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Take a virtual tour of Ohio State's Maternity Center. Schedule an in-person tour by calling 800-293-5123.  |
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Where did we find these cuties? They're all babies of Medical Center employees, born at Ohio State. Their darling images line the walls of the newly remodeled Maternity Center. 
With a home-away-from-home feel, Ohio State's Maternity Center provides a welcoming environment for mom, dad, baby and extended family. Each room is private and includes a place for a family member to spend the night.
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Childbirth classes
Let an Ohio State University Medical Center education program guide you through each step of your pregnancy and into early parenthood. Click here for a listing of class offerings.
"It takes extra to impress us; we have high expectations," says Brian Garrett, discussing the recent visit to Ohio State's Maternity Center for the birth of his second child, daughter Avery. Both Brian and his wife, Julia, are advanced practice nurses, one employed by Ohio State's Medical Center.
"It was an excellent experience," adds Julia. "Our son, Brenden, was born at Ohio State five years ago and we went back with a ton of confidence. All of the staff are so in tune with patient needs."
SHARING THE MIRACLE
"We are very aware of the fact that each birth is a unique experience for each family, so we strive to meet the expectations that are attached to this important moment in their lives," says Mark Landon, MD, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "There is no one-size-fits-all approach to childbirth and we must respect this in order to deliver personalized obstetric care."
"We celebrate that this is a special day for families. We have several elements to make it even more memorable," says Jenny Brehm, RN, MS, nurse manager of Women and Infants. "We offer a welcome gift to mom with an array of comfort items and snacks, and babies get an OSU T-shirt!"
In 2009, 4,481 children were born at Ohio State. "We usually have 12 or 13 babies born here on average a day," says Jacalyn Buck, RN, PhD, NE/BC, director of nursing for Women and Infants. "We're the referral center for the region, so we care for very high-risk patients as well as those without complications. We pride ourselves on providing personalized care for both."
ALMOST LIKE HOME
"We've made accommodations so someone can spend the whole time here with mom if he or she wants. There is a place to sleep and shower, and meals are available for family members so they can dine in the room," says Brehm. "We've made it an overall homier environment."
"We had 11 people in our room at one point, welcoming our daughter," comments Julia, laughing at the memory. "It was almost like being home!"
"Sometimes families want to take the staff home," says Brehm with a chuckle as she describes the effort of staff to educate parents about caring for their child, both in general and regarding their baby's special needs.
"Even with our second child, we really needed good advice about what she might require that was different from our son," says Julia. "They sent us home very well prepared." "I think there is a real sense of pride in the care we give," says Brehm. "Plus, it's great to be a Buckeye Baby!"
Special Deliveries
"Women are the primary consumers of health care and they understand that OSUMC provides exceptional care for an uncomplicated pregnancy. However, they are reassured that if any complication develops, they are in the best hospital to handle those unforeseen circumstances," says Dr. Landon.
Ohio State operates a Level III — the highest level — Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which means we're qualified to handle deliveries with special circumstances. We're staffed with many specialists, including neonatologists, who are experts in newborn infant care. "We've evolved as the clear regional leader in all aspects of obstetric care to become a nationally recognized organization for our expertise in this area," continues Dr. Landon.
"We provide peace of mind for people who have a high-risk pregnancy," says Brehm. "They are definitely in the right place if they are here."