Your Stay at McLaren Northern Michigan Family BirthPlace
Family BirthPlace at Mclaren Northern Michigan is located at 416 Connable Ave. in Petoskey Michigan. We over look the beautiful Lake Michigan and are right off W Mitchell St. Our physicians, surgeons and other health care team members are committed to delivering care and providing excellence in family birthing. Family BirthPlace at McLaren Northern Michigan cares close to home in Petoskey, and other surrounding up north areas. Our accommodations, classes and other services we provide are all discussed below.
Mothers choose the Family BirthPlace at McLaren Northern Michigan with confidence because of the compassion and expertise of our care providers and the warm and beautiful home-like atmosphere.
Birthing Center Classes
McLaren Northern Michigan Birthing Classes
Have questions about our classes? Call our Childbirth Educators at (231) 487-4000.
Accommodations
Having a baby is a special and unique experience. The birthing team at McLaren Northern Michigan will make every effort to support you and provide compassionate care during your hospital stay. Some of the features available include:
- Hotel-like birthing rooms including sleeper sofas for the comfort of loved ones who will join you during the birth
- Tools to help manage your comfort during labor, such as birthing balls, birthing bar, and birthing chair
- Birthing rooms include hydrotherapeutic jacuzzi tubs
- Televisions and complimentary WiFi
- Blanket warmers
- A well-rounded menu and personal delivery from our room service ambassadors
- Special complimentary first family meal for the mother and father after the birth of a child
- Special footprint keepsake of your newborn
The Family BirthPlace consists of four labor and birthing rooms that provide a warm and pleasing home-like atmosphere. After the birth of your baby, you will be transferred to one of the 10 post-partum rooms. Each family stays together in the post-partum room and mother and baby are cared for by the same nurse.
The Family BirthPlace also includes a newborn observation area, if your baby requires a medical procedure or additional assessments. Our goal is to keep you and your baby together, unless there is a medical reason to separate you.
Baby-Friendly Philosophy
At the McLaren Northern Michigan Family BirthPlace, we follow a Baby-Friendly philosophy. Being Baby-Friendly means offering care that supports mother/baby bonding and gives parents and newborns the best possible start for infant feeding.
We believe those first moments after birth are precious for developing strong bonds between you and your baby. As soon as possible, we'll bring your new baby to your chest (skin-to-skin). Regular skin-to-skin contact helps your baby recover from birth and feed better.
If you are a breastfeeding family, a Lactation Counselor will be available to provide expert care and compassionate support along the way. A "Breastfeeding Warm-Line" is available if you have questions concerning breastfeeding after you have gone home. Outpatient visits to see a Lactation Counselor can also be arranged if the need arises. To schedule an Outpatient visit with a Lactation Counselor, please call McLaren Northern Michigan Lactation Services at (231) 487-7195.
Designated Obstetric OR
Cesarean births are performed on the maternity floor. A fully-equipped Operating Room is located within the Family BirthPlace unit with an OB-GYN to accommodate scheduled or emergency cesarean births with recovery in the unit. The baby's father, or designated support person, is permitted to be with you during your baby's birth.
Highly-Trained and Experienced Caregivers
We provide OB-GYN services for women and families throughout northern Michigan. Services can be provided throughout pregnancy and until birth. Registered nurses are specially trained in mother and child care. Each obstetric nurse maintains current certification in fetal monitoring as well as neonatal resuscitation. Social service and care coordination are provided along with all other disciplines within the Hospital. For more information about our Obstetric team, please call (231) 487-4000.
Pre-Birth Hospital Appointment
ALL mothers who plan to give birth at McLaren Northern Michigan (even if you've had a baby here before), are asked to have a pre-birth appointment. This appointment is generally 30-40 minutes. You can choose to meet with a nurse or set up a phone appointment. The pre-birth appointment will preregister you for your hospital stay, review your educational needs, discuss your birth plan, answer questions, and tour the OB area if you desire. Ideally, your appointment will be scheduled 3-4 weeks prior to your due date. A nurse will call you to schedule your pre-birth appointment.