Hernando County expectant mothers and fathers now have an additional local option to choose from when deciding where to bring their baby into the world. Located on the 3rd floor of the North Tower at Oak Hill, there are six Labor and Delivery Suites, ten Postpartum Recovery Suites, two Antepartum Labor Suites, and a Cesarean Surgical Suite located in Labor and Delivery in the event a surgical delivery is necessary.
The suites are very spacious. As a mother that has delivered my fair share of babies, I am quite impressed with the level of comfort and consideration incorporated into the planning of the suites. One of the major stand out features is something that is simple, but very rare in many labor/delivery and postpartum rooms due to space restriction. There is a pull out couch in both the labor/delivery rooms and postpartum rooms. Delivery is not only exhausting for the mother, but her delivery partner as well.
This element is just one example of the family centered care the maternity suites are striving to deliver. Cynthia Poirier, RN Director of the Maternity Suites has made sure to incorporate family centered care within each step of bringing your baby into the world. There is no visitor limit in the labor and delivery room, although you are able to establish one if desired. After delivery, as long as baby is healthy, there will be one hour of bonding, where they encourage skin to skin time for mother and baby. “That golden hour is essential to mom and baby,” stated Poirier. Even if a c-section is necessary, mom and baby still get that one hour of bonding as long as there are no medical concerns. It should also be noted that the hospital will allow one support person in the operating room and there is a clear drape during the delivery so mother and father can witness their child’s birth.
Poirier stated she is, “not even staffing the nursery.” She explained that this is in an effort to give families the opportunity to bond in the precious hours after the baby is born.
To facilitate breastfeeding, the hospital staffs both fulltime and parttime lactation consultants. The nurses are also trained in breastfeeding techniques.
The facility is state of the art, with wireless fetal monitoring displayed on large flat screen tvs at the nurse’s station. The portable monitors are even waterproof, so that mom can take a shower while wearing it. The delivery rooms are equipped to take care of baby, if medical attention is needed. There are computers in each postpartum room so that the nurse can look up information for the mother and father should they have any medical questions. To encourage frequent snacking for mom, there is a mini fridge in each postpartum room.
The Maternity Suites at Oakhill serve low risk mothers and babies, but has the ability to handle medical situations that arise with neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners on call 24/7.
Another unique part of the maternity suites is that you have the option of choosing an obstetrician or a nurse midwife for care during your pregnancy and delivery of your baby. A nurse midwife can provide care for low risk pregnancies. If the expertise of an OB is needed, while you are under the care of a nurse midwife, then the nurse midwife and OB will work together to provide the needed care. The OB team consists of Dr. Tabbaa and Dr. Juyia of Suncoast OB/Gyn and Dr. Samir Shakfeh of Advanced Women’s Health Center. The certified nurse midwife team consists of Michelle Hale, Lenora McCall, Cheryl Collito, Vivian McCraw and Rose Heide of All Women’s Midwifery and Healthcare. Charge nurses Julie, Laura, Brooke and Cheryl will care for you after the delivery of your child.
There are 35 staff members all together. Poirier stated that the last 90 days have been beyond intense, readying the staff and facilities to serve the first patients starting June 8th. Both Poirier and Rich Linkul, Oak Hill Director of Marketing, described the preparations as a collaborative effort. Linkul emphasized that the group of dedicated staff is fully “pumped and engaged” to serve the incoming patients. “We are excited to take care of these patients,” stated Poirier. She said that the each staff member “has a heart for this business” and they realize what an honor and privilege it is to take part in the birth of a child. Beyond the technology and the high quality facility, “It’s the people I have out there that’s going to make a difference,” said Poirier.
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To make an appointment for Dr. Tabbaa or Dr. Juyia of Suncoast Ob/Gyn call (352) 263-2600. To make an appointment for Dr. Shakfeh of Advanced Women’s Health Center call (352) 666-0544.
To make an appointment with any of the certified nurse midwives of All Women’s MIdwifery and Healthcare, call 352-835-7100.
For Childbirth Education Classes call 1-844-7MY-BABY (1-844-769-2229) toll free
Register to Deliver at Oak Hill Hospital call 352-606-7349