Even more important, you expect the hospital staff to show you that they care and will work with you to do whatever is necessary to make your experience a pleasing one.
Birth is a momentous event. Every person born into this world represents new possibilities and new hopes. Not only a child but a new family is born, creating an indelible bond. Our “Blessed Beginnings” birthing center offers a family – centered philosophy of care. Our mission is to provide care that best meets the physical, educational, spiritual and emotional needs of new mothers, families and support persons. With our mother-baby nursing program, the same nurse cares for both mother and her newborn.
Our Philosophy
“St. Mary’s Health Center provides a friendly, warm environment where women can give birth and find healthcare that respects their dreams and nourishes their strength. Both the comfortable, home-like quality of the unit and the welcoming, reassuring and professional nature of the staff embody the fundamental idea that birth is an essentially normal, but emotionally powerful event. Exceptional healthcare throughout life is best served through information, partnership and trust between client and caregiver.”
Birthing Center
Most preferred by mothers in Jefferson City and surrounding areas, St. Mary's Health Center is considered the baby hospital in Jefferson City. Since 1905, our staff has helped bring thousands of babies into the world! It’s the perfect environment for babies to enter the world into the love and safety of family.
With a combined total experience of more than 630 years of experience among nursing staff, you can trust your family to the professional and qualified hands of our nurses. All nurses and physicians are newborn resuscitative certified and 22 of the nurses are certified in their field of expertise. An additional 25 percent are breastfeeding certified, including a dedicated lactation consultant.
St. Mary's all-private labor and delivery rooms are warm and homelike, yet supported by the immediate availability of the latest technology. When laboring moms need help managing their pain, our 24/7 team of anesthesiologists is there.
To help new families get to know each other, babies can stay in mom’s private room as much as she likes. When not with mom, newborns are treated with exceptional care in our nursery. Our experienced nurses also offer warm advice and answer all your questions about the care of your baby. Certified breastfeeding educators are ready to help with tips and techniques. A video library covers topics including breastfeeding, bottle feeding, postpartum exercises, bathing and diapering, and infant CPR.
In addition to a Level I nursery, St. Mary’s has Jefferson City’s only Level II nursery for babies who need special medical attention. Pediatricians with advanced training in neonatology and registered nurses are available to focus attention on babies with special needs. This nursery is a regional service for Mid-Missouri.
Finally, it’s important to know that your precious gift will be safe and sound with our advanced security system providing the ultimate in safekeeping. Tiny miracles come to life here every day. St. Mary's staff looks forward to providing quality care that will make your birthing experience a pleasant and safe one.
By the way, we’re so proud of our babies, we help our parents show them off to families and friends. Click the online nursery to see our latest!
Education for You
Numerous classes by our trained educators help prepare expectant families for a healthy, satisfying experience. Classes include:
• Childbirth Preparation
• Refresher Childbirth
• Cesarean Birth Preparation
• Super Siblings
• Breastfeeding
• Rookie Dads 101
• Postpartum & the Baby Blues
To see the class schedule and register for a class, click here.
Pediatrics
Our dedicated pediatrics unit has all private rooms and is staffed by specially certified nurses who love to care for children. In-room sleeping accommodations enable parents to stay comfortably with their children. Our staff works closely with pediatricians and parents to make sure the exceptional care children receive at St. Mary’s continues after they return home.
Outpatient care is provided by an experienced team of pediatricians and staff at St. Mary’s Pediatrics, 3348 American Avenue in Jefferson City. To schedule an appointment, call (573) 761-7210.
Women’s Care
We care for women of all ages and at all stages of life. Our experts in women’s care work with St. Mary’s other top-quality teams of caregivers in heart, cancer and surgery services, for example, to make sure that each woman’s unique health needs are met. The Women’s Health Service Line works to integrate programs for women within other key services designed specifically to meet the unique needs of women and recognize them as the decision makers of their family.
With a variety of community education programs, St. Mary’s helps women stay healthy.
Contact Us:
For more information about women’s and children’s services at St. Mary's, contact Becky Schwaller, Women’s and Children’s Services Manager, (573) 761-7000, ext. 3330, or Rebecca_Schwaller@ssmhc.com.