Birth Center
Family centered maternity care is the foundation of Preston Birth Center. The concept of family centered maternity care focuses on meeting the needs of mothers, infants, and their families. Our specially trained staff provide individualized care so that parents are involved and share in the childbirth experience according to their wishes. At Preston Birth Center, giving birth in a home-like setting is the ultimate birthing experience and what we strive to provide for you every day.

Before you arrive
During your routine prenatal visits, you will discuss your desired birth plan. Feel free to tour our birth center at any time to become familiar with the environment and staff. While touring the birth center, it would also be a good time to pre-register with our patient access representatives. That way, when you arrive in labor, you can just come straight to the birth center. Several weeks before your baby is due, you may want to pack a small bag with the following items:

For Mom: nursing bra (if you plan to breast feed) robe and slippers shampoo, hairbrush, makeup, etc. CDs or DVDs breast feeding pillow

For Baby: car seat (required to leave hospital) shirt hat blanket going home outfit

When you arrive
Upon arrival to the Preston Birth Center, you will be escorted to your own spacious and private room. In this room you will be able to share your birthing experience with friends, family, and whoever you choose to join you in welcoming your new arrival. Our nursing staff will support your requests while keeping in mind the health and safety of you and your baby. A jacuzzi tub is offered in two birthing rooms, our other rooms have showers and shower chairs available for your comfort. During labor, we try to keep you as comfortable as possible and have many options for birthing positions and techniques to help control your pain.

After delivery
At Preston Birth Center we try to minimize parent/infant separation. As long as there are no complications and your baby is doing well, the infant will be handed directly to you after delivery to allow for mother/baby bonding. While nursing staff is assisting mother in after delivery procedures, the nurse may take the newborn to our nursery to weigh him/her, take footprints, assess, and clean up. Family is allowed to accompany the nurse to the nursery, or if you request, this can be done at your bedside. The baby will be able to stay in your room with you and the family, but if you desire, we can also bring them to the nursery so that you may get some much needed rest! We encourage as much rest as possible!

Cesarean Births
Occasionally the need arises for a cesarean section. Should this happen, you will be taken to our operating room and cared for by our surgeon, certified nurse anesthetist, and operating room staff. Your birth center nurse and midwife will also accompany you there. At Preston Memorial, we strive to avoid un-necessary cesarean sections, but should the need arise, you will be well taken care of.

Before you go home
As you begin healing and the baby begins adjusting to life outside of the womb, our professional staff will educated you on caring for your infant and yourself. Bath demos, circumcision care, hearing screens, and nutrition will be addressed for you and your baby. We also have a certified lactation consultant to assist with breastfeeding. We will make sure that you are comfortable taking care of yourself and your baby before you are discharged.

Other services we offer
Certified Nurse Midwives
Most of the patient care at Preston Birth Center is provided by certified nurse midwives, using traditional midwifery principles. Midwives are experts in care for healthy women experiencing normal pregnancies. With a midwife, our patients get more one-on-one time as a midwife is able to attend the labor and delivery, and provide both physical and emotional support.

Certified Lactation Consultant
Preston’s lactation consultant is available by phone or in person. Our lactation consultant’s goal is to deliver optimal care to nursing infants and their mothers with consistent and accurate breastfeeding education and outreach. If you are thinking about breastfeeding, or you need assistance with your newborn once you’re at home, know that Preston Birth Center is here for you.

Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians
Preston’s child passenger saftey technicians will provide education and installation assistance for your child safety seats. Before discharge from the hospital, your child must have a safe and non-expired car seat. If you have questions regarding this, please call us.

Net Nursery
Parents can use our Net Nursery to announce the birth of their new baby. Friends and family can visit the Preston Memorial website and access Net Nursery with a password and login name chosen by the parents. There, they can view pictures, name, time of birth, weight, length, and sex of the baby. Parents can ask to have their baby added to our net nursery and we will do the rest!