Living with an ostomy hasn't slowed me down one bit.

Maternity Services

Labor, Delivery and Recovery

Pregnancy Extras

Save a life. Donate your baby's umbilical cord blood.

Pregnancy in the News

St. Louis Review: Faith is fortifying this house, new dweller and all

ideo | udio | ews

At St. Anthony's Family Birth Center, new moms and babies enjoy one-on-one attention from experienced and caring staff using the very latest technology — all in beautiful and comfortable surroundings. We offer a broad range of obstetrical services to support women and their families during this exciting time.

During Your Stay

When you are admitted, you will be brought to one of our 14 newly renovated labor, delivery and recovery suites. These rooms feature televisions, DVD players, recliners and ceiling fans. This is where you will stay throughout your labor until approximately an hour after you deliver your baby. If you have a cesarean delivery, this will occur in one of the two operating rooms on the labor and delivery floor. You will then be back to your labor and delivery room for about an hour after your delivery.

During the labor and delivery process, you are invited to use one of our birthing balls or rocking chair to help assist you through labor. You may be given a telemetry monitor, which gives you the freedom to walk around the unit during your labor if you want. Family members are invited to be with you during your labor.

You can take comfort in knowing the majority of labor and delivery nurses at St. Anthony’s have many years of experience. They are all Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certified, and many have additional inpatient obstetric/fetal monitoring certifications.

Anesthesia During Labor and Delivery

If you choose to have an epidural for pain relief during labor, the anesthesia department will work with you, your doctor, and your labor and delivery nurse to help you make the best decisions for you and your baby.

At St. Anthony's, anesthesia services are provided by South County Anesthesiology.

• A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is available in the department 24 hours a day and will provide anesthesia for your delivery.
• A board-certified anesthesiologist is available in the hospital at all times.
• The CRNA and the anesthesiologist work together as a team to provide your obstetrical anesthesia.

We realize that you may have many questions and concerns regarding anesthesia during labor and delivery. We strongly recommend you take advantage of the following opportunities, especially if this is your first child, so that you are informed and aware of the options available.

Childbirth Classes: Epidural information is included in all of the Lamaze Classes. Please register during your fourth month of pregnancy and plan to attend during your seventh month. Call 314-ANTHONY (268-4669) to register.

There also is an excellent educational and informative Web site: www.painfreebirthing.com (designed and maintained by Harvard’s Medical School, Division of Obstetric Anesthesia) that you may visit. If you are unsure or have questions — this Web site is very helpful, especially for first time moms, and it is available in several languages.

Should you go into labor before you have had a chance to attend a childbirth class or explore the Web site above, you may view an anesthesia educational film in the labor and delivery department.

Special Conditions

There are certain medical conditions in which regional anesthesia (spinal or epidural) may not be suitable for you. If you have a bleeding or clotting disorder, an infection on your back, or have had back surgery you may not be eligible for spinal or epidural anesthesia. Please have your physician contact the anesthesiologist if you have any of the above conditions or any other significant medical problem in order to consult with you and your doctor beforehand.

Recovery

After your baby is born, he or she can be placed skin to skin upon your chest. This process helps your baby’s immune system by colonizing the baby to the mother’s normal skin bacteria. If you choose to breast feed, you are encouraged to put your baby to breast within one hour after delivery. One of our certified lactation consultants is available to assist you with breastfeeding.

The recovery process will take approximately one to two hours.  You and your baby will then be moved to one of our postpartum rooms.

Back to top

For information, please call our Health Access Line at 314-ANTHONY (268-4669) or 800-554-9550 or visit find a physician online.

At St. Anthony's, our vision is to be the area's premier health care organization
— and your first choice for health care services.