Having a baby is an exciting adventure. Women who are in their childbearing years or sexually active may consider seeing a doctor even before becoming pregnant. Scheduling a preconception appointment can:

• Optimize your health in order to increase the likelihood that you will have a healthy baby.
• Ensure continuity of care. You can meet a doctor and decide whether or not you want him or her to care for you during your pregnancy.
• Identify any potential problems, such as infertility, that need to be addressed prior to pregnancy.

If you’re already pregnant, routine prenatal visits will help you and your baby remain healthy and the pregnancy is progressing normally.

Experienced Staff, Warm Environment

The doctors, nurses, and other specially trained staff at Baylor Scott & White are focused on you and your baby’s health throughout your pregnancy and delivery.

Our labor and delivery rooms feature soothing décor and plenty of room for members of your family. Our quality maternity and delivery services are known throughout the country.

Creating a Special Bond

We always encourage you to have a support person with you during labor and delivery.

Skin to Skin Contact/Kangaroo Care

We want your baby’s transition to the outside world to be as calm as possible. That’s why we promote skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby (also known as Kangaroo Care) starting immediately after delivery.

This approach to bonding involves holding the baby, who is naked except for a diaper and a blanket that is draped over them, on a parent’s bare chest. Research has shown the many benefits of this approach to bonding:

• Stabilization of the baby’s heart rate
• Regulation of baby’s breathing pattern
• Regulation of the baby’s body temperature and much more

Our nursing staff is there to help you get started with this important bonding time.

At a parent’s request, we can provide couplet care for families after they have delivered, but our newborn nursery is available 24 hours a day. Couplet care is when mothers and newborns remain together for the entire hospital stay, rather than the baby staying in a nursery. This approach to care for mom and baby has several benefits:

• Facilitating mother-baby bonding
• Facilitating baby-family bonding
• Promoting early breastfeeding success

Level II NICUs, which are prepared to provide advanced life-support services and technologies for premature and seriously ill newborns.

Our Level II NICU provides the highest level of care available for our tiniest patients. Staffed by specialized nurses, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatologists, and many other skilled staff, the unit is designed to promote optimal developmental care for sick infants.

Baylor Scott & White lactation consultants are specially-trained and certified to support breastfeeding as a natural physiologic process that promotes better infant and maternal health and well-being.

This service is available to all new mothers and continues until the weaning of the child. Follow-up support and a specialized office allow quick, personalized help with any lactation problems. Our services include:

• Breastfeeding classes
• Assistance with breastfeeding while in hospital
• Postpartum follow-up for mother and baby by appointment or telephone
• Breast pump rental and breastfeeding supplies
• Support and assistance to mothers of premature or compromised infants in initiating and maintaining lactation
• Support and assistance to mothers of premature or compromised infants in initiating and maintaining lactation
• Education and counseling for working mothers