NorthShore University HealthSystem Swedish Hospital (Chicago) [Midwife-Attended Birth]

“Whether you are a new mom, or have had children before, Swedish Hospital is dedicated to helping guide you through pregnancy and childbirth and caring for your newborn.”

Midwife-attended birth: “We are proud to support a group practice of nurse-midwives, who work in conjunction with board-certified obstetricians, to provide you with personalized care and education. The Swedish Hospital Midwives [part of NorthShore] see patients in a group office and deliver babies in our state-of-the-art facility, the Family Birthing Center.”

“The midwife group prides itself on developing a partnership with you through a holistic approach to your health and open communication. By treating you as a partner in your health — whether that’s the birth of your child or routine women’s health care — nurse-midwives foster a supportive and empowering atmosphere. Our midwives practice with considerable autonomy, practicing the midwifery model of care. They empower women to be involved in their health care through education, communication and a strong relationship.”

“Our midwives are:

• Specialists in women’s health, normal pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care.
• Registered advanced practice nurses with specific training in obstetrics and gynecology.
• Certified (accredited) by the American College of Nurse-midwives after passing a thorough board examination.
• Educated professionals who work alongside physicians in a variety of settings, primarily hospitals and clinics.
• Focused on informed consent regarding your health care and catering to your specific needs.”

Centering Pregnancy: “Our midwives offer the option of prenatal care through our Centering Pregnancy program, which brings together groups of women with similar due dates to discuss important topics, including current or expected discomforts, stress and anxiety, proper nutrition, labor and delivery and breastfeeding. Studies show Centering care increases patient and provider satisfaction, breastfeeding rates and duration of breastfeeding. The program exceeds the recommended standard of 10 prenatal visits by extending the sessions from an hour and a half to two hours in length.”

Family Birthing Center: “Our Family Birthing Center was designed to provide clinical expertise and leading-edge medical capabilities in a comfortable, private and home-like setting. During your stay, our expert, caring staff takes time to make sure your needs are met, and we are happy to answer your questions along the way.”

“We consider the whole family’s experience in our Birthing Center rooms. Each room has a jacuzzi, rocking chair and a pullout bed so your partner or another support person can stay with you throughout labor and while you recover. Centrally-located in the Birthing Center is a kitchen with a full-sized refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven and coffee maker for the use of birthing mothers and their support team.”

“A few hours after your baby is born, you will move to the Mother-Baby Unit. The Mother and Baby Unit provides a comfortable place for families to visit their newborn. Mother and baby can room together in a private, home-like setting with a pullout bed for dad or other support person. A dinette area and entertainment center includes a flat-screen TV, completing the comforts of home. Additionally, WiFi is available, allowing the new family to share the good news of the baby’s arrival.”

Pain management options: “We recognize that every woman is different. We believe in empowering mothers during the birthing process by following their individual pain-management preferences.”

“We provide both traditional and alternative pain management techniques and resources. Every room in our birthing center has a jacuzzi, birthing stool and squatting bar to help you manage your pain.”

“Other pain management options include:

• IV Sedation: Sedatives may be used to help reduce stress and ease pain.
• Epidural: Our anesthesia team is available on-site 24/7 to offer an epidural if you choose.” ” 50% of patients receive an epidural to relieve pain without eliminating labor-related pressure to help you remain attentive.” “Most patients are able to deliver using an epidural with minimal pain while still being able to feel labor-related pressure, allowing them to remain active and attentive during delivery.”
• Nitrous: Swedish Hospital is the only hospital within the Chicago city limits—and one of a growing number nationally—to offer nitrous oxide as an additional pain management tool for women in childbirth. Patients self-administer the medication by choosing how much gas to inhale, empowering each individual to safely and effectively manage the discomfort of labor and post-birth procedures while remaining alert and conscious.

Breastfeeding support: Specialized breastfeeding support can benefit all new mothers. Every mother and baby is different—while some mothers benefit from guidance immediately after birth, others may need assistance later. We strive to provide you with the resources you need to start on the right foot and continue successfully throughout motherhood.”

• Inpatient Breastfeeding Assistance: A board-certified lactation consultant sees every patient that gives birth at Swedish Hospital prior to discharge to assist in beginning to breastfeeding and to answer any questions new mothers may have on the topic. All nurses in the Mother Baby Unit are required to have breastfeeding training and are available for additional assistance, so there is expert breastfeeding support for all new mothers 24/7.
• Breastfeeding Clinic: Swedish Hospital’s Breastfeeding Clinic provides moms with access to internationally board-certified lactation consultants and nurse practitioners during hour-long visits. We welcome all moms, regardless of where they give birth and accept most forms of insurance, including Medicaid, with no out-of-pocket expense to the patient.

Skin-to-skin: “The moments after giving birth will be a special time for you and your baby. We recommend two hours of uninterrupted bonding time between mommy, partner and baby immediately after birth. Instead of receiving visitors, we strongly encourage you to use this time for you and your baby to recover and benefit from skin-to-skin contact. This time also allows for important health assessments for you and your baby.”

Maternal Fetal Medicine Program: “Women facing a high-risk pregnancy or who develop complications don’t have to travel far for comprehensive care from board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialists. The Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program at Swedish Hospital in Chicago offers advanced care for mothers and babies, from early pregnancy through birth and beyond.”

Neonatologists: “Board-certified neonatologists from Lurie Children’s round daily and are on call 24/7 in our inpatient unit and their pediatric hospitalists are always on site. They also attend high-risk deliveries and help manage babies with health issues.”

The Swedish Hospital Midwives [part of NorthShore] care for women experiencing low-risk pregnancies. It is a practice policy to refer patients with “high-risk” pregnancies to Swedish Hospital’s dedicated team of board-certified obstetricians for their primary care during pregnancy.

One possible risk factor is pregnancy weight. Women who have a pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) greater than 45 are considered to be high-risk. According to a 2013 committee opinion published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women who are obese have a heightened risk of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, gestational diabetes and stillbirth delivery.

Swedish Hospital offers the option of trial of VBAC to women who have had one previous cesarean birth.

In general, care in the Swedish Hospital ICN is limited to newborn infants who are more than 32 weeks gestational age and weigh more than 1,500 grams at birth or who are recovering from serious illness treated in a Level III NICU. Newborns who are seriously ill may be transferred to a facility with a Level III NICU.

Swedish Hospital nurses conduct 60-90 minute guided tours of the Family Birthing Center. The tour includes an informational Q & A session.

Tours are available each month at the following times: 10 a.m. on the first Sunday, 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday, 6 p.m. on the third Thursday and 10 a.m. on the fourth Saturday. You can register by clicking here. For late cancellations or inquiries about class availability, please call (773) 878-8200, Ext. 2125.

Please note: if you are planning to attend Swedish Hospital’s Childbirth Education Class, you do not need to attend this tour since the Childbirth Education Class includes a tour of the Family Birthing Center.

Swedish Hospital in Chicago offers educational programs and childbirth classes for new and expectant mothers, including:

• Baby Care and Infant CPR
• Breastfeeding
• Childbirth Education Class
• Family Birthing Center Tour
• New Moms Group
• Clase de Lactancia Materna
• Pre- and Postpartum Exercise Classes

For more information, or to register for an event, call 773-878-6888 or click here.

The Swedish Hospital Midwifery Group has achieved the Triple Aim Designation from ACNM based on excellent exclusive breastfeeding, primary cesarean birth and preterm birth rates.

The hospital is currently in Phase 3 of Baby Friendly Certification.