Having a baby is an exciting adventure. Women who are in their childbearing years or sexually active may consider seeing a doctor even before becoming pregnant. Scheduling a preconception appointment can:

• Optimize your health in order to increase the likelihood that you will have a healthy baby.
• Ensure continuity of care. You can meet a doctor and decide whether or not you want him or her to care for you during your pregnancy.
• Identify any potential problems, such as infertility, that need to be addressed prior to pregnancy.

If you're already pregnant, routine prenatal visits will help you and your baby remain healthy and the pregnancy is progressing normally.

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Some Baylor Scott & White locations offer dedicated care for high-risk pregnancies, including antepartum units to monitor the health of women and their babies. Your physician may transfer you to one of these locations, if you have a high-risk pregnancy.

Find a Location Offering High-Risk Pregnancy Care

The maternal-fetal specialists and neonatologists on the medical staff, along with a team of skilled clinicians, are highly trained in the specialized care that you and your baby need during a high-risk pregnancy. In addition, our facilities feature private suites that are comfortably equipped in the event a long-term stay (up to 12 weeks) is needed for ongoing monitoring and care until birth.

Baylor Scott & White offers advanced technology and testing to help promote a safe, healthy delivery for mom and baby, including (but not limited to):

• 3-D sonograms
• amniocentesis
• chorionic villi sampling
• percutaneous umbilical blood sampling
• wireless fetal monitoring
• genetic counseling

Our high-risk pregnancy care locations also offer a full range of support services for high risk pregnancies, such as social workers, diabetic educators, dietitians, physical therapists and pastoral care.

Experienced Staff, Warm Environment

The doctors, nurse, and other specially trained staff at Baylor Scott & White are focused on you and your baby's health throughout your pregnancy and delivery.

Many of our innovative labor and delivery rooms feature soothing décor and plenty of room for members of your family. Our quality maternity and delivery services are known throughout the country.

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Creating a Special Bond

We always encourage you to have a support person with you during labor and delivery. In addition, to your support person, your doula is always welcomed as well.

Skin to Skin Contact/Kangaroo Care

We want your baby’s transition to the outside world to be as calm as possible. That’s why all of our facilities promote skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby (also known as Kangaroo Care) starting immediately after delivery.

This approach to bonding involves holding the baby, who is naked except for a diaper and a blanket that is draped over them, on a parent’s bare chest. Research has shown the many benefits of this approach to bonding:

• Stabilization of the baby’s heart rate
• Regulation of baby’s breathing pattern
• Regulation of the baby’s body temperature and much more

Our nursing staff is there to help you get started with this important bonding time.

All of our childbirth locations provide couplet care for families after they have delivered. Couplet care is when mothers and newborns remain together for the entire hospital stay, rather than the baby staying in a nursery. This approach to care for mom and baby has several benefits:

• Facilitating mother-baby bonding
• Facilitating baby-family bonding
• Promoting early breastfeeding success

Several Baylor Scott & White medical centers feature neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), including Level III NICUs, which are prepared to provide advanced life-support services and technologies for premature and seriously ill newborns.

A Level III NICU provides the highest level of care available for our tiniest patients. Staffed by specialized nurses, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatologists and many other skilled staff, the unit is designed to promote optimal developmental care for sick infants.

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Baylor Scott & White lactation consultants are specially-trained and certified to support breastfeeding as a natural physiologic process that promotes better infant and maternal health and well-being.

This service is available to all new mothers and continues until weaning of the child. Follow-up support and a specialized office allow quick, personalized help with any lactation problems. Our services include:

• Breastfeeding classes
• Assistance with breastfeeding while in hospital
• Postpartum follow-up for mother and baby by appointment or telephone
• Breast pump rental and breastfeeding supplies
• Support and assistance to mothers of premature or compromised infants in initiating and maintaining lactation
• Support and assistance to mothers of premature or compromised infants in initiating and maintaining lactation
• Education and counseling for working mothers

To learn more, contact the location where you will be delivering or delivered your baby.

Find a Labor & Delivery Care Location