Pregnancy and Baby at Good Samaritan Medical Center
Pregnancy can be an exciting—and anxious—nine months. You may wonder, “Am I doing everything I can to prepare for this baby?”
From routine prenatal care to high-risk pregnancies
Chances are you’re doing everything you can to keep you and your little one healthy. Although, most pregnancies and birth experiences go smoothly, if complications come up, our medical team and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are equipped to handle even the littlest of patients.
We are delighted to share in the special time of your life. We have all you need to help you become prepared for what most describe as their biggest challenge and reward.
Preparing for pregnancy
When you decide you’re ready to start a family, give your body—and your future baby—a healthy advantage. We will give you a check-up, share tips for preparing for pregnancy and talk to you about potential risk factors.
If you’re unsure about what to expect during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or when you bring baby home, sign up for one of our childbirth or parenting classes and learn about common tests and procedures.
Not sure where to have your baby yet? How about the first hospital in Colorado to be designated Baby Friendly?
Pregnancy and Delivery Services
When you’re expecting, you don’t have to navigate the dos and don’ts alone. Our mom and baby experts at Good Samaritan Medical Center provide a wide range of services and treatments during pregnancy, labor and delivery and after your baby is born.
From fetal and Doppler ultrasounds to blood and glucose tolerance tests, you can expect to undergo certain screenings and procedures to make sure you’re healthy and your baby is developing normally.
It’s only natural to worry when you’re suddenly in charge of the health of another human being, but most pregnancies go off without a hitch.
If something does happen in those nine months that puts you or your baby at a higher risk for complications, you’ll have access to high-risk pregnancy specialists, additional fetal testing and a neonatal intensive care unit NICU).
Breast milk is sometimes called “liquid gold” for good reason: it contains all the nutrients your baby needs for his or her first few months of life. Additional research shows breastfeeding offers your newborn immunities, protection against allergies and childhood illnesses.
If you plan to breastfeed, we have lactation experts to help if you run into any challenges.
A certified massage therapist from our Center for Integrative Medicine will give you a free massage after you deliver. The Center for Integrative Medicine also provides prenatal massage and other services for expectant parents.
Adults have adult intensive care units (ICUs), children have pediatric ICUs and premature or babies with health issues have neonatal ICUs. If your little one needs extra medical attention after birth, he or she will be taken to the NICU to be cared for by neonatologists, nurse practitioners and nurses trained in caring for newborns with special needs.
When you’re laboring at the hospital, not only is it important to have the right care and support from your doctor, it’s also important to have a nursing staff that understands moms and babies.
Our nurses are caring, compassionate and highly skilled. Many have completed advanced training and hold labor and delivery certifications.
When you are thinking of starting a family or if you are already pregnant, it is very important to call the customer service department of your insurance company to determine what type of maternity or newborn coverage you have. You will need to have your subscriber # to find out about your specific policy. You will want to ask the following questions as a guideline in determining what services are provided.
Good Samaritan Medical Center was the first hospital in Colorado to be named Baby-Friendly. Baby-Friendly is a designation given by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF to hospitals that have created the best possible environment for breastfeeding.
Why should I deliver at a Baby-Friendly hospital?
Benefits of delivering at a Baby-Friendly hospital include:
Healthy babies – Scientific studies show that breastfed children have fewer and less serious illnesses than children who aren’t.
Healthy moms ̶ Studies also show that mothers who breastfeed have decreased risk for certain cancers and illnesses.
Highest standards ̶ Baby-Friendly hospitals’ staff and facilities must meet guidelines and follow specific steps created by a team of global experts to ensure the best possible environment for breastfeeding.
Cost savings ̶ Breast milk is free, and healthier children mean lower healthcare costs.
Emotional bond ̶ You and your baby can enjoy the special bond formed through breastfeeding.
What can I expect from a Baby-Friendly hospital?
You can count on:
Assistance with breastfeeding immediately after birth.
Care for your baby at your bedside so we can teach you about your baby’s "readiness-to-eat" signals.
Discouraging bottles or formula supplements for breastfed babies unless medically necessary.
Discouraging the use of pacifiers until breastfeeding is well-established.
Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, which is important for your baby’s health.
What special qualifications will my nurses have?
When you’re laboring at the hospital, not only is it important to have the right care and support from your doctor, it’s also important to have a nursing staff that understands moms and babies.
Our nurses are caring, compassionate and highly skilled. Many have completed advanced training and hold labor and delivery certifications.
Is donor breast milk or breast milk donation available?
Good Samaritan Medical Center is a proud member of the Mothers’ Milk Bank (MMB) network, serving as a human milk Donation and Outreach Center. The Donation and Outreach Center, also known as DOC, makes it easy for mothers (approved donors) with extra milk to make a difference in babies’ lives by conveniently donating their excess milk in their community.
The milk bank is a Colorado-based, nonprofit program benefiting women and babies nationwide by collecting, pasteurizing, analyzing and distributing donor milk to nearly 160 hospitals in Colorado and across the United States. Women can deliver their frozen milk to Good Samaritan to have it transported safely to the milk bank, one of the oldest and largest nonprofit milk banks in the nation.
Our goal at Good Samaritan Medical Center is to continue to support you after the birth of your baby.
Nursing Nook
If you’d like to purchase a breast pump or other essential baby items, look no further than our Nursing Nook specialty store. It offers premium products chosen by lactation specialists that are sold at or below the prices of big-box retailers.
A certified massage therapist from our Center for Integrative Medicine will give you a free massage after you deliver. The Center for Integrative Medicine also provides prenatal massage and other services for expectant parents.
Post-delivery support
New parents have a lot of questions, and at Good Samaritan Medical Center, we have answers. After you have your baby, you can join a couple of support groups, including New Moms Network or Breastfeeding Moms Group. We also recommend “Happiest Baby on the Block” or “Baby Makes Three” classes as you adjust to parenthood.
Baby’s first ride
Did you know that 80 to 90 percent of car seats are installed incorrectly? Before you place your most precious cargo into your vehicle, we’ll have a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician check the installation of your car seat for free.
Call the Baby's First Ride reservation line at 303-908-8326 to make an inspection appointment before you deliver or early in your stay after birth.
Take-home meal
No one wants to cook when they get home from the hospital, so we’ll take care of it.
Leave the hospital with a free meal, and take advantage of more time to relax with your baby.
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