Memorial's Family Birthing Center blends personalized, family-centered care and a warm environment with state-of-the-art obstetrical care. The goal of the Family Birthing Center is to provide a safe and pleasant birthing experience for parents and their newborns. The Birthing Center's policies have been designed to promote family togetherness in a secure environment.

Special features  |  Staff  |  Community support  |  Education  |  Support groups  |  Meeting future needs  |  Visiting Hours  |  Location

Special features

The Family Birthing Center provides a broad range of services for new parents and their children. Inpatient services include labor and delivery and postpartum care, and a variety of educational opportunities and support groups are offered on an outpatient basis.

• Labor and Delivery Unit
  The Family Birthing Center's labor/delivery/recovery rooms are designed so that childbirth can take place in a comfortable setting with the latest in modern technology. The variety of birthing options includes a comprehensive surgery service for Cesarean births or deliveries with complications.
  
• Mother/Baby Unit
  Memorial's mother/baby staff provides nursing care to each mother and her baby as a couplet, enhancing the opportunity for each mother to learn to care for and bond with her baby. A multilayered security system is used for the protection and safety of new mothers and their babies, and free 24-hour television programming on baby care and postpartum topics is available in each patient room.
  
• Intermediate Care Nursery
  This nursery was developed to provide specialized care for low birth weight, high risk, premature babies or any infants requiring advanced neonatal care.

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Staff

Experienced and highly skilled health care professionals in a multitude of specialties provide a team approach to patient care at Memorial Medical Center, ensuring the best possible treatment for each patient. The Family Birthing Center's staff is experienced in coordinating the birthing process and providing high tech, compassionate care for mothers and their babies.
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Community support

Community donations made through Memorial Hospital Foundation have added amenities to patient areas in the Family Birthing Center, enhancing care with efficient, state-of-the art equipment and comfortable surroundings. To learn about donating to the Family Birthing Center through the Foundation click here.

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Education

Memorial offers a variety of educational opportunities for parents and their children. Most classes are held at Memorial Medical Plaza, 1800 Coffee Road, Modesto. The instructors for these courses are Certified Childbirth Educators and/or nurses with extensive experience in obstetric and pediatric care.

• Breastfeeding, a two-hour class taught by a lactation educator, is included in the Childbirth Education Series offered at Memorial. This class may also be taken on its own for a fee of $20. Call (209) 572-7262 to register.
• Childbirth Education, a five-week series of classes, gives expectant parents the tools and knowledge to make the transition from pregnancy to parenthood. Breastfeeding instruction is included. Parents are advised to register for class by the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy. The fee is $75 per series. Call (209) 572-7262 to register.
• Daddy 101, a three-week series beginning the first Thursday of every month. New and expectant dads can learn the ropes about baby care, infant behavior, baby illness, safety and childproofing techniques. For information or to register, call 572-7262.
• Parenting CPR is offered at a cost of $15 per person or $25 per couple. The class teaches parents how to perform infant and child CPR and addresses basic first aid principles, home safety and injury prevention. Call (209) 572-7048 to register.
• Safe Sitters is a medically accurate course which teaches 11 to 13-year-olds how to handle babysitting emergencies. The program features basic first aid instruction designed by the American Red Cross and emphasizes accident prevention. Call (209) 572-7048 to register.
• Stork Tour provides the opportunity for expectant parents to tour the Family Birthing Center. Tours begin at the North Tower Orchard Room every Tuesday evening from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Call (209) 572-7038 for additional information.
• Babies at Sutterhealth Web Site:
  Find helpful guidelines and tips to caring for your newborn. Special Care for First Time Mothers; Deciding where to deliver?; Prenatal Exercise; Postpartum Depression.

To find out about upcoming educational presentations and events, click here.

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Support groups

The Family Birthing Center staff offers several support groups for new mothers.

• Mommy and Me is a weekly support group for mothers with infants or toddlers. The group provides education, camaraderie and support for new mothers. For information, call (209) 572-7262.
• Postpartum Depression Support Group offers resources that will allow new mothers to become more knowledgeable about postpartum depression, its causes and available treatment options. For information, call (209) 526-4500, ext. 7343.

To find out about upcoming programs and support groups, click here.

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Meeting future needs

Over the past several years, the volume of deliveries performed in the Family Birthing Center has increased tremendously, with record numbers of patients filling the obstetrics area and the intermediate care nursery, which is dedicated to caring for higher risk infants. As a result, the Family Birthing Center has operated at or near maximum capacity for the past two years.

In January 2003, Memorial opened a 10,000 square foot addition to the Family Birthing Center, which will enable us to meet the community's future needs. The addition provides more private patient rooms with private showers, a new and expanded waiting room and a new area for viewing newborns. It includes ten postpartum rooms as well as three labor/delivery/recovery rooms and six intermediate care nursery beds.
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Visiting Hours

To allow new mothers enough time for rest, infant feeding and education, visiting hours for everyone (except the father or significant other) are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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Location

The Family Birthing Center is located on the first floor of Memorial Medical Center, 1700 Coffee Road, Modesto (209) 572-7170. To find the Family Birthing Center on the Memorial Medical Center map, click here.

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