Birth Services

Great Nutritional Start 

At CHRISTUS Health we support your choice to breastfeed. Breastfeeding gets newborns off to a great nutritional start. The act of breastfeeding creates a unique bonding time for you and your baby. We offer a variety of tools to help you and your little become successful at breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding classes 

Are you wondering if breastfeeding is right for you? Breastfeeding is a learned art. The more you know about breastfeeding before birth, the easier it will be to get off to a good start after your baby arrives. During our breastfeeding classes we will show you various tips, tricks and techniques and will cover a variety of topics including the health benefits of breastfeeding to both baby and mother, positioning and latch, how to know if your baby is getting enough, dad’s role in a breastfeeding family and much more.

Lactation specialists

Our birth center is staffed with lactation specialists. Prior to going home with your new baby, our specialists will come to your room and work with you one-on-one to support you at the start of your breastfeeding journey.

Postpartum Education
After your baby is born, you will receive individualized care from your own primary nurse. This nurse is responsible for both you and your baby, whether you choose to have the baby at your bedside or in the nursery. To help smooth your transition to parenthood, we also offer a wide selection of literature and films on parenting. And a class is held mornings before discharge to explain care of the mom and baby at home.

Birth, Baby & Beyond Prenatal Classes
The more you know about the birthing experience, the more prepared you'll be when the big day finally arrives. With that in mind, we have developed several classes for expectant families. Our Birth, Baby & Beyond prenatal classes are for any expecting mom. The Birth, Baby & Beyond classes offer parents and loved ones information on how to prepare for their birth experience and the first weeks of parenthood. The classes help inform expecting moms and family members on labor and delivery, how to get breastfeeding off to a successful start, and life as a new parent.

The classes are taught by certified instructors, and CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier is the only place that the Happiest Baby on the Block program is offered. You can attend prenatal classes in any order and at any time during your pregnancy. All of our prenatal classes are free.

Click here for more information on all of our Birth, Baby and Beyond Prenatal Classes

 

We Help Ease Your Fears 

Although pregnancy is meant to be a joyful and exciting time for you and your family, it can sometimes have unexpected complications, which leads to uncertainty and fear. Our physicians and staff are here to help ease your fears by working with your physician for the best possible delivery for you and your baby.

Patients can be referred to see a specialist for many reasons during pregnancy such as:

• Comprehensive fetal anatomy ultrasound
• Women who arrive at the hospital for potential complications during pregnancy
• Women with chronic health conditions such as:
  • Pregnant women of multiples
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Preeclampsia
  • Diabetes
  • Other medical conditions
• Pregnant women over the age or 35
• Pregnant women who develop unexpected problems during pregnancy such as:
  • Abnormal alpha fetoprotein blood test
  • History of pre-term labor and delivery and/or miscarriage
  • Premature rupture of membrane
  • Potential fetal growth problems 

A new family needs lots of time together to get to know each other. That's one of the reasons we have created such a homelike atmosphere in our rooms. Our nursing staff will do everything it can to promote family unity during your stay with us.

We encourage you to keep your baby with you as much as possible. However, the nursery is available while you are sleeping or as needed.

You may have someone spend the night with you during your hospital stay. There are no strict visiting hours. For your baby's health and safety, however, we recommend that no more than four adults visit at a time and no children, except the baby's brothers and sisters, be allowed in the room with your baby.

The Birth Place is located on the second floor of the West Wing. For the health of everyone, CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier facilities maintain smoke-free environments.

Staffed by an expert, multi-disciplinary team that understands family is a vital part of the infant’s care, our Regional Level III NICU offers the highest level of medical care available with comfortable surroundings and a family-centered philosophy to help premature babies heal. Click here for more information.