Childbirth is one of the most special events in a family’s life. At Gateway Medical Center, expectant parents have the opportunity to prepare themselves and their family for the birth experience as well as participate in the birth and newborn care. Our goal is to prepare you for the first days at home with your infant.

The Family Birth Center staff looks forward to sharing with you the warm and exciting experience of family-centered care. Along with our well-trained staff of mother/baby nurses you will have:

• Private rooms
• Fetal monitoring
• Labor, delivery and recovery in mother’s private room
• Nurse Anesthetist services available
• Father or support person permitted during labor and delivery
• A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with a 24-hour Nurse Practitioner and Neonatologist available
• Mother/baby setting
• Baby’s first photo
• Baby’s photo on Gateway’s website if desired
• Personalized lactation services and supplies available for purchase
• Personalized education by a registered nurse or lactation consultant
• Infant Hearing Screening

Family Birth Center Classes

Bring your older children to Sibling Class, offering an introduction to sibling interactions, a tour of the Nursery, and time to mingle with other children from expectant families. Each child receives a Big Brother or Big Sister t-shirt, button and sticker. Call 931-502-1180 to register. Cost is $15 per child.

Prenatal Classes help mom and her support person anticipate situations that may arise during pregnancy and labor. Classes offer information on what to expect during labor, relaxation techniques, analgesia/anesthesia, newborn care and a tour of the Family Birth Center. The prenatal classes consist of five, two-hour sessions. Classes should be attended between the 26th and 34th week of pregnancy. Call 931-502-1180 to register. Class fee for the five-week series is $50; Individual classes are $15.

Taught by a Lactation Consultant, Breastfeeding Class covers initial steps to successful breastfeeding, uses for breast pumps and other supplies. Moms also receive a book, Nursing Mothers Companion. Cost for the class is $25. To register call 931-502-1180. Our Lactation Department also sells Medela breastfeeding accessories including breast pumps, nursing bras, camisoles and much more. For more information contact our certified Lactation Consultant at 931-502-3015.

Find out more by listening to our Lactation Consultants discuss these classes and more on our Medical Podcast.

Online Resources
Want to learn more? Click here to visit our Pregnancy and Newborn Health Center.

Guidelines for Visitors
We’re here to promote safety and well being for all our patients and newborns. Please follow these guidelines during your stay.

• One designated adult may stay with mom 24-hours a day (children are not allowed to stay overnight).
• Adult visitors are allowed from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. A maximum of four visitors is allowed in the room at a time. The nursing staff may request fewer visitors in certain situations.
• Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to visit unless they are siblings of the newborn.
• Siblings of the newborn may visit for short periods of time if they are accompanied by an adult and have no signs or symptoms of illness such as colds, fever or rashes.
• No one should visit while sick with a temperature, cough, runny nose, rash, or if they have been exposed to any communicable disease. Parents and visitors must wear a mask if they have cold sores or fever blisters.
• Please wash your hands and ask that all your visitors do the same before touching or holding the baby.
• During RSV season, all children under the age of 4 (including siblings) are not allowed in patient care areas.
• Circumstances requiring special consideration or visitation should be addressed to the nurse manager.

Pre-Registration
You may pre-register your visit by calling 931-502-1161 Monday – Friday 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. or visit our Online Services page to pre-register online.

For more information
For more information about our Family Birth Center, call 931-502-3300.