Women's Services
The Focus—You and Your Baby
The most joyous event in any of our lives is bringing our newborn into this world. We have designed Mountain View Hospital to make this life-long memory one of your most cherished. You and your baby are the reasons Mountain View’s Labor and Delivery Department exists. You are our focus, and the experience will be shaped by your needs. Each birth is as individual as you and your baby are.
Our physicians and staff bring all for their specialized training, and more importantly, all their concern to assist you with your baby’s birth. From the time you enter our front door until you leave with your newest family member; your safety, health, and comfort inform our every action taken toward you and your baby.
Your Safety and Comfort—Our First Attention
Most births happen exactly as they have for millions of years. Mom’s body knows what to do. The Staff of Mountain View Hospital and the attending physicians are there to lend a helping hand throughout the process. By closely monitoring the process, Mountain View’s thoroughly trained staff can recognize any aspect of the birth that may stray from the norm. (Should I say “norm” here? Is there any such thing as “the norm“?) If any unanticipated problems do occur, our staff can to deal with them.
When you come to Mountain View Hospital to deliver your baby, your preferences are integral in establishing your birthing plan. Our Birthing Rooms are set up to make you feel at home. They are roomy, with wood finishes on cabinets and floor, giving a sense of warmth and home. While the appearance is that of a comfortable bedroom, behind the wood cabinet doors are all the necessary equipment and supplies that could be needed for any sort of an unexpected occurrence.
Your physician and the nurses will accommodate the way you’d like to deliver your baby, being sure first that your baby’s and your safety are protected. The Birthing bed comes apart so you can be comfortable. Each birthing Room has a Jacuzzi tub in which you can relax. Also available are birthing balls and a squatting bar to facilitate the delivery position you may prefer. In the case that you choose or your doctor recommends an epidural, which numbs the lower half of your body, the delivery will be done in the bed. That is the case also if the labor is induced. In both cases, that is safest for you and your baby.
Education—Our Relationship Begins Before the Birth
Mountain View Hospital’s Labor and Delivery Department offers pre-natal and post-natal classes for all women, who are expecting. Classes help new moms and dads prepare for the birth. Your primary pre-natal care and direction will come from your doctor. Our classes can augment what your physician has already explained to you. You can learn what to expect during pregnancy. The classes also cover the labor process and what you should bring to the hospital to be most comfortable.
The once-a-month, Saturday-morning classes also instruct new moms and dads about taking care of your new baby once you’re back home. The importance of breast-feeding is explained along with techniques and problems that may be anticipated. New parents also learn about post-partum problems that can occur for mom and baby. Mostly, the classes will help prepare you to have and care for a healthy baby.
Family and Friends—Who May Attend the Birth?
At Mountain View, we encourage you to invite your loved ones to take part in your special event. Some moms only want their baby’s father present at the birth. Others encourage the baby’s siblings to witness the event. And still others invite grandparents, in-laws, friends, local media, and everyone who reads their blog to share this special moment. The only restriction on who may attend is the safety of you and your baby in the doctor’s opinion. Each room has a leather recliner for the comfort of those waiting with you. For those staying overnight, snacking stations offer an array of food and drinks for their comfort. The nurses will show you where they are located.
After the Birth—It’s Still Your Call
Once the baby is born, you may choose to keep the baby in your room in a comfortable bassinette, or ask the nurses to temporarily take the baby to the nursery, so that you can get some rest. All newborns receive an anklet so that the baby’s whereabouts are monitored. The baby cannot be taken beyond the double doors that are the entry and exit to Labor and Delivery without setting off alarms and locking doors. This way, mom always knows, even when she rests, her baby is protected. As soon as your doctor feels you and your baby are ready to go home, you can leave Mountain View.
Our goal is the most comfortable and safe experience you can have, a cherished memory for a lifetime.