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.
See the preconception checklist.
During pregnancy
If you’re unsure about what to expect during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or when you bring baby home and sign up for one of our childbirth or parenting classes.
Learn more about our pregnancy and baby classes.
Labor and delivery
It’s time to meet your baby! Before you get to the hospital, complete the online pre-registration, and we’ll fast-track your check-in.
Do you want an epidural? What about using a birthing ball or soaking tub to ease your labor pain? You have those options here.
After your baby is born
When you choose SCL Health, you get hospitals that have Baby-Friendly designations or follow Baby-Friendly practices.
This means when your little one arrives, we’ll encourage you to bond skin-to-skin, breastfeed and keep your baby with you in the room.
Once you’re home, you’ll have access to lactation consultants if you run into any breastfeeding challenges.
Read about care after delivery.
Get the right care at the right time
“Boy or girl?”
If you’re like us, “It doesn’t matter as long as it’s healthy.” Even if problems arise over the course of your pregnancy, you can count on Saint Joseph Hospital to give you and your baby the care you both need.
Take a tour
Every inch of this special floor is dedicated to new moms and infants. There are 18 labor and delivery rooms with large, jetted tubs and 42 private rooms that serve as a home away from home during recovery.
Take a video tour and see the comfortable birthing suites and spa-like amenities..
You can also schedule a Baby Place Hospital Tour online or by calling 303-812-4640.
Who will care for me during my pregnancy?
Our healthcare providers can support you no matter if you want a low-intervention birth, a traditional birth or need additional care for a high-risk pregnancy. Your team may include:
When you choose Saint Joseph Hospital, you get the largest certified-nurse midwife practice in Denver. You’ll also find some of the most skilled and compassionate certified-nurse midwives around, who average more than 17 years of experience each.
Saint Joseph also has an OB-GYN residency, which means medical residents and attending doctors are available 24/7 for any pregnancy- or baby-related concern.
Find a midwife or doctor.
What if I have a high-risk pregnancy?
Not every birth goes as planned, but our team is ready to care for any high-risk pregnancy need or delivery situation that arises. If your pregnancy is considered high-risk, you’ll have extra office visits and consultations, as well as access to preconception and prenatal counseling and tests and diagnostic procedures, such as ultrasound, amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling.
If your doctor suspects a complication such as a congenital heart condition or brain abnormality that needs to be visualized in greater detail, we provide fetal MRIs to better diagnose the condition and coordinate subsequent care.
Our three large cesarean-section suites allow doctors to provide specialized care for moms and babies. And our Level III NICU is one of the most advanced in the state. It’s designed to meet your family's needs while keeping care and safety a top priority.
How will my pain be managed?
You have many options when it comes to managing pain during labor, including the use of nitrous oxide at Saint Joseph Hospital.
Doctors in the United States have used nitrous oxide since the 1930s. When epidurals were introduced, the use of nitrous oxide declined, but this option is rising again as an alternative. Unlike an epidural, which a doctor administers through a needle in the lower back, nitrous oxide is self-administered and inhaled. It has minimal side effects.
First Baby-Friendly hospital in Denver
Saint Joseph Hospital was the first hospital in Denver 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.
Breastfeeding and infant nutrition
Breastfeeding is one of the best ways to ensure that your baby gets a healthy start, and at Saint Joseph Hospital, we’re committed to helping you breastfeed successfully.
In addition to breastfeeding support 365 days of the year, you can attend a weekly breastfeeding support group or make an appointment for a private consultation.
If you have a premature baby or your baby needs extra supplementation, we have a nutrition room where nutrition experts mix formula and/or breast milk to make sure your baby gets the nourishment it needs.
To contact the Lactation and Family Education Center, please call 303-812-4642
See the benefits of breastfeeding.
Baby Joe's gift shop
New moms and their families can find baby clothes, toys, gifts, breast pump rentals and more at our specialized gift shop on the fourth floor.
