Helpful Resources from the Childbirth Center at MoBap
BRINGING HOME BABY
As you prepare to return home, it’s important to us that you feel confident about caring for your baby once you leave the hospital. While you are still at the hospital, we offer our new moms a number of support services to help in the process:
- We provide 24-hour maternity and childcare education via closed-circuit TV in your mother-baby suite.
- Your personal nurse and a lactation consultant are available to assist you with feedings and any mother-baby challenges that you may be experiencing.
- We give you a booklet to take home that contains all of the mother-baby care guidelines that we provided while you were in the hospital.
- We also give you a resource card filled with important phone numbers for the hospital, physicians and resources that you may need.
- Finally, to ensure the continuity of your care, one of our OB nurses will check on you with a follow-up phone call after you and your baby have been discharged.
BIRTH CERTIFICATES
A birth certificate takes at least 2-4 weeks to be completed by the State of Missouri. Once the state has completed the birth certificate, they notify Social Security. This only happens if the parent(s) give permission on the worksheet that is completed at the hospital for Social Security. Please contact The Birth Certificate Office at Missouri Baptist at (314) 996-5746 with any questions.
CHOOSING A PEDIATRICIAN
When choosing a pediatrician, you may want to consider the pediatrician's training and experience, as well as the office location, hours, and routines. We recommend that you meet with your pediatrician prior to your baby’s birth, so you can ask any questions and become more familiar with the practice and staff.
Read more about choosing a pediatrician >
NEWBORN SCREENINGS
Nearly all babies will have a simple blood test to check for disorders that are not apparent immediately after delivery. Some of these disorders are genetic, metabolic, blood, or hormone-related. Each state in the United States requires screening tests, but the specific tests performed vary among the states. Some disorders are more common in some states, making testing more important.
Read more about screenings >
PEDIATRIC EMERGENCIES
As your baby grows, it’s also comforting to know that Missouri Baptist’s ER has a dedicated pediatric unit in case of emergencies. In 2007, we partnered with St. Louis Children’s Hospital and opened a full-size emergency room just for children. This kid-friendly atmosphere is separate from the adult ER and is staffed 24-7 by pediatric nurses and Washington University pediatric physicians. Our pediatric staff specializes in caring for kids (newborns to teenagers), and the injuries and illnesses they encounter.
THE FIRST SIX WEEKS
Our partners at St. Louis Children’s Hospital have developed a New Parent Guide covering many topics that come up with new parents in the first six weeks, from car seat safety to colic and fever. You may always, of course, call us or consult your pediatrician for advice more customized to your situation.
Read the New Parent Guide >