Family Birth Place
We Wrote the Book
When it comes to babies, Hackley Hospital wrote the book - literally. Hackley Hospital's Family Birth Place has published a 42-page booklet for new parents who have their babies here. And that's just the start of the new developments at the Family Birth Place. New Services. A new logo. Newly renovated facilities. And a new director, Bonnie Gustavison, R.N., M.S., director of Women's & Children's Services, who is overseeing new policies that will make the birthing experience more comfortable, more convenient and even safer for babies and moms.
"We're examining every aspect of how we take care of our patients and their families and finding ways to improve their experience. We're making admissions easier and giving parents children's books to read aloud to baby," Bonnie says. "Our commitment goes beyond the delivery of someone's baby. We give families a great start and continue being a source of support as their babies, and their families, grow."
A century-long tradition
Bonnie notes that more than 100,000 babies have come into the world at Hackley Hospital. That breaks down to about 1,000 babies a year, a number that is easily accommodated by the intimate setting that the 21-bed Family Birth Place provides. The current OB staff collectively counts more than 600 years of specialized OB experience.
"After delivering that many babies, there are not a lot of surprises," Bonnie says. "However, the miracle of life never ceases to amaze us. We support our moms through the exhilaration and the anxiety. We are deeply touched by each birth. It's Act One. Scene One. Real Life. That feeling stays with you."
Of the brightest and best for babies
The Family Birth Place renovation includes a new decor with sparkling, patterned flooring, Corian showers and Jacuzzi tubs to aid with relaxation during labor. Women in labor can take advantage of all the bells and whistles - birthing stools and bars, birthing balls, birthing rooms with enough room for dad, grandparents or siblings, if mom requests their presence. The Family Birth Place is currently acquiring original artwork done by Michigan women artists to complete the decor.
New parents can also rest assured that the Specialty Care Nursery Facility can handle babies with a wide variety of special health concerns. Spectrum Hospital's perinatologist, Dr. Russel Jelsema, makes prenatal appointments with high-risk expectant moms at The Family Birth Place. Ultrasounds can be done here, too, making prenatals even more convenient. Bonnie has plans for other new services on site, for example expanded infant massage services.
Health and safety, a Hackley exclusive
After baby is born, parents enjoy a secure, home-like setting where the staff does all it can to get them off to a good start. Hackley is the only hospital in town with a Special Care Nursery Nurse on duty 24/7. The only board-certified lactation consultant working in a Muskegon County hospital, Deborah Taylor, R.N., helps Hackley's moms and babies to develop healthy breastfeeding relationships. She also can help with a custom bra-fitting and stocks many specialized breastfeeding supplies: nipple cream, Soothies, breast pumps and more.
While baby may room-in with mom around the clock, parents feel secure leaving little ones in the nursery because The Family Birth Place employs state-of-the-art security measures. The upgraded Halo system, triggered by baby's bracelet, sounds an alarm and locks down the unit if a baby is taken through the unit door without authorization or the bracelet is tampered with.
New staff members, too!
Overseen by Chief of Obstetrics Dr. Lourice David, The Family Birth Place is staffed by Muskegon's favorite obstetricians. Three new physicians have also begun practicing here within the last six months. In addition to physicians, moms can choose among four certified nurse midwives. Deborah Johnson, Renee Bates and Shirley Thompson work through Hackley Community Care. Elyse Veach has just opened her own private practice specializing in women's health service. Visit yourmidwife.com.
The Expectant Parent Series meets for six one-hour evening sessions or one six-hour Saturday session. Learn how to build healthy babies with good nutrition, cope with the physical and emotional stresses of pregnancy and handle labor with breathing and relaxation techniques. They also learn how to care for mom and baby during the first weeks after birth.
Our Breastfeeding Class builds mom's skill and confidence and deals with topics such as getting started, using a breast pump, going back to work and breastfeeding after a C-section. The two-session Refresher Class helps veteran parents brush up on labor, delivery and postpartum care. Sibling Preparation Class helps children prepare to be a helpful big brother or sister. We are willing to do private classes in special circumstances. CPR for Infants and Children can help you save your child's life. You will practice CPR on infant and child-size CPR mannequins.
The Family Birth Place. A new vision. A treasured tradition
Bonnie expects that the renovation, new conveniences, new physicians and new services will draw new patients to Hackley. She also knows she'll continue to run into old friends: grandmothers and great-grandmothers who come back to see their grandchildren for the first time; mothers who have grown up in the Hackley circle of care; and families who wouldn't think of delivering their babies any place else.
"I have talked to patients who would not go anywhere else but Hackley," Bonnie says. "They say, 'This is where I grew up, this is who I trust and this is who I am connected to.'"
Hackley Babies on the Web
Parents of babies born at The Family Birth Place can now share their joy with friends and family via the World Wide Web. The Family Birth Place posts photos and first names of Hackley babies at growingfamily.com. Each secure posting can be viewed as an individual website where parents and guests can post comments along with baby's photos. To view our babies, simply click here!
