I think I am in labor, what do I do?
- If you think you may be in labor, call your physician, and he or she will instruct you as to what you should do.
- During regular admission hours, enter through the main entrance. An admission clerk will assist you with registration, and you will be accompanied by a nurse to your labor and delivery suite.
- During evening and weekend hours, enter through the emergency room entrance.
- If your situation is an emergency, please call 911 or go to the emergency department.
Thinking about labor and delivery can be one of the most stressful parts of pregnancy. When it comes to childbirth, Great Plains Health physicians and nurses are the most experienced in the area. Great Plains Health is home to extensively equipped labor and delivery, recovery, and postpartum suites. We also have a state-of-the-art operating room equipped for Cesarean section (C-section) births and emergency procedures if needed, located within the labor and delivery area.
Our highly skilled labor and delivery team provides individualized, high-quality, family-centered care and support to laboring mothers throughout the entire birthing process. This includes but is not limited to use of a birthing ball; shower; and assistance with breathing techniques, acupressure and positioning.
When it comes to childbirth, Great Plains Health physicians and nurses are the most experienced in the area.
The labor and delivery nursing team at Great Plains Health provides extraordinary care with knowledge, skill and compassion.
Pain management
- Natural childbirth: Mothers who wish to have a natural childbirth, using no pain medication, are supported by our labor and delivery team. Relaxation tips, breathing techniques and other natural ways to relieve pain during labor are provided.
- Pain relief medications: Our labor and delivery team works with physicians to provide IV pain medication if a patient desires it. Anesthesiologists are also available around the clock to administer an epidural block and/or local anesthesia to provide pain relief to laboring mothers.
- Relaxation and breathing exercises: Great Plains Health offers childbirth classes that teach relaxation methods and breathing techniques prior to delivery.
Family-centered cesarean births
If you are scheduled to have a caesarean birth, you will be admitted to the labor unit the morning of the surgery. A labor nurse will help you prepare. Most often a spinal anesthetic is administered.
Great Plains Health is dedicated to providing patient- and family-centered cesarean births. We are happy to have your partner stay with you in the OR during the birth to offer encouragement and support. After birth, your baby will be dried and assessed at the warmer and then placed skin-to-skin with you in the OR at your request as long as both mother and baby are stable. Recovery will be completed in your private room as you remain with your newborn.
Throughout your stay, your nurse will monitor your recovery, provide you with pain medication as you need it, and assist you in feeding and caring for your infant.
Skin-to-skin after delivery
Great Plains Health promotes skin-to-skin during the "magical hour": the first hour immediately after delivery.
- If desired, a healthy baby will be immediately dried off and placed directly onto the mom's chest, with the baby's skin against the mom's skin.
- For C-section deliveries, the baby may be placed skin-to-skin on the mom or held by the dad skin-to-skin until the mom is ready and able, if desired.
Spending the first hour right against the mom’s skin makes it easier for the baby to adapt to the outside world.
Even after the first hour, skin-to-skin remains beneficial and should be continued by moms or dads during the baby’s first month of life.
Breastfeeding support
Great Plains Health supports exclusive breastfeeding with support beginning immediately after delivery.
- Skin-to-skin encourages breastfeeding soon after birth.
- Bedside breastfeeding support is available during the entire stay.
- Lactation consultants are available throughout recovery and your stay, as well as for the entire duration of breastfeeding.