Mother and Baby Care
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Southeast HospitalSoutheastHEALTH Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Matt Janzow, MD, says women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or might become pregnant in the future should consult with their physician and consider the vaccine. “The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is recommending the COVID vaccine for these individuals. At this point, there is no evidence of any fertility problems with the vaccine. The risk of serious illness due to COVID is far greater than possible reactions to the vaccine.”
Welcoming a new baby is a cherished occasion. We would love to celebrate and be a part of this special moment with you.
At the Dennis B. Elrod OB/GYN Center, we are committed to giving you a safe and supportive birth experience that's in line with your preferences. We have an experienced labor and delivery staff, along with natural and medical pain-control options.
Discover more about our facilities, expertise and services.
Our Labor and Delivery Hospital
We deliver about 1,000 babies each year in our birthing hospital. The Dennis B. Elrod OB/GYN Center has 18 private birthing suites. You can give birth and recover in the same room.
Reviewed 12/15/2022
Pregnancy: How baby develops
MONTH 1
The heart and lungs begin to form. Your baby is just a tiny embryo at this stage.
MONTH 2
All the baby's major body organs are beginning to develop. The ears, fingers and toes are also beginning to form.
At the six-week mark, you may be able to hear the baby's heartbeat during an ultrasound. By the end of the second month, the baby is about an inch long.
MONTH 3
Soft nails are beginning to form on the fingers and toes. Tiny buds have appeared that will later become baby teeth.
By the end of this month, the baby is about 3 inches long and weighs about an ounce.
MONTH 4
The baby moves, kicks, swallows and can hear.
By the end of the fourth month, the baby is around 6 inches long and weighs about 4 ounces.
MONTH 5
The baby now sleeps and wakes at regular intervals, and his or her skin is covered with fine, soft hair.
At the end of this month, the baby is about 10 inches long and weighs around 1 pound.
MONTH 6
At this stage, the lungs still aren't ready for life outside the womb.
By the end of the sixth month, the baby is about 12 inches long.
MONTH 7
Responsive to light and sound, the baby can now open and close his or her eyes. Moms may notice a lot of activity in the womb as the baby kicks and stretches.
MONTH 8
Your baby is gaining weight rapidly.
By the end of the eighth month, the baby is about 14 to 18 inches long and weighs around 4 to 5 pounds.
MONTH 9
Halfway through the month your baby will be full-term. To get ready for birth, the baby will usually turn head down and move down into the pelvic area.
HOW WILL YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN LABOR?
Sources: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; American Pregnancy Association; Office on Women's Health
The rooms feature many amenities, including:
- A bath and shower
- Sleep accommodations for your guest
- Three guest meals a day
- Individualized climate control in the suites
- Free Wi-Fi
- A hair dryer
While our birthing suites are homelike, they're equipped with a modern fetal monitoring system.
In addition, our OB area has two operating rooms in the event a C-section is required.
Family visitation is limited during COVID-19. But we always have a web nursery so family and friends worldwide can welcome your baby.
To help you prepare for your labor and birth experience, we offer an online childbirth preparation course. We highly recommend taking this class.
Our Family-Centered, Personalized Approach
You are invited to spend as much time as you want with your baby. This encourages bonding and breastfeeding. A well-baby nursery is also available, if needed.
Our nurses have been trained to assist our breastfeeding mothers. We have several nurses who are certified lactation specialists and are there to teach and support you in your breastfeeding journey. To prepare for a successful breastfeeding experience, we strongly recommended that you complete the online breastfeeding class.
Do you have questions about caring for your newborn? Many new parents do. To help prepare you for taking your baby home, we'll teach you the basics—from bathing to diapering—in the privacy of your suite.
Keeping You Comfortable: Our Pain-Management Options
We are pleased to offer both natural and medical options for managing labor pain. It's part of how we work with you so that you can have the birth experience you want.
Medical methods include:
- IV medications
- Epidurals available 24 hours a day
Natural methods of pain relief include:
- Hydrotherapy
- Birthing balls
- Peanut balls
- Squat bars
Our Maternity Expertise
We love babies—and we know how to take great care of them.
Our OB staff has hundreds of years of combined maternity experience. The team includes board certified obstetricians, board certified midwives, labor and delivery nurses, mother-baby nurses, lactation-certified nurses and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses. We also have pediatricians and a neonatologist.
Is your pregnancy considered high risk because of health problems or because you're having multiple babies? You'll get the dedicated care you and your baby (or babies) need, close to home.
Thanks to an affiliation with SSM St. Mary's Hospital–St. Louis and the St. Louis Fetal Care Institute, a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist can manage your pregnancy and help you deliver at our hospital. Our MFM clinic treats women with pregnancy problems, such as gestational diabetes or high blood pressure. It also oversees the pregnancy of women who are expecting twins or triplets.
Here's something else you should know: Should the need arise, babies born early or with health problems receive specialized care in our NICU.
Need an Obstetrician or a Midwife?
A highly qualified provider at Southeast Women’s Integrated Health will take great care of you throughout your pregnancy.
To schedule an appointment with a prenatal care provider, please call 573.339.1101.
Learn More About Our Maternity Services
If you have questions about our services, please call 573.331.6444.