and an immediate connection to Level III tertiary care, also known as neonatal intensive care units. All of our staff nurses are certified in neonatal resuscitation, and our physicians keep current on new techniques in neonatal care.
Grand View Offers the CHOP Connection:
A Partnership with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia CHOP pediatricians are onsite 24/7 to assist in the nursery with newborns requiring additional care. Our Cuddler Program uses carefully chosen, trained volunteers to provide the warm touch newborns need.
Leave the Paperwork to Us
From the beginning, our staff handles the pre-certification process, required by many insurance plans, to maximize your coverage and inform you of your options. Grand View’s Credit Department is ready to assist should you have any financial difficulties.We will work with you on options and estimated costs so you can plan now for your hospital stay.
Birth & Family Education classes offered at Grand View include:
- Labor & Birth Preparation
- Breastfeeding
- Parenting Programs
- Parent Support & Education
- Other Classes & Programs
For class descriptions or to schedule a class, call 215-453-4044.
For more information, please contact the Maternity Department at 215-453-4901.
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