Maternity and Childbirth at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center

The Birthplace at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center

Having a Baby at Baptist

Having a baby can be one of the most wonderful times in a woman's life. Whether you are expecting your first baby or are adding to your growing family, we’re here to help you have the smoothest pregnancy, labor and delivery possible.

At Baptist, you’ll have a dedicated health care team from the moment you arrive. On staff at The Birthplace are a number of board-certified OB/GYNs and experienced, well-trained nurses who will manage your health – and the health of your baby – during your pregnancy and throughout labor and delivery. 

The Plan That’s Best

If you are thinking about getting pregnant, you should begin planning right away. The best plan for you and your baby is one that will help both Mom and baby have a safe, healthy delivery and recovery. According to March of Dimes, staying pregnant for at least 39 weeks, unless there is a medical reason not to, gives your baby the best start for not only birth, but also for future development. Here’s why your baby needs at least 39 weeks:

• Important organs, like the brain, lungs and liver, get the time they need to develop.
• Your baby is less likely to have vision and hearing problems after birth.
• Your baby has time to gain more weight in the womb. Babies born at a healthy weight have an easier time staying warm than babies born too small.
• Your baby can suck and swallow and stay awake long enough to eat . Babies born early sometimes can't do these things.
• Unless it is recommended by your doctor, scheduling to deliver your baby early, by inducing labor or planning a C-section, is not encouraged at Baptist.

Comprehensive Multi-Disciplinary Care

The board-certified specialists in maternal fetal medicine (perinatology) work with a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary health care team, including:

• Board-certified obstetricians
• Neonatologists
• Clinical psychologists
• Neonatal nurse practitioners
• Dedicated respiratory therapists
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program-certified registered nurses
• Pediatric surgeon
• Pharmacists
• NICU discharge planners
• OB-trained nurses
• Certified lactation consultants
• Case managers
• Social workers
• Staff chaplain

Labor, Delivery and Recovery and the Mother/Baby Unit

When the day comes for your baby to arrive, you will be admitted to one of The Birthplace's labor/delivery/recovery (LDR) rooms. Each room is beautifully designed and technologically advanced, with comfortable furnishings and the medical equipment necessary for your and your baby's safety. The rooms are large enough to accommodate you and your family and equipped with entertainment centers and other conveniences to help you relax and be as comfortable as possible.

For uncomplicated, vaginal deliveries, you'll stay in the same LDR room throughout your labor, delivery and recovery. Should your physician determine that a C-section is advisable, the C-section suites are immediately accessible on the same floor.

In every case, you and your baby will have access to the full services of MBMC’s comprehensive medical facilities. Experienced physicians in more than 25 specialties and sub-specialties serve on the hospital staff, including board-certified OB hospitalists who are on-site 24/7. Neonatal and adult intensive care units located in the hospital offer additional medical resources should they be required.

After your baby's birth, you will transition to our beautiful mother/baby unit to relax, recover and get to know the newest member of your family. All our mother/baby rooms have flat screen TVs, comfortable furnishings including a small refrigerator and a sofa that turns into a full-sized bed, a beautifully appointed bathroom with slate tile flooring and a walk-in shower with hand-held faucet.

The nurses on the mother/baby unit are specially trained in the care of new moms and newborns. You and your baby will receive care from the same nurse, meaning fewer interruptions and more rest for you. And, special safety measures are in place for your and your baby’s security.

High-Risk Pregnancy Care

High-risk pregnancies require special care. Pregnant women older than 35, those having more than one baby, and those with chronic health or fetal concerns are considered to be in a high-risk group. If you fall into any of these categories, your OB/GYN may refer you to a perinatologist, also known as a maternal-fetal specialist, to assist with specialized care.

The maternal-fetal specialists at Baptist for Women are trained to assist in your care in consultation with your own OB/GYN. Among the services provided for high-risk pregnancies are specialized diagnostic testing, such as high-resolution ultrasounds, and screenings to ensure your pregnancy proceeds normally and safely.

Maternal Transport Program

The Maternal Transport Program at Baptist for Women provides safe and convenient transportation throughout Mississippi and surrounding states to and from The Birthplace at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center for expectant mothers with a high-risk pregnancy or needing special or urgent care. Your local OB/GYN can arrange the service for you, and you will be returned home and to your physicians for follow-up care.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The Birthplace at MBMC includes a 32-bed, Level III, advanced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Awarded Disease Specific Certification in Prematurity by the Joint Commission, our NICU is staffed by board-certified neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, NICU-certified nurses and certified respiratory therapists who provide high-level care for your baby in a family-centered environment.

OB Hospitalist Program

The OB hospitalist program at Baptist for Women provides 24/7 access to hospital-based, board-certified OB/GYNs.

Our OB hospitalists evaluate women with obstetric and gynecologic medical issues and consult with the patient's primary physician or OB/GYN until her own physician arrives at the hospital. The OB hospitalist program does not take the patient from her own OB/GYN. Instead, it ensures that an OB/GYN sees every patient right away, regardless of time of day or physician association, in case urgent care is needed.

MBMC’s OB hospitalists are required to have additional training in neonatal resuscitation, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and OB emergency care. They are located in the obstetric emergency department (OBED) in The Birthplace, but also available for consultations in the hospital and MBMC’s main emergency department.

Types of urgent care cases seen by OB hospitalists include patients at least 16 weeks pregnant needing emergency care, ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, and tubo-ovarian abscesses. Because OB hospitalists are always on-site, they can provide immediate surgery or manage problems until the patient's OB/GYN arrives.

OB Emergency Department

What is an OBED?

When you are pregnant, all medical problems—even those not directly related to pregnancy—have to be treated with both Mom and baby in mind. The obstetric emergency department, or OBED, at Baptist is open 24 hours a day and provides urgent care for expectant mothers 16 to 35 weeks pregnant. Everything from common colds to high blood pressure can be evaluated, monitored and treated by OB hospitalists and nurses trained in labor and delivery.

The OBED is located in the labor and delivery unit in Baptist for Women.

The OBED or the Emergency Department?

It can be scary when you develop symptoms during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor. He or she will tell you if you should come to the hospital, and also where to go—the OBED or the main Emergency Department.

When the symptoms or emergency present potentially life-threatening conditions, such as blood clots, injuries from an automobile accident or medical conditions requiring care from multiple physicians, the OBED physician can receive you and begin treatment in the main ED. Once you are stable or in active labor, you can be transferred to the labor and delivery department where your own OB/GYN can take care of you. The OBED physician can then act as a consultant to your physician and even assist in surgery if required.

Before You Give Birth

Admissions Process

When it's time to go to the hospital to have your baby, the last thing on your mind should be paperwork. To help you avoid last- minute admissions issues, be sure to complete the pre-admissions process in advance. This will save time and streamline your admittance when you arrive.

Completing the pre-admissions process early in your pregnancy also allows you to take advantage of:

• Preferred registration in childbirth classes
• Complimentary membership in Natal Fit water aerobics
• A complimentary three-month membership to the Baptist Healthplex after delivery

The Birthplace pre-admission application process is easy. Simply complete the pre-admission application forms available in your physician's office. Mail (in the provided return envelope) or fax (601-968-4084) your completed application along with a photocopy of both sides of your insurance card.

If you have any questions, you can call the OB clerk at 601-968-1345.

Focus on Quality Care

Baptist is a member of the Vermont Oxford Network, an international collaborative of more 700 hospitals around the world, whose mission is to improve the quality and safety of medical care for newborn infants and their families. Through this membership, our staff is kept up to date with the newest information related to the care of newborns.