Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women's Hospital (Chicago) [Midwife-Attended Birth]
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Walking in labor: The triage unit includes a walking path that makes a loop around the triage area.
Laboring in a tub: Large tubs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Aromatherapy: Although diffusers are not allowed, you can bring essential oils.
The midwives are skilled in using this equipment to help facilitate labor progress.
The midwives support natural (unmedicated) labor using such methods as:
- Breathing exercises
- Birthing balls
- Walking
- Ice packs
- Showers
- Hydrotherapy in large tubs (available on a first-come, first-served basis)
- Applying hot packs to abdomen or back
- Warm showers
Pain medication is also available, including:
- Narcotics, such as Dilaudid, which is administered as an injection or through an IV
- Epidural anesthesia
- Nitrous.
Labor and delivery unit visitor policies
- Your partner is welcome in the labor and delivery and postpartum units 24 hours a day, and all rooms offer a pull-out bed or other accommodations for overnight stays
- Other visitors, including brothers or sisters of any age, are welcome 9:00 am–8:30 pm
- Children under age 12, except baby’s siblings, may not visit.
The midwives care for women who are experiencing low-risk pregnancies. If you or your baby should require special care at any point, the hospital has the following resources:
Highest level NICU: The level III care unit is equipped to care for premature and seriously ill newborns.
Neonatalologists on site 24/7: The NICU is staffed 24 hours a day by neonatologists and specially trained nurses.
Labor tubs are an option in 4 of the 32 labor rooms for qualifying mothers. First come, first served.
Accepts Medicaid: Yes
See Insurance comments for details
Outcomes
Overall C-Section Rate (Risk Adjusted) – 23.0%
As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
Primary C-Section Rate (Risk Adjusted) – 14.0%
As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
VBAC Rate (Risk adjusted ) – 21.3%
As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate – 60.6%
As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
- Number of VBAC deliveries per year - 296
- Epidural Rate -
- Overall Induction Rate -
- Early Elective Deliveries -
- Episiotomy Rate -
Outcomes reported above are for all births at Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital, including births attended by both doctors and midwives. Midwives care for lower-risk women and also tend to have lower rates of interventions.
“Our nurse midwifery service nurtures women throughout all phases of life, from adolescence through menopause. We offer routine gynecologic services, as well as complete obstetrical care throughout pregnancy and birth. While all options for pain management are available, we specialize in individualized labor support, hydrotherapy and waterbirth. Our team works together to help ensure your and your baby’s wellbeing and provide a rewarding experience for you and your family. We believe in patient education, building trust in our relationships, and most importantly, listening to women.”
Click here to see Insurance Accepted.
Tours of the labor and delivery and postpartum floors are offered several times a week. Registration is required. You can see a schedule of upcoming tours here. Call 312.926.8400 to register.
The hospital offers a range of classes for expectant parents, including classes on c-section, comfort measures in labor, childbirth preparation, infant care, breastfeeding and special classes for grandparents, siblings and parents of multiples. Call Monday-Thursday, 9:00am to 3:00 pm to speak with a childbirth educator: (312) 472-3867. You can also see a list of current class offerings here.
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Water birth: Several of the labor-delivery-recovery suites have tubs for water birth, which are available to qualifying mothers on request. There are a total of 2 tubs and four rooms which can accommodate the tubs. Tubs are available on a first come first serve basis.
C-section: Women who have had a prior C-section and are planning a repeat cesarean can nonetheless be patients of the midwives, who will offer prenatal care and birth support. The midwives do not perform cesareans. If you require a cesarean birth, the surgical team is available 24/7.