A Family-Centered Birth Experience
No matter how your baby enters the world , no matter who makes up your family , we do all that we can to make sure you all take part in this amazing journey together .
That ’ s the commitment that the staff and providers at The Aroostook Medical Center make to expectant mothers .
“ Childbirth is such an incredible experience not just for the mother , but for the whole family , so it is really important that we have as many opportunities as possible to let mothers , fathers and other loved ones take part in this amazing journey together ,” says Pam Lilley , RN , manager of TAMC ’ s Women and Children ’ s department
Delivery
“ When it comes to delivery , it is all about what the mom wants , as long as it is safe for both mom and baby ,” says Lilley . “ Some mothers want an intimate experience with just their spouse or partner in the room with them , while others thrive by having an extended support system of mother , sisters and friends in the room as well .”
Of course , when that birth has to happen surgically , there are not as many options , but a support person , whether it be spouse or another loved one , does still come in the operating room . And TAMC has taken steps to make these deliveries even more personal .
During a cesarean section birth , a plastic drape is hung above the mother ’ s waist , obscuring her lower half in order to preserve the sterile environment necessary for a safe surgical delivery . In most cases that drape is
opaque ; however , TAMC now offers a clear drape option which changes all of that .
“ When they offered us the option , we were interested right away ,” recalls Caitlin Helstrom , whose son Elliott was delivered on February 22 by cesarean section . “ When our son Miles was born , we had the normal blue drapes . My husband was able to stand up at the end and look over to see Miles , and it was an incredible experience for him , but not something I was able to share in . This time around , not only did we get to see Elliott being born , which was amazing , but we got to watch while they cleaned him up and weighed him . We could clearly see what was happening and be a part of the process .”
Husband Chris agrees , “ With the blue ones , it was like they did their own thing and we were alone on the other side of the drapes . I didn ’ t even realize how many people were in the room until I stood up at the end . This time we were much more engaged .”
Skin-to-Skin Contact
“ Babies who have immediate skin-to-skin contact with their mother stay warm more easily , cry less and breathe easier . They also have more stable blood sugar levels and lower levels of stress hormones . For mothers planning to breastfeed , their babies can get off to a better start ,” explains Lilley .
For vaginal deliveries , the skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth has been in place for years . However , for generations , mothers who had their baby delivered by cesarean section didn ’ t have that option . Babies were whisked away to be cleaned , weighed and tended to while their mothers were still in the operating and then recovery room . Once the mother was back in her hospital room , she had the chance to hold her baby for the first time . Oftentimes that was more than an hour after birth . Thankfully , that is no longer the case .
“ Unless there is a medical emergency , it is now common practice to give the baby to mom to hold immediately while still in the OR , and the mom keeps the baby with her through recovery ,” says Lilley .
68 SPRING 2017
Nicole Thompson holds her newborn son Isaiah last February , enjoying skin-to-skin cuddling time while still in the operating room at TAMC , where he was delivered . She and her husband Brandon were able to watch the delivery with the clear-drape option now offered at the hospital . Dr . Joyce Hebert ( left ) and Dr . Rachel Swartz ( right ), providers at TAMC ’ s OB / GYN & Midwifery Services practice , delivered baby Isaiah .