Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1499652
6 | Health Matters: Providence Holy Cross Medical Center CONFIDENCE IN CHOOSING AN OB The right doctor puts you and your baby's health first. Childbirth is a critical moment in life. Whether you have a high-risk pregnancy or want to deliver without pain medication, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is committed to helping you find an obstetrician who shares your expectations and values. Here are a few questions to get you started in making that decision. The basics. How would the OB describe their role in your care? How long have they been practicing? How many C-sections have they performed in the past year? And do they take your insurance? Prenatal care. Before and during your pregnancy, you'll need ongoing support and personalized care. Ask how often you'll see the doctor, how they 'll handle your questions between visits and whether they 'll still be your doctor if your pregnancy becomes high-risk. Will they help you create a birth plan? Labor and delivery. During this stage, it's vital to have an OB who respects your choices and avoids unnecessary interventions that can lead to complications. Ask who will deliver if your doctor is unavailable, what their thoughts are about inducing labor and what choices they offer for pain management. Postpartum care. Your OB can help both you and your baby thrive after delivery. Ask if your baby can sleep in the same room with you, if your partner can stay over as well and what kind of help with breastfeeding you can expect to receive. Now ask the most important person: yourself. Do the OB's values align with mine? Do I trust their judgment? Do I like the way they communicate? And do they make me feel respected, confident and safe? Our team is here for you. To find an obstetrician near you, call 844-510-4325 or visit providence.org/holycross. CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY, ONE BABY AT A TIME As the largest delivering hospital in the San Fernando Valley, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center delivers an average of 224 babies a month. Our physicians and employees are dedicated to providing patient-centered care, delivered with empathy and compassion. "Every one of our nurses could work anywhere they 'd like," says Bev Holland, DNP, executive director of Maternal Child Health. "But they choose to come here and serve this community—to create the best experience and to provide to our families here." This summer, Providence Holy Cross will open an expanded neonatal intensive care unit, increasing our capacity to care for our littlest patients. The facility will have cribs for 18 premature babies instead of the current 12, reducing the need to transfer fragile infants to other facilities. Secure cameras will allow parents to watch over their babies, and therapeutic, state-of-the-art body cooling will lower the temperature of a baby who's experienced a traumatic labor experience. The new NICU is just another way Providence Holy Cross is caring for our community. "Our level of patient satisfaction is through the roof," says Holland. "This is their birth experience, and we want it to be memorable. People are inviting us into the sacred space of a baby coming into the world. We want to partner with them to achieve their goals." The obstetrics and gynecology program at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals program and by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program for nursing excellence in clinical care. Bev Holland