Dignity Health | hello Healthy | Summer 2019

8 DignityHealth.org/central-california | Summer 2019 For Debbie Maltbie, RN, the best part about working at Dignity Health – St. Joseph’s Medical Center’s Family Birth Center is being there for families on their special day when they hold their new baby for the first time. “We celebrate with the families,” says Maltbie, who is Director of Maternal Child Services. “Sometimes you become almost like a part of the family because you’ve celebrated and experienced such a wonderful time with them.” Celebrations occur often at the Family Birth Center, where, every month, 250 to 300 babies are delivered. The doctors, nurses, and other team members practice mother-baby care, an approach designed to encourage bonding. They want every woman to have the delivery experience she desires. And they’re supportive labor coaches. “They have a heart for moms and babies, and it shows,” Maltbie says. In addition to the birth center’s highly trained and experienced staff, other highlights and features include: Patient comforts. There are nine private labor and delivery rooms. Each of the 30 postpartum rooms has a sleeper couch for a guest. That’s in addition to a lot of little touches, like bedside meal orders and delicious cookies delivered each afternoon. A 30-bed NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). It provides special care for sick or premature babies. An in-house obstetrician. Because St. Joseph’s has a hospitalist program, laboring moms are seen by an obstetrician right away. (To better serve little ones, the center is adding an in-house pediatrician this summer as well.) Great breastfeeding support. St. Joseph’s was San Joaquin County’s first designated Baby-Friendly hospital. The global initiative recognizes centers that offer ideal breastfeeding care. “We make sure moms who want to breastfeed get every opportunity to have breastfeeding established before they go home,” Maltbie says. All birth center nurses are trained to provide breastfeeding guidance, A special place for FAMILY BIRTH CENTER