Coming Soon: A Brand New Birthing Center

Published in the Moms & Dads Today magazine, November/December 2016

Coming Soon: A Brand New Birthing Center

St. Luke’s Remodel Will Give Expectant Parents More Options and More Privacy

St. Luke’s Birthing Center is expecting a new arrival—but not the kind they’re used to. After a full year of planning, then construction and interior design, St. Luke’s will unveil completely renovated birthing suites that are designed to make soon-to-be-moms and their families feel relaxed and at ease. This remodel is another way that St. Luke’s brings their mission, “The patient. Above all else.” to life. Everything is centered on the patient experience.

“We’ve combined an upscale hotel feel with home-like comforts,” explained St. Luke’s Birthing Center Manager Lori Swanson. “We want expectant moms to feel at home while they’re also surrounded by medical professionals who they know and trust,” Lori continued.

Once the remodel is finished, all birthing suites will be completely private throughout the patient’s stay. Each will include its own bathroom, comfortable seating and mini fridge so families can bring their favorite foods from home.

Every suite will also have a newborn bathing sink, open storage and an intuitive design so that guests can feel familiar with birthing suites right away. All labor suites will feature deep tubs or showers depending on the patient’s needs.

Calming and Cohesive

“We wanted to make the birthing center a beautiful environment for families to be in, so we worked with Suzi Vandersteen, a local interior designer who is focused on healing design,” explained Dr. Elisabeth Revoir, OB-GYN at St. Luke’s.

This attention to interior design is evident not only in the birthing center’s calming colors and thoughtful finishes, but also in how easy it is for patients to feel comfortable by making the space their own.

“Today’s parents like to customize everything in their lives; they’re very design savvy,” said Vandersteen. “When we create a well-designed environment that expectant parents can personalize and feel at home in, we’re creating even more confidence in patients and in St. Luke’s as a whole. It adds to the care that patients receive.”

Personalizing Care

At St. Luke’s, there is a commitment to individualized care that extends from doctors and staff to the birthing suites in which moms deliver. It’s one of the reasons the St. Luke’s About Baby Birth Plan is a popular tool for pregnant women: it allows them to think through and plan their ideal delivery setting—from what music is playing to who they want in the suite.

The goal of St. Luke’s Birthing Center is to offer as many options as possible so that expectant moms can customize their birth experience. St. Luke’s is the only hospital in the Twin Ports that can provide remote wireless telemetry to every laboring patient, so they can walk around during labor while the well-being of their baby is still being monitored. St. Luke’s is also the only hospital in the Twin Ports offering nitrous oxide as an option for pain management during labor. These options were both available even before the remodel began.

“We aim to provide options to our patients so we can give them the best birthing experience possible,” said Swanson.

Throughout the process, no detail was overlooked. It started with feedback from patients and families, care providers who work in the Birthing Center, and doulas in the community. Patient requests influenced every aspect of the birthing center design. With every concern in the design of the space addressed, patients are able to focus on labor and delivery.

During the remodel, the birthing center will stay open so every labor and delivery will continue as planned. The first few remodeled suites are now in use, and each one will become available as it is completed. Anticipated completion for the entire remodel is soon after the New Year.

“I love what I do and being able to offer this new birthing setting to my patients is very exciting,” said Dr. Revoir.

Birthing Center Remodel Features

• Newly renovated, private labor and delivery suites
• Private, remodeled bathrooms
• Comfortable seating for families
• New, deep tubs or showers in labor suites
• Updated nurse call system which eliminates unnecessary noise
• Convenient charging stations for modern devices
• Mini fridge in room
• Local artwork throughout Birthing Center