University of Chicago Medicine (Chicago) [Doctor-Attended Birth]

“At the Family Birth Center, we offer a customized birth experience in the comfort and privacy of our nurturing environment. Our team of experts supports pregnant women and their partners and families with compassion and respect through pregnancy, childbirth, bonding, breastfeeding and healing.”

The Family Birth Center: “Specially designed with hospitality, comfort, flexibility and efficiency in mind, the Family Birth Center supports a nurturing and healing atmosphere for your birth experience your way. Conveniently located in the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital, our birth center is equipped with contemporary amenities, including:

• Private delivery suites
• Two large natural birthing suites, both with built-in warm water immersion (hydrotherapy) tubs
• State-of-the-art operating rooms to support an optimized cesarean birth experience, when necessary”

“At our Family Birth Center, we work hard to:

• Help you fully understand your options, including potential alternatives
• Understand your medical and environmental preferences in pain management, labor support, birthing options and postpartum care
• Create a healthy and nurturing environment that optimally supports your customized childbirth experience”

Welcoming visitor policies: “At the Family Birth Center, we understand that your child’s birth is a peak moment of excitement for you and your closest supporters. We welcome spouses, partners, co-parents, intended parents, children and doulas, as well as other family members, friends and guests who you choose to include in your childbirth experience.”

“Our visitor policies prioritize safety first, while allowing your loved ones to be at your side as much as possible. Each private suite is equipped with a convertible sleeping cot for your overnight visitors. With a maximum of three visitors at a time allowed in your suite, our Family Waiting Room is available to accommodate additional guests.”

Gentle C-Sections: “A C-section does involve surgery, but we understand that your experience is far more than an operation. At the Family Birth Center, our experts perform “gentle” cesareans that support an inclusive delivery and bonding experience for you and your family.”

Breastfeeding support: “The Family Birth Center is internationally recognized as a birth facility that offers optimal care for breastfeeding mothers and babies. Our designation as a Baby-Friendly Hospital acknowledges our commitment to providing care based on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)-endorsed Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.”

“At the Family Birth Center, our entire care team is fully equipped with training and resources to offer extensive support for breastfeeding moms and babies, including:

• Our free breastfeeding class for expectant parents
• Access to our expert team of lactation consultants during your hospital stay
• Baby Bistro, our free weekly lactation support group”

Your physician or midwife can help you understand your risk factors and whether or not a trial of labor after cesarean is a recommended option for you. It may depend on certain personal health factors, such as:

• The type of uterine incision used with your previous C-section(s)
• Whether or not you plan to have more children
• Whether you have a maternal-fetal condition that could complicate vaginal delivery
• Number of prior c-sections

If you have a history of uterine rupture or if you’ve had more than 2 prior c-sections, TOLAC/VBAC is not a safe recommendation for you.

The free Family Birth Center tour includes the Family Birth Center and Mother and Baby Care (postpartum) suites.

Space is limited to a maximum of 16 attendees. Each attendee must register individually. Tours are limited to the expectant mother and one additional support person. The tour meets in the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital lobby at 5721 S. Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL.

You can see upcoming tour dates here.

You can also see a virtual tour of the Family Birth Center using the link below.

Nurse educators lead prenatal classes for expectant parents and families. Several of classes are free.

Registration is required to attend a class. See the list of course options here.

Designated as “Baby-Friendly”, the Family Birth Center is internationally recognized as a birth facility that offers optimal care for breastfeeding mothers and babies. Baby-Friendly designation acknowledges commitment to providing care based on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)-endorsed Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.

The University of Chicago Medicine has received its 14^th consecutive A grade in hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group, making it the only academic medical center in Chicago to consistently earn the top score from the prestigious industry watchdog. The hospital is recognized as meeting or exceeding the standard of care for all five maternity-related measures assessed by Leapfrog.