You and your family are supported in having the kind of birth experience you want. Although safety for you and baby are our first concern, we also believe that childbirth is a profound experience for women. To that end, satisfaction and comfort are also very important.

You will be asked at around 36 weeks to fill out a birth plan. This document, along with the childbirth education classes, will help you become familiar with the different choices you have in creating the birth you want.

Some birth experiences that require special preparation are as follows:

Water Birth: At the Women's Pavilion we believe that water birth is a safe birthing alternative. We have a special tub for planned water birth. Although there are tubs in each room, this large tub is more conducive to a water birth. We encourage women to use the smaller tubs for comfort during labor. If you think this is a style of birthing that you are interested in, please talk to your midwife or physician. You will be asked to watch a video, discuss the pros and cons of this choice at length, and sign a special consent form prior to the start of your labor.

Cesarean Birth: We believe that whether unplanned or planned, a cesarean birth, is still a special birth of a child. We try to make this experience as safe and satisfying as possible for the mother and her family. In a true emergency, sometimes many things are happening all at once and it can be quite frightening. We try to have one nurse or staff person with the you at all times. We also think it is very important to keep the father and other support persons involved and well-informed about what is happening. When the cesarean is planned (or a non-emergency), as you are being readied for surgery, the support person who will accompany you is also getting dressed. That support person will rejoin you once the anesthesia is in place and we are ready to start the surgery. We try to create a soothing atmosphere by doing such things as dimming non-essential lights, using aromatherapy for relaxation, playing soothing music, talking softly when baby is born, and allowing mom and dad to hold the baby as long as is feasible.

We offer many childbirth education classes. To view them, click here.