Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1499650
4 | Health Matters: Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center For Healthy Births, Providence Delivers Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center specializes in patient-centered maternity care. W hen we opened our doors nearly 80 years ago, our very first patient was an expectant mom. And since that first day, Providence Saint Joseph has been committed to offering the best possible birthing experience. We encourage parents to let us know their expectations, preferences and concerns so we can support and guide them through this special time. That kind of care is why U.S. News & World Report rated Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center one of the best hospitals in the U.S. for low-risk maternity care. "Choosing the right hospital at which to give birth can make all the difference," says Melissa Wickersham, MSN, executive director of women's and children's services. "We start by listening and finding out what matters to you. As you develop your birth plan, we're here to guide you and support your preferences." During pregnancy, Providence offers antepartum testing with state- of-the-art, noninvasive tests to examine the baby 's well-being. When it's time to deliver, Providence Saint Joseph offers a variety of options, including wireless monitoring, which gives expectant parents the ability to move around the room while in labor. Many of our nurses have been trained in Spinning Babies, a fetal rotation technique used to help position babies for as natural a childbirth as possible. There's a respiratory therapist and nurse at every single delivery, "which is not something everybody does," Wickersham says. Most deliveries are routine, but some little ones may need extra help entering the world. Minimizing surgical intervention can help ensure a safer delivery. In 2021, fewer than 24% of first-time, low- risk, full-term pregnancies were delivered by cesarean section at Providence Saint Joseph, significantly less than the state and national averages. Our physicians perform vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC) whenever possible. After delivery, a 32-bed postpartum unit offers private rooms so you can bond as a family. Lactation support is available seven days a week. If something doesn't go as planned, our 20-bed, Level III neonatal intensive care unit offers the highest level of acute care