Birthing Options
No child birthing experience is alike. There are many important decisions
for moms and dads to make before and during this exciting time. At UF Health Flagler Hospital, we are committed to helping families achieve their desired experience
while always placing the health of mom and baby at the forefront.
UF Health Flagler Hospital's Birth Unit has been designed to accommodate all types of delivery preferences. We offer specialty rooms for low-intervention birth experiences (shown right) where qualified patients and their families can enjoy aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, music of choice, birthing balls and nursing care from any staff member who have been trained in alternative methods of pain relief. As this may not be an option for everyone, we also provide 24-hour access to anesthesiologists and all of our patients enjoy the unique amenities of our family-based unit. Our private rooms are decorated with soft lighting, soothing colors and furnished to provide a comfortable, nurturing homelike environment for you, your baby and your family during your stay. Each room is equipped with a rocking chair, a sleeper sofa for a guest, and a flat screen TV with DVD player.
Below are the questions Healthy Mom & Baby Magazine recommend you ask when deciding where to give birth. UF Health Flagler Hospital's program answers "yes" to each of them.
| IS THE FACILITY COMMITTED TO: | YES | NO |
| Supporting Natural Birth with policies that support freedom to move around, and equipment, such as birthing beds to support upright labor and birth, birthing balls and showers or tubs for pain relief and labor support, limited use of electronic monitoring unless medically indicated and staff to provide ongoing labor care. | X | |
| Cesareans only when medically necessary: You're more likely to have a cesarean birth if the facility has cesarean rates above the national averages (now 30%); risks to mom and baby increase when major surgery could have been prevented. | X | |
| Rooming in: This keeps your baby with you 24/7, increasing your opportunities for bonding and reducing difficulties with breastfeeding. | X | |
| Breastfeeding as the optimal food and best way for you to feed your baby, including having expert lactation support available. | X | |
| Initiating breastfeeding as quickly as possible post-birth: Ideally, within the first minutes of life but no longer than an hour for a normal, vaginal birth, and within two hours if you undergo cesarean. | X | |
| Skin-to-skin or kangaroo care: This helps your baby more rapidly stabilize his or her heart rate, temperature, and respiratory rate, improve bonding, and increase breastfeeding success. | X |
Reprinted from Healthy Mom & Baby Magazine
Post-Partum Suites
We are extremely proud of our new Postpartum Unit located on the fourth
floor of the hospital. This family-based unit was designed and built in
a fashion to specifically cater to you and your newborn's needs. Our private
rooms are decorated with soft lighting, soothing colors and furnished
to provide a comfortable, nurturing homelike environment for you, your
baby and your family during your stay. Each room is equipped with a rocking
chair, a sleeper sofa for a guest, a flat screen TV with DVD player and
a refrigerator for refreshments and snacks.
The birth of a child is one of the most important events in your life. Our entire team is committed to providing excellent care to you and your baby. We strive to make each and every family's birth experience both enjoyable and memorable for all involved.
