News
Emerson Hospital unveils new Birthing Center
(CONCORD, Mass., November 5, 2008)-- New moms, meet the newest member of Emerson Hospital: a new postpartum unit with 14,000 square feet of new construction, all private rooms, a separate entrance for the Birthing Center, and sophisticated technology. In a push toward patient-centered care and hotel-like amenities, each of the private rooms is designed with atten¬tion to feng shui principles like color, sunlight, and mood, to create a soothing environment ideal for a family to spend time after the birth of a baby.
Postpartum days are special ones where mothers and fathers want to bond in privacy with their newborns. In Emerson’s new Birthing Center, large windows provide expansive views of sunlit greenery. Flat-screen televisions and beds for spouses or support people provide comfort in the first transitional days after giving birth to a child.
“Recovering in the new wing was a real treat,” said Chelmsford mother Lisa Russell, who recently delivered her second son at Emerson. “I would compare it to a very nice hotel - even the food was great (I love that chocolate cake)! The room had a beautiful view and plenty of space for my family to visit. The wireless Internet even allowed my husband to work from the hospital so he was there when my son would wake up.”
When Russell arrived at Emerson in the middle of the night, her labor progressed quickly. “The nurses were wonderful and patient with me,” she said. “As with our first child, they seemed to know exactly what I needed and when, from water to an encouraging voice.”
Russell’s son required additional observation, and he remained in Emerson’s special care nursery for ten days after he was born. “The thought of being apart from my new son was heart-wrenching for me, and Emerson Hospital allowed me to stay as a boarder mom. My husband and I were so thankful for the opportunity to remain with my son. That the hospital also had someone who checked in with me periodically to see how I was doing and even continued to provide meals was incredibly thoughtful.”
Having an infant in the special care nursery and an older child at home was challenging for the growing Russell family. “We really felt like the nurses in the nursery and the in-house pediatricians took a genuine interest in caring for both my son and me. The lactation consultant met with me many times to provide advice and moral support.”
Today, Russell’s son is thriving at six weeks old. “We are so blessed to have him with us,” said Russell.
The renovations to Emerson’s Birthing Center are part of the hospital’s $36-million project that will enhance the patient experience in three key areas: surgery, obstetrics, and inter¬ventional radiology. The project combines new construction with a series of in¬novative renovations and upgrades.
New construction to the existing Birthing Center and refurbished existing postpartum rooms will guarantee that every patient who gives birth at Emerson will move to a private room. “There is so much progress going on in medicine,” said Christine Schuster, president and CEO. “This construction upgrade shows Emerson is not standing still. We are planning to grow and, in the process, meet our patients’ needs for comfort and privacy.”
The Birthing Center at Emerson Hospital includes a team of medical experts renowned for their specialized skills, advanced training, and dedication to the health and wellness of mother and baby. They are backed by the latest technologically advanced facilities and equipment. The Birthing Center also provides one-on-one nursing care; comfortable rooms for labor, delivery and recovery; high-risk pregnancy services; and a Special Care (Level 2) Nursery, directed by a Massachusetts General Hospital neonatologist, for babies who need extra medical attention.