Two Bon Secours Richmond Health System hospitals were voted among Richmond’s “Favorite Place to Have a Baby” in Style Weekly’s annual “Family Favorites” poll. Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond and Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center in Midlothian were named first and third in the poll, respectively.
This accolade marks the 14th year in a row in which St. Mary’s Hospital has been named the number one “Favorite Place to Have a Baby.” This is the second year that St. Francis has been named to the list.
“Richmond area mothers-to-be and their families have many reasons for selecting a hospital in which to give birth. At Bon Secours, we believe the most important reason is the quality of care mother and baby will receive during their stay,” said Julie Reagan, administrative director of women’s services at Bon Secours Richmond. “We also want to support women and couples by providing many options for the birth of their child. By combining our compassionate, quality health care with our low-intervention services, we help expectant mothers choose the birth experience they want.”
St. Mary’s Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center offer a variety of low-intervention options for today’s expectant mothers, many of whom have birth plans and want less intervention than previous generations of women. These options include:
Nitrous oxide – A blend of 50 percent nitrous/50 percent oxygen, nitrous is inhaled as needed, when in labor, to take the edge off of pain so that labor can progress on its own. Women using nitrous report they are able to stay awake and in control throughout labor. Bon Secours was the first health system in Virginia to offer nitrous oxide as a pain management option during labor.
Wireless fetal monitors – Lightweight and cordless, the monitor can be carried like a shoulder purse or it can hang from the IV pole, resulting in an increased range of motion for women in labor. Patients can stroll the unit’s hallway, allowing labor to continue naturally while the baby’s heartbeat and the mother’s contraction pattern are being carefully monitored.
Hydrotherapy/birthing tubs – The use of water as a non-pharmacologic pain relief technique is extremely desirable for many women in labor. The comfortable jetted tubs can be a great tool to help women relax during and between contractions.
Midwifery – Many women choose to have a midwifery birth in a hospital setting. At Bon Secours, Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) practice with physicians so that their patients can receive a full range of care at all times. Four CNMs make up The Woman’s Center at St. Francis and provide personalized attention, compassionate care and progressive treatments to their patients.
For infants requiring comprehensive critical care, both facilities offer a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) that is staffed around the clock by board certified neonatologists, nurse practitioners and specialized nurses, along with experienced professionals in pediatric practice areas such as respiratory therapy, cardiology and radiology, among others.
“We want to support women and couples by providing many options for the birth of their child,” said Sarah Peterson, M.D., Bon Secours Richmond OB-GYN. “Low-intervention and reduced C-sections often provide a better birthing experience, reduced side-effects and improved outcomes for mothers and newborns.”
For additional information about the options for pregnancy, labor and delivery at Bon Secours visit http://mybonsecoursbaby.com/.
