Having Your Baby at Baystate Health
Birthing Services at Baystate Health
At Baystate Health, we offer all the support and services you need to grow your family. Our team of OB/GYN nurses, doctors, and midwives is committed to providing personalized, compassionate care at every stage of pregnancy and childbirth.
You and your family can expect high-quality, personalized care throughout your pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Plus, we offer a full range of services and amenities to ensure a safe and comfortable prenatal and birthing experience.
Low Risk Birth Unit
If you are a low risk midwifery patient that desires a low intervention birth with personalized labor support, please ask your provider for details. The low risk unit will provide a birth experience for families who desire a physiologic (natural) birth and focus on support measures proved to achieve this goal.
Learn more about amenities and what to bring to the hospital.
Begin Your Journey With Us
Choose a Maternity Hospital
We offer supportive childbirth services at both Wesson Women and Infants' Unit at Baystate Medical Center (BMC) in Springfield and The Birthplace at Baystate Franklin Medical Center (BFMC) in Greenfield. Both childbirth center locations offer the latest labor and delivery equipment and high-quality care. And if anything unexpected happens during your labor or delivery, Baystate has the expertise and technology needed to care for you and your baby.
Our two birthing centers offer different birthing options and amenities:
Make an Appointment to Begin Prenatal Care
Once you've chosen a hospital for delivery, you will need to make an appointment to start your prenatal care with one of our midwifery or OB/GYN practice groups.
If you'll be delivering your baby at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, call Pioneer Women's Health in either Northampton or Greenfield.
If you will be delivering your baby at Baystate Medical Center, contact one of our Women's Health locations or one of our partner practice groups:- Women's Health Associates (a partner practice)
- Baystate OB/GYN Group Inc. (BOGG) (a partner practice including physicians and midwives)
- Valley Women's Health Group (a partner practice)
At Baystate Women’s Health Clinics, We Offer:
- Routine prenatal testing and procedures, including fetal heart monitoring
- 3D ultrasound when recommended by your provider
- Genetic counseling and testing, to help you understand health risks that run in your family
- Birth plan counseling
- Childbirth, breastfeeding, and parenting education and resources
- Help with existing health conditions that may affect your pregnancy
Support Throughout Your Journey
We provide a wealth of education, expertise, and support for new parents and families. We’re here to help answer questions, explore topics, and find the resources you need.
Sign up for our parenting email newsletter for additional support. As you prepare for childbirth and caring for your new baby, we send you customized information, news, and resources tailored to your specific stage of pregnancy (and/or for your child’s age up to three years).
Childbirth and Parenting Classes
We can help through every stage of pregnancy, childbirth, delivery, and beyond. Childbirth and parenting classes cover a range of topics, from childbirth and breastfeeding to grandparenting and babysitting. We also offer support groups for new parents and families.
More Resources
We offer inclusive care for all, supporting your birthing preferences—including both high-risk birth and low-risk physiologic labor and birth (which means letting your body to go through the labor process on its own).
Customize your birthing experience with our extensive labor and delivery amenities, including:
- Private birthing rooms
- Water birth and water labor options (depending on location)
- Peanut and labor balls
- Anesthesiologists and pediatricians on-site around the clock
- Pain management options including hydrotherapy, nitrous oxide, and patient-controlled epidural anesthesia
- High-risk birth services provided by the region's only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Baystate Medical Center
- Board-certified lactation consultants and breastfeeding support
- Interpreter services in most languages 24 hours a day
One of the first steps in any pregnancy is finding a healthcare provider who can focus on your well-being and the health of the baby growing inside of you. Most likely you already have a provider but, If not, you have several options:
An obstetrician (OB) – A medical doctor specializing in the care of women during pregnancy, childbirth and recuperation from delivery.
Certified nurse-midwife – A registered nurse with advanced, specialized training and experience in caring for healthy pregnant women and delivering babies.
Family physician – These general practice doctors also care for pregnant women, as well as their newborns.
Maternal Fetal Medicine physician – These obstetricians specialize in the care of pregnant women with another existing medical condition, a prior pregnancy complication or a complication or concern identified in their current pregnancy.
Moms to be often wonder what to pack for their birthing stay at the hospital.
Here is a quick guide on what to know and what to bring:
What to Pack
- Clothes for baby to go home in (1 outfit)
- Car seat (leave in car until needed)
- Pillows and colored cases (so they don’t get lost) if desired
- Toiletries
- Things to help you relax in labor (music, massage roller, pictures etc.)
- Lounging clothes for mom
- Clothes for partner (pack something that you don't mind getting wet and a button down or zip up hoodie for holding baby skin to skin)
- Prescription medications
- Phone chargers
- Lip balm and hard candies
- Hair ties/headbands
- There is no outside food allowed in right now, but there will be 2 trays ordered for every meal and you can order snacks.
We Will Provide:
- Disposable undies
- A johnnie, which you can wear backwards for a robe (or bring your own)
- Non-slip socks
- Meals and snacks for you and your birthing partner
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