New Mother/Baby Unit at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital promotes couplet care

By Carol McPhail
cmcphail@health.southalabama.edu

USA Health today unveiled a new Mother/Baby Unit designed to promote comfort and bonding for families and their newborns. The 20-suite postpartum unit is located on the fifth floor of the women’s tower at Children’s & Women’s Hospital, the area’s leader in births.

“This beautiful new unit is another example of how Children’s & Women’s Hospital focuses on providing high-quality care that is patient-centered,” said Deborah Browning, M.S.N., R.N., C.E.N.P., interim administrator for the hospital.

The new unit is designed to facilitate couplet care, a family-centered approach in which mother and baby are cared for in the same room by the same nurse from the time a baby is born until both are ready to go home. Research has shown that couplet care creates a stronger bond between parents and their newborns, builds a baby’s immunity and increases success rates for breastfeeding.

“We want to provide care for both mom and baby at the bedside,” said Vicki Curtis, M.S.N., R.N., director of women’s services at USA Health. “The unit will have the amenities in the rooms that allow the babies to stay comfortable with mom.”

The public is invited to tour the new space on Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during a community open house.

The new unit features soft lighting and soothing colors of deep grays, golds and blues. Stylish birds-in-flight wallpaper adorns the foyer ceiling, and beach images are incorporated into the signage and wall art.

Each of the 20 suites includes a spacious bedroom, a recliner, couch and private bath with luxury amenities such as bidets. Each suite also incorporates a baby bath and scale, and a height-adjustable bassinet for the newborn so that assessments and other procedures can be completed at the bedside.

In addition, a new lactation space will be located within the unit, staffed by an expanded team of lactation consultants. Two private rooms for breast pumping will be available for patients, visitors and staff to use.

“We want our approach to be family-centered,” said Teneshia Edwards, R.N., nurse manager for the new unit. “This is a life-changing experience for families, and we only have them for a few days, so we want to make sure that their experience during those few days is great.”

The unit is expected to begin accepting patients in March.