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Obstetrics

About Obstetrics at HealthAlliance
Obstetric Services
     Breastfeeding Center - The Nursing Mom
Obstetrics Staff
Patient Information and Events
FAQs
Other Web Sources

About Obstetrics at HealthAlliance
HealthAlliance is a great place to have your baby. The maternity service features personalized care from prenatal classes through delivery and discharge. Lactation support, classes, and homelike surroundings enhance your birth experience. Our expert physicians, anesthesiologists, nurses, and support staff are here to provide you with high quality family-centered care, close to home.

As a member hospital of UMass Memorial Health Care, infants who require intensive care are referred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Umass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Learn more about our services by clicking on the topics below.

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Obstetric Services
HealthAlliance's newly renovated obstetric unit and state of the art equipment offers you the birth experience you've always wanted, close to home.

Our seven Labor/Delivery/Recovery (LDR) beds allow patients to stay in one location accompanied by family members until they are ready to move to either one of the eight private or four semi-private rooms.

Cesarean section deliveries are also performed in our LDR unit and patients recover in their rooms, where they can have their family with them.

We also offers intrathecal anesthesia (walking epidural), allowing patients to walk around during labor without discomfort. Our liberal visiting hours further encourage family support.

Lactation consultant and breastfeeding support
A wide array of breastfeeding services are available in our Maternity Unit at HealthAlliance Hospital – Leominster Campus. We offer everything needed to enhance the special experience between mother and baby including breastfeeding supplies, counseling, classes, and support groups for breastfeeding families.

Our Lactation Consultant is available for private consultation during the hospital stay or after discharge to home. HealthAlliance has a high breastfeeding rate – approximately 70%.

HealthAlliance also boasts the only full-service, hospital-based breastfeeding center in North Central Massachusetts – The Nursing Mom. This center offers breastfeeding supplies (everything from nursing bras to breastpumps and books) to both and the public.

Location
Maternity Unit, The Nursing Mom and the Lactation Consultant are located at HealthAlliance Hospital Ð Leominster Campus

For more information
Maternity Unit, 978/466-2346

Lactation consultant and the Nursing Mom, 978-466-2365 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm

Classes
Pre-delivery breastfeeding class, call 978-466-2354
Postpartum breastfeeding class, call 978-466-2365

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Obstetrics Staff  

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Patient Information and Events

Location of Obstetrics
HealthAlliance Hospital – Leominster campus
60 Hospital Road
Leominster, MA 01453
Visiting Hours
Significant other, siblings and grandparents may visit at any time.
For other visitors, visiting hours are between 1 and 8PM

Classes
Family and Childbirth Education The following birthing classes are held regularly at Health Alliance – call regarding location/campus

Childbirth classes Weeknights 7 PM – 9 PM, $65 Experienced maternity registered nurses, nurses and certified childbirth educators teach six sessions covering all aspects of third trimester pregnancy, labor and delivery. There is special emphasis on the physical and emotional preparation for beginning a family. Topics include natural pain relief techniques (relaxation and paced breathing), medical procedures and interventions (analgesia/anesthesia options).

Saturdays, 9AM – 12:30 PM, $65 This program, the same as described above, is covered in ten hours of instruction (three Saturdays in a row).

Childbirth refresher classes
Monthly, 7PM – 9 PM, $25 This series is for the expectant mother and her support person who have completed a childbirth course for a previous pregnancy. Sessions include discussions about labor and birth preparation, relaxation and breathing techniques and preparing the family for a new baby.

Parenting class
Monthly, Wednesday, 7PM – 9PM, Free Conducted by a Pediatrician or Pediatric Nurse Practitioner which provides information on what to expect the first few weeks at home with a new baby.

Sibling tour
Monthly, Sunday 1 – 2 PM, $5 per child. This one-hour class prepares prospective brothers and sisters (who are at least three years old) for the arrival of a new baby. It includes a practice time for diapering and holding a new baby, a "birth" day party celebration, and a tour of the maternity unit.

Breastfeeding
Monthly, 7PM – 9PM, $5 (free if signed up for any other birthing class). This two-hour class, taught by a certified lactation consultant is designed to help pregnant women and their partners learn about the process and benefits of breastfeeding. Those who have already had their baby and would like to learn more about breastfeeding are also encouraged to attend. Breastfeeding does make a difference!

For information and registration materials for these classes, call the Childbirth Education Program at 978.466.2354. Registration is recommended four months before the due date. Health plans may provide full or partial coverage of the cost of classes. Also, stay tuned for upcoming information regarding our new Early Pregnancy class.

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FAQ's

How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?
Babies usually nurse 8-12 times every 24 hours. By the time you're the baby is six or seven days old there should be six to eight wet diapers every day. Position the baby well for nursing and watch for good signs of "latch on".

What do the baby's bowel movements look like?
The baby's first few bowel movements may be black in color and sticky (meconium). These will change to greenish-brown and then to a loose and granular yellow color as the mother's milk comes in.

How much weight does a baby gain?
Babies may lose weight at first - but as themature breast milk comes in the baby will begin to gain one half to one ounce per day and will usually be back to birth weight by two weeks of age.


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Other Web Sources

For more information, call the director of maternal/child health services at 978.466.2364 or the manager of maternal/child health services at 978.466.4275.

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