Mercy Birthplace - St. Louis

• Amenities – Our spacious suites have foldout couches for labor partners, jetted tubs (available in 17 suites), multi-jet showers in all rooms, wireless waterproof fetal monitors, birthing balls and balance bars for labor support, flatscreen TVs with auxiliary ports for other devices, Wi-Fi, plenty of workspace, refrigerators, microwaves, recliners and nearby waiting areas designed with families in mind.
• Doula-friendly birthplace – You're welcome to bring a doula (non-medical labor coach) to assist you before, during and after childbirth.
• Comfort measures – If you choose to have pain relief during labor, Mercy’s certified nurse anesthetists are available 24/7 to provide timely epidural anesthesia. We also offer nitrous oxide pain relief as an alternative.
• Delivery options – We support all types of deliveries: vaginal birth, cesarean section and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).
• Low-intervention birth suites – If you want to experience a more home-like birth environment, these two suites have queen-size beds, hotel-inspired linens and extra space to move during labor.

After delivery, your new family will move to a private postpartum room where you can recover and get to know your baby. Many mothers choose to have their healthy newborns “room in,” as recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Studies show “rooming in” promotes breastfeeding, helps you learn your baby’s cues and reduces your risk of postpartum depression. Your Mercy care team will be there to answer questions and offer newborn care tips, such as how to bathe or swaddle your baby. Our nursery is also available 24/7.
 

Room service and light snacks are available. The hospital also offers newborn photography, so consider bringing a special outfit, swaddling blanket or toy for your baby’s first photos.

If you choose an unmedicated birth with care provided by certified nurse midwives, Mercy has an in-hospital, low-risk birthing center. Mercy Birthing Center offers a home-like birth with the added safety of hospital resources nearby. If you’re considering this option, we encourage you to attend Natural Birth Preparation childbirth classes. 

Mercy Birthplace offers comprehensive support for breastfeeding mothers. During your hospital stay, our certified lactation consultants visit regularly to discuss breastfeeding benefits, help you with positioning, explain how to use a breast pump and answer your questions. Our St. Louis lactation consultants are IBLCE certified and earned prestigious Missouri Show-Me 5 recognition for breastfeeding initiatives.
 

Did you know outpatient breastfeeding services are available before and after you deliver? Schedule a consult by calling 314-251-6781. Our services include:
 

• Prenatal breastfeeding preparation – Meet with a lactation consultant before your baby arrives to feel confident from the start. In a private, comfortable room, your consultant will:
  • Review your personal goals for feeding your baby
  • Assess your medical history related to lactation
  • Create a custom plan for breastfeeding success
  • Educate you on feeding techniques, breast pumps (including custom flange fitting), and hand expressing milk
  • Provide a free colostrum-collection kit and a breastfeeding book with educational videos
• Postnatal breastfeeding support – After you take your baby home, outpatient support can help you reach your breastfeeding goals. Our lactation experts will:
  • Evaluate breastfeeding issues in a private, comfortable room
  • Explain how to prevent and treat breast engorgement, mastitis, blocked ducts or sore nipples
  • Offer solutions for low milk supply and infant weight-gain issues
  • Educate you on feeding techniques, breast pumps (including custom flange fitting), and hand expressing milk
  • Provide return-to-work consultations and baby weight checks
• Milk depot – Donated breast milk is a lifesaving gift. Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas is a donation site for donors approved by The Milk Bank – visit their website to learn how to become a donor. Approved donors can schedule a milk drop-off by calling 314-251-MILK.

Many expectant parents find comfort in knowing that Mercy Birthplace has a Level IV NICU to address any newborn-related health concerns. Care is provided by Mercy Kids neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners.

When expectant mothers or their babies need extra medical care, our Maternal-Fetal Health Centers at Mercy Hospital St. Louis and in O’Fallon, Missouri, as well as Maryville, Illinois, have specialists available 24/7. Mercy’s maternal-fetal medicine doctors care for mothers with pregnancy risk factors and infants who are born prematurely or with special challenges. If needed, they continue to care for newborns in our Level IV NICU.

Some expectant mothers need to be on bedrest or limit their activities before delivery. Mercy’s Antepartum Unit provides comprehensive inpatient care in comfortable surroundings for women who experience pregnancy-related medical conditions, such as:
 

• Pre-term labor (contractions before 37 weeks)
• Premature rupture of membranes
• Bleeding
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Smaller-than-expected fetal growth
• Pregnancy with more than one baby
• Polyhydramnios (more than the expected amount of fluid around the baby)
• Ongoing hyperemesis (constant nausea and vomiting)

Your newborn will have a complete pediatric exam in the hospital by their Mercy pediatrician or a pediatric hospitalist (a pediatrician who primarily works in the hospital). Mercy recommends that you choose your baby’s pediatrician or family doctor by your 30^th week of pregnancy. If you need help finding your baby’s doctor, ask a care team member to connect you with our prenatal nurse navigator. While in the hospital, you’ll also schedule your baby's first doctor appointment outside the hospital, which is usually two to five days after discharge.