Having a baby is one of life’s most exciting times. At the BirthPlace at Avera St. Luke’s, we understand what expecting parents go through from making the decision to have a baby to bringing your newborn home for the first time. We are prepared to help you through every stage of this amazing process.
Avera St. Luke's Hospital now uses HALO® SleepSack® wearable blankets for babies in our BirthPlace. They replace loose blankets in the crib that can cover a baby's face and interfere with breathing. It's recognized as a "hip healthy" way to swaddle, with its unique design that allows baby's legs to kick freely. This warm, cuddly blanket that they can't kick off helps babies sleep better, too.
During Pregnancy
Choosing a Health Care Provider
Preparing for the birth of your child is an exciting part of becoming a parent, and it includes decisions ranging from the nursery color to deciding whom to trust as your health care provider. And choosing a birthing center with experienced professionals is part of this process. Avera St. Luke’s provides a lifetime of comprehensive women’s health services, including specialized care for moms-to-be and their babies.
Learn who’s who, and what they do for you and your new baby.
Meet the Avera St. Luke’s team of obstetrics/gynecology specialists, pediatricians and family physicians who all specialize in taking care of you and your baby.
Choosing a Hospital
The BirthPlace at Avera St, Luke’s provides a serene, spa-like, family-focused maternity experience. Our goal is to provide the perfect environment for families to share one of life’s most amazing experiences.
Childbirth Education Classes
Childbirth Education Classes
Avera St. Luke’s Hospital offers a variety of classes to help you get ready for your “Small Miracle.”
How to Register
Call 605-622-5588 or register online.
View a list of all available childbirth, breastfeeding and sibling classes. Here'a a little info on our classes:
Maybe a Baby? Now What?
Thinking about having a baby? Come to our free "Maybe A Baby” open house event and talk one-on-one with physicians and other educators as they cover pregnancy and baby care topics.
Childbirth Prep Daylong Class
This class includes end of pregnancy, labor/birth emotional and physical changes, emphasizing understanding the natural process of labor and delivery; terminology of labor and birth; and cesarean birth preparations. A tour of Avera St. Luke’s BirthPlace is included. Newborn information is not part of this class, but is offered in the Parenting Transition Class.
Childbirth Prep Evening Series
This two-evening class helps pregnant mothers and their support person(s) prepare for childbirth. Topics are the same as those covered in the daylong class, but in two sessions. A tour of the BirthPlace follows the second session.
Parenting Transition Class/Breastfeeding Combo Class
Designed for busy parents, this class is highly recommended if you are having your first baby. The class focuses on breastfeeding basics, newborn characteristics and care, how to calm the new baby, recognizing illness, and car seat information.
Breastfeeding Class
This "how-to" session provides information about a breastfeeding plan and practical tips on breastfeeding, returning to work and how fathers can help. Fathers, family and/or friends are encouraged to attend class with the mom-to-be.
Sibling Preparation Class
This class is open to children at least 3 years old. Parents and/or grandparents are encouraged to accompany them. The class includes: diapering, holding and feeding their own dolls; listening to stories about a new baby; watching a video about a sibling's feelings and roles; seeing a bath given to a new baby; and getting a certificate for membership in Little Luke's Brother & Sister Club.
Coming in July 2013: All-in-One Class
This intense, one-day class includes labor and birth, parenting and breastfeeding information. It is geared for those who have already done some homework, or those who are unable to attend separate classes. A tour may be scheduled later at your convenience.
Labor & Delivery
Having a baby is a personal experience shared with family and loved ones. At the Avera St. Luke’s BirthPlace, we offer a variety of services and amenities to create a safe, comfortable and personal childbirth delivery and experience.
Our nursing staff will be with you as much, or as little, as you prefer during your labor experience to offer information and support. And we offer comfortable single room maternity care with rooms designed for a continuity of care, with privacy and quiet for Mom, baby and family.
We offer numerous options for expecting mothers during labor including vaginal births as well as cesarean births, and other amenities such as birthing balls, labor epidurals, private rooms with whirlpool tubs and showers, rocking chairs, sleeping room for fathers, and more.
Learn more about your stay with us at the Avera St. Luke’s BirthPlace.
Security
Your safety is of utmost importance to us. We use the Hugs Infant Protection system, which protects more than 1.5 million babies every year across more than 1,200 hospitals worldwide. An ankle bracelet sensor will alert Avera St. Luke's Hospital staff if there is an attempt to remove your baby from our BirthPlace. By helping to protect infants from the threat of abduction and mother/infant mismatches, the Hugs system provides peace of mind for parents, nurses, administrators and security staff.
Post-Partum Care
Avera St. Luke’s understands having a baby is a life-changing event and requires new skills, new resources and new priorities. From glider rockers in your room to breastfeeding education and birth classes to a Level II Nursery for extra special care, we can help play an important role in the transition to parenting during your stay.
Learn more about post-partum care offered at the BirthPlace.
Going Home
Congratulations on your new addition!
Taking your baby home can be an overwhelming experience – full of joy, excitement, anxiety and probably a few sleepless nights – but Avera St. Luke’s gives you resources and support you will need during some of those unsure moments at home.
Visit our Pregnancy Central online health library, which includes “Baby Care 101” teaching you what to expect, tips and tricks, and provides other useful resources.
Or attend a class or event to with topics like car seat safety, breastfeeding education, dad and baby classes, parenting transition classes and more.
Are you considering having your first baby? Becoming a parent is a life-changing event that presents both challenges and rewards, and certainly requires planning.
Attend the next Avera St. Luke’s Maybe a Baby event this fall and meet with physicians and other educators as they cover topics including:
