Maternal & Neonatal Care

Through our maternal-fetal medicine program, we offer screenings, monitoring and treatment during pregnancy for women with special medical and obstetrical conditions. Our perinatologists also take special care of women with high-risk pregnancies due to variables like preeclampsia, multiples (twins/triplets) and preterm labor. The maternal-fetal medicine team works with physicians in other medical fields to counsel patients and ensure optimal care throughout pregnancy.

Community Hospital offers dedicated emergency care for expectant (16+ weeks pregnant) to six weeks postpartum women. Staffed 24/7 by specialty nurses and board-certified OB/GYNs, the OB ED provides rapid evaluation and specialized care that addresses health issues unique to pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Common conditions for women seeking OB ED services include but are not limited to:

• Abdominal pain
• Decreased fetal movement
• Ruptured membranes
• Swelling of extremities
• Vaginal bleeding

Having a baby is one of the most special times in life, and every mother and baby deserve the utmost in care. Our expert teams with our Family Birthing Services will you support you through every step of the process, in a technologically advanced, but soothing environment.

Our suites are designed to make you feel right at home, with state-of-the-art birthing beds and private bathrooms, as well as all of the advanced medical equipment necessary to ensure safe labor and delivery. Parents and families can rest assured they are in a safe, secure environment at all times.

If you would like to tour the Family Birthing Services at Powers Health, please call one of our hospitals to register:

Community Hospital Family Birthing Services: 219-836-3477, toll-free 866-836-3477
St. Catherine Hospital Family Birthing Services: 219-392-7900
St. Mary Medical Center Family Birthing Services: 219-947-6462

Our certified Level III neonatal intensive care unit has Northwest Indiana’s most experienced team of neonatal specialists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners who are available 24/7. Housed at Community Hospital, the neonatal unit cares for premature newborns with the most advanced procedures. Additionally, the Level II Nursery at St. Mary Medical Center is equipped to care for high-risk births and attend to the special needs of both mother and baby.

Powers Health sponsors a neonatal transport system that allows us to care for premature and critically-ill babies from the other area hospitals at Community Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, or transport them to a children's hospital for subspecialty care or surgery. Our critical care transport team, which includes a respiratory therapist, physician, nurse practitioner, a physician assistant and nurse trained in specialty care medicine, is specially trained to monitor infant patients with intensive care needs. The transport vehicle, a fully equipped intensive care level ambulance, enables the team to provide non-stop monitoring and vital life support.

Through our Cuddler Program, we offer parents peace of mind with volunteer “cuddlers” who spend time with your baby when you can’t. Research has proven that the extra attention and care these cuddlers show an infant—in between parental visits and physician and nurse rounds—leads to faster weight gain, shorter hospital stays, and improved social, emotional and physical development. Despite the cute title, these specialists are highly trained, maintain strict hand washing and infection control practices in the NICU, and adhere to all hospital policies and confidentiality requirements.

New parents can access continuing education and support through our Nurse-Family Partnership. Made possible by a $2 million state grant, Goodwill Industries’ Nurse-Family Partnership at St. Catherine Hospital aims to improve health outcomes for new mothers and their babies. The program offers classes that teach motherhood skills, and weekly visits by a registered nurse until baby is two years old.

St. Mary Medical Center is the first hospital in Northwest Indiana to be designated as a Baby-Friendly facility by Baby-Friendly USA. After birth, we utilize evidence-based practices such as skin-to-skin and rooming-in to assure that your baby has a safe, comfortable transition into the world. As part of the collaborative, St. Mary Medical Center serves a role model for best practices in maternity care, and to promote optimal infant feeding, including breastfeeding.

Our certified lactation consultants will work with you during your hospital stay, and when you return home, to teach you the skills you need to breastfeed successfully. Our hospitals also house lactation clinics designed to assist you throughout your breastfeeding relationship. These clinics are on a drop-in basis (no appointment necessary), allowing mothers to easily address concerns with our lactation specialists.

The MyChart Bedside service is available to patients of Powers Health Family Birthing Services. MyChart Bedside allows patients to manage and view their hospital stay on their touchscreen tablet. The new app can be downloaded to a personal tablet (with camera capabilities) and used to review menus, daily routines, lab results, vital signs and information regarding their care team. Once at home, a patient's MyChart Bedside information can be transferred to a regular MyChart account.