You & Your Baby
Pregnancy and childbirth are times of excitement, questions and change. Then, when baby arrives, a whole new chapter of life begins. Mercy is there for you every step of the way.
Before the birth of your baby, Mercy offers resources to help you prepare for your new role as a parent:
Lactation consultants work with women, sometimes as early as preconception, through the early months of baby's life. They help women understand the benefits of breastfeeding, as well as the many rights and resources available to nursing mothers. "Breastfeeding is a gift that lasts a lifetime," says Eve Dunaway, Certified Lactation Consultant.
Mercy's lactation consultants guide women and their babies through the steps as they learn together the natural process of nursing. Immediately after birth, the labor and delivery team encourages mothers and babies to be skin to skin, providing the opportunity for them to develop a bond outside the mother's womb and giving baby a chance to begin nursing, a new behavior learned during these first precious hours.
Since babies don't come with instruction manuals, Mercy offers expectant parents the opportunity to learn about caring for their newborn with our Baby Basics class. This class allows parents to develop a level of comfort before bringing baby home.
Car seat safety is a very important detail in protecting your baby. Mercy's SAFE KIDS program offers free car seat safety checks to ensure your car seat is properly installed and working at its best to protect baby in the event of an accident.
Selecting a pediatrician before you give birth is one more way you can be proactive in the care of your new baby. Much like selecting your OB/GYN, you want to select a pediatrician who you are comfortable with. The pediatrician will examine baby while you're still in the hospital after delivery and will continue to care for your baby potentially through your child's adolescence.
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