Labor & Delivery

Your Birth. Your Way. With all the safety of a hospital.

Welcoming a little one into the world is a very special experience. That’s why our team is dedicated to making your priorities our priorities.

What is the Birthing Center like?

Our Birthing Center looks and feels more like a high-end hotel than a hospital. The spa-like suites feature all the amenities you’ll need to feel at home. This includes modern furnishings, private bathrooms, minifridges, aromatherapy and more.

Will I be able to personalize my birthing experience?

Absolutely! We love working with each mom to provide the birth experience she’s always dreamed of. To plan exactly what you want, we encourage each mom to create a birth plan.

Is St. Luke’s doula friendly?

We certainly are. We are so supportive of moms benefiting from a doula that we offer the Plus One Doula Program. This program offers financial assistance to parents, providing partial or full scholarships for hiring a doula.

What are the benefits of delivering at a hospital?

Delivering at a hospital is the safest choice for you and your baby. This offers you immediate access to a team of expert medical professionals who can address any complications.

For your safety, we make it a priority to exceed the highest standards of care. We have several prestigious certifications, including:

• Baby-Friendly Designated
• Minnesota Breastfeeding-Friendly Maternity Center 5-Star Designated
• National Certified Silver Safe Sleep Leader
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care
• A perfect score for Breastfeeding Practices from the 2022 CDC Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) Survey

In addition, several of our labor and delivery nurses have advanced certifications amongst them.

Can St. Luke's care for high-risk pregnancies?

Yes, specialized care for high-risk pregnancies is available at St. Luke’s. Our experienced team is well-versed in managing and monitoring various risk factors including advanced maternal age, carrying twins or triplets, chronic health conditions or infections (diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, HIV, hepatitis B or C, etc.), previous pregnancy complications, gestational diabetes, fetal abnormalities and gestational hypertension.

We're also proud to be pioneering the Blue Band Project in our region. This initiative is for women who have been diagnosed with preeclampsia.

Does St. Luke’s have a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?

Yes! St. Luke’s offers a Level II NICU, also called a Specialized Care Nursery. A Level II NICU is prepared to care for babies who are mild to moderately ill with physiologic immaturity or who have conditions that are expected to resolve quickly. Babies are cared for as early as 32 weeks gestation, who weigh at least 1500 grams (3.3lbs). If your baby ends up needing extra support, our team will be ready to care for them.

Is it possible to have a minimal intervention birth at St. Luke’s?

Of course. Some may think that giving birth in a hospital means giving up control, but that is not the case here. We offer our moms a lot of options, especially when it comes to dealing with pain in a non-medicated way. That includes:

• Labor tubs
• Remote telemetry
• Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
• Aromatherapy
• Birthing stools and balls

Is breastfeeding support offered?

Yes! As a Baby-Friendly Designated facility, breastfeeding is a huge priority for us. That’s why we offer breastfeeding education before baby is born as well as support after birth. One way we support moms is through our AfterCare service. Our team of certified lactation consultants is available to moms from delivery forward to provide ongoing help with breastfeeding. In addition, many of our Birthing Center nurses are lactation specialists.

Our Labor & Delivery classes include a tour of the Birthing Center. If you’d like to see the suites sooner, call 218.249.5605.