Even though Kathleen Michel lives nearer to a Columbus hospital, she felt it would be worth the travel to give birth to her children at Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH).  She feels a personal connection to LMH because she and her siblings were born there, and her mother had worked in the Mother and Baby unit.  When Kathleen became pregnant with her first child, she visited Licking Memorial Women’s Health and began to discover more about what LMH had to offer.  Kathleen wanted to learn everything she could about the growth and development of her unborn baby and the changes her own body would undergo.  She was very excited to discover that LMH’s Maternal Child Services offers numerous educational programs including a Centering Pregnancy Program.  

The Centering Pregnancy Program offers more personalized care for mothers-to-be and provides a space for women to voice their concerns, share their experiences, and promote self-care.  LMH launched the program in the fall of 2019 to promote healthy birth outcomes by providing educational experiences and more healthcare provider contact to pregnant women.  The program brings together women with similar due dates to participate in nurse-led meetings beginning around their 14th week of pregnancy.  The group meets once a month for the first four meetings, then twice a month for the last four meetings to complete the program around their 36th week of pregnancy.

“Participating in the Centering Pregnancy Program taught me so much about what to expect during pregnancy so that I could make informed choices about my own birthing experience,” Kathleen said.  “More importantly, I was able to build connections with other women.  It was amazing to hear their stories, and we could all relate to one another, encourage each other, and talk about everything.“
In April, Kathleen began experiencing cramping and visited the Labor and Delivery unit at LMH.  She was informed that she was in labor and was admitted to LMH to prepare for the birth of her son.  The nurses asked about Kathleen’s birth plan.  She had decided she wanted to give birth as quickly as possible, and receive an epidural, a type of regional anesthesia that blocks pain signals from traveling to the brain.  Labor progressed smoothly and soon Kathleen and her husband were holding their newborn son, Crew.

“The nurses and staff are so kind and it was so nice to know that the team working with me was in my corner and wanted to support me in whatever way possible with my health and safety in mind.  They checked on me often to ensure I was laboring well and asked if there was anything I needed,” Kathleen remembered.  “Everyone was encouraging, and I felt very comfortable with the team.”

In the Mother and Baby unit, the nurses encourage new parents to spend as much time as possible with their new baby.  LMH promotes rooming in for bonding and breastfeeding success, but in cases where medical indications or maternal exhaustion are present, short-term separation may be accommodated to promote rest and safety.  “From the moment he arrived into the world and the staff examined him, to when he had his first bath, the staff did everything with us at arms reach.  After being awake for over 36 hours, we were exhausted, and the nurse offered to take him to the nursery for a few hours so we could get some rest,” Kathleen shared.  “As soon as I woke up, the nurse brought him back to me.  My husband and I also really enjoyed the candlelight dinner with fillet mignon and lobster offered by LMH.  The food was amazing throughout our stay.”

“The lactation consultants were super helpful as well.  As a first time mom, having no knowledge about breastfeeding felt very overwhelming,” Kathleen said.  “The consultants made sure I was doing everything properly and that my baby was being fed.  They offered valuable advice and made the process easier.  The lactation class beforehand was also filled with useful information about what to expect.”

After Kathleen and Crew returned home, an LMH Home Visiting Nurse visited her at home.  LMH offers a home visit to every first-time mother, every breastfeeding mother, or a mother who is referred by a physician or nurse and may need a little assistance or reassurance after delivery.  During the visit, the nurse completed a blood pressure check, depression screening, and offered breastfeeding support.  The nurse also completed a newborn assessment, weight check, and answered general newborn questions.  A special meeting for the other women who went through the Patient Centering Program was also arranged after all the women gave birth.

“I am still in contact with the other three women from the program,” Kathleen shared.  “We are planning our own mommy/baby date soon.  I would advise any mother to ask about the program and participate.  I learned so much and I now have women in my life that I can lean on when I need encouragement.  Another benefit was the Stork Tour.  We visited the birthing suites and the postpartum rooms which gave me a much better understanding of what to expect when I went into labor.  I cannot say enough about how wonderful everyone at LMH was to me, my husband, and our son!”

In addition to the Patient Centering Program, LMH offers a one-day Childbirth Education and Mother-baby Basics class to provide information, skills, and resources needed to prepare for the birth of your baby.  A Breastfeeding Basics, Breastfeeding Support Group, Boot Camp for Dads, Postpartum Support, and classes for siblings and grandparents are also available.  All classes are free of charge and take place at LMH in the First Floor Conference Room.  To find out more about the classes, call (220) 564-4333 or visit LMHealth.org.