FAMILY BIRTH CENTER
Harbor Regional Health’s Family Birth Center provides a positive experience for families welcoming a new child. Our private birthing suites and post-partum rooms allow you and your partner/support person the opportunity to relax and bond with your baby. Our specially trained and attentive staff of registered nurses, physicians, and technicians are here to provide personalized care to you with a focus on your safety and comfort.
The Family Birth Center is community-focused and provides labor, delivery, and recovery services for both vaginal and cesarean deliveries. The center includes four birthing suites, five private post-partum rooms, room service meal delivery, and nursery care. The Family Birth Center includes infant CPR training. Purple Cry Education is provided for each family to educate and prevent “Shaken Baby Syndrome”
YOUR BABY
The Family Birth Center staff encourages you to spend as much quality time as possible with your baby. Adequate rest time for mom is also important. Your partner/support person is encouraged to participate in bonding with the baby during your needed rest time also. Feeding your baby may be done on-demand on a schedule; however, the time between feedings should be no more than 3 hours during your hospital stay.
Please inquire about our current visitor guidelines upon admission. For your baby’s protection, your visitors must be free of colds or other illnesses and are strongly encouraged to wash their hands before handling your baby.
“I just wanted to reach out about our recent delivery/stay at Harbor Regional Health. My husband and I spoke with you in 2020 of concerns we had during our delivery. At the time though, we had agreed we would have our second child at Grays Harbor because of the amazing nursing staff. [Later on] we were once again in the care of your amazing nursing staff. This time we were lucky to have Jennifer (Jen) as our dayshift nurse. She was beyond amazing. She remained calm and kept my husband and I calm during a time that as I look back now was certainly a time when things could have gotten our anxiety up and created a bigger issue. She truly was one of the best nurses I have ever been around. With the new restrictions, that were not around when we had our son, it was harder not having my mother there too. Jen became that mother figure for me and I will forever be grateful for her that day. I also wanted to let you know that our night nurse Sarah was very attentive and was very personable. We didn’t spend as much time with her but she really was another key role in us having a great experience overall. I never got the name of the staff member that took our daughters footprints and weight. She was very nice and is another important key to the amazing team you have. I guess I just wanted to let you know that you still have some of the best nurses/staff and they are very much appreciated.”
INFANT SECURITY
The Family Birth Center strives to provide a safe and healthy environment for you and your baby. In order to achieve this, the following measures are implemented:
A security sensor will be placed on your baby, which allows the Family Birth Center staff to monitor if your baby gets close to an exit. The sensor signals an alarm at the nurses' station to alert Family Birth Center staff.
The Family Birth Center is a secure and locked unit. In addition to the security locks, a screening process for family and visitors is in place according to the mother’s preferences. The Family Birth Center staff are an important part of the security system for you and your baby.
DELIVERING THE LOVING TOUCH
At the Family Birth Center, we believe each birth is a special delivery. We want you to have the best experience possible according to your wishes. The birthing rooms at the Family Birth Center are designed to create a relaxed, home-like environment while providing state-of-the-art monitoring and medical care. Your partner/support person is encouraged to be with you during your labor and delivery. Currently, additional visitors are not permitted on the unit until current visitation restrictions are lifted due to the COVID pandemic. For any other considerations, please discuss them with your physician or nurse.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU TO THE HOSPITAL
Your baby will need a car seat for the ride home. Please bring the car seat you will be using into the hospital in preparation for your discharge home.
Comfortable clothing for yourself, including a bathrobe and slippers.
Personal items including: shampoo, soap, cosmetics, toothpaste, and toothbrush.
Clothes for the baby to wear home.
Anything else that may make your stay more comfortable.
SPECIAL SERVICES AT THE FAMILY BIRTH CENTER
Individualized care.
Pain control options.
Infant security.
Bath demonstrations.
EXTENDED SERVICES
The Family Birth Center staff will assist you with scheduling a well-baby checkup for your baby for 3-4 days after discharge with the physician of your choice.
The Family Birth Center is staffed 24 hours a day if you have any questions about post-partum care following your discharge. 360-537-5280.