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Birth Center

Nurturing your sense of family from the very start,
St. Joseph's Hospital's experienced Birth Center nurses
give extra attention to detail, in a secure environment
of warmth, caring and sharing.

Pregnancy and birth are two of the most important experiences in your life. Both deserve careful and thoughtful preparation. Our team of highly-trained, professional and devoted doctors and nurses work together to provide the best possible birth experience for you. As the only hospital delivering babies in Chippewa County, we have a unique standard of care for a community our size. Our board-certified obstetricians and family practitioners delivered over 525 babies last year.

At St Joseph's, our goal is to guide you through the miracle of birth while promoting an optimal level of wellness through patient and family teaching. We understand that every birth is unique and we are dedicated to working with you to create the best experience possible for you and your family. We welcome you and your family with comfortable, private labor/delivery rooms, and patient-centered care. Once your little one has made his or her grand entrance, trained nursing professionals care for you and your baby as a couplet, ensuring continuity of care for both of you.

Nursery, Screenings, and Security   View more information.

Our 24-hour nursery is staffed by trained nursing professionals as well as dedicated family practitioners and pediatricians. Birth center staff will explain all screenings and tests done in the nursery with you before they are completed. St. Joseph's Hospital has an electronic security system and security protocols to effectively safeguard the security of your infant.

With your consent, your baby will be photographed in the nursery. You may want to bring a special outfit from home. Our staff will explain the ordering process and the photos will be delivered to your home. You will also be given a keepsake of your baby's footprints and a complimentary baby book so you can start documenting your baby's first days.

Pre-Registration is Recommended   View more information.

By the end of your second trimester, it's recommended that you have your pre-admission forms filled out and returned so we can anticipate your arrival and quickly admit you when you are in labor. These forms are available from your doctor's office or at the prenatal education classes.

When you are in labor and need to be admitted to the hospital, enter through the main entrance and go to the Admissions Office. If you arrive after 5pm, enter through our Emergency Room. The Birth Center is located on the third floor of the hospital.

Hospital Services   View more information.

St. Joseph's is fully equipped to accommodate your birth plan, whether that includes natural childbirth, epidural pain control, planned c-section or any other specialized care. Our dedicatied staff will work with you to make sure your birth plan is followed as closely and as safely as possible. Operating rooms are located within the labor and delivery unit should complications arise. Medical transport to area neonatal hospitals is available if needed. New parents can find comfort in knowing that their infant will receive top quality care. Additional hospital and community resources are also available. Birth center staff can connect you to the resources you need.

Becoming a Family   View more information.

Our philosophy is to recognize the individual needs of the infant and mother as they adapt to each other and to the new routine of being a family. The Birth Center staff will encourage as much rest for you as possible, as well as offer personalized teaching to learn to care for yourself and your baby.

Whether or not you are a first-time mom, you have the option to talk with a trained nurse about any questions you might have about the care of yourself and your baby before you go home. We welcome fathers to be present for teaching as well.

What our patients say ...

"All of the nurses were amazing, friendly and always went out of their way to make sure baby and I were taken care of and comfortable."

"I felt prepared to go home because of all of the information from the nurses."

"Excellent care from excellent nurses. Thanks for being so great."

A designated Safe Place for newborns ...

The Safe Haven Law allows mothers, fathers, or whoever is in possession of an unharmed newborn, approximately three days old or less, to leave them at a designated Safe Place with no questions asked, anonymously and free from fear of prosecution. We will contact a participating private adoption agency who will then arrange for placement of the newborn with a waiting family.

 

WEB NURSERY

With your permission, your baby will be photographed in the nursery, and the photo placed in our online nursery for all to view.
View our online nursery.

GUESTS & VISITORS

Visitors are welcome as is convenient for the new family. To prevent the spread of infection, we ask that all visitors wash their hands when entering the room, and refrain from visiting if they have a cough, fever, rash, sore throat or other communicable disease.

PRENATAL CLASSES

We offer classes to help you and your family prepare for your new arrival. Topics include childbirth, breastfeeding, carseat safety, and other topics of interest to expectant parents. Our classes are led by experienced childbirth and lactation educators as well as other professional hospital staff.

View a listing of 2012 classes.
Register for a class.

HEALTH LIBRARY

Healthy Pregnancy
Childbirth
Due Date
Pregnancy & Nutrition

FOR MORE
INFORMATION

View our brochure.
Send our Birth Center an email.
Request a tour of our Birth Center.

 

Birth Center