Maternity Center

Congratulations! Having a new baby is a very exciting time. You want to give your newborn the very best start. While breastfeeding is a personal choice, it delivers a lot of perks - for moms and little ones alike.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), breastfeeding may protect babies against several conditions, from diarrhea and respiratory tract infection to diabetes and childhood obesity. Benefits for moms also include decreased postpartum bleeding, early return to pre-pregnancy weight, and lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

Human milk contains the perfect balance of nutrients, is easy for your baby to digest and can boost the immune system. Breastfeeding proves challenging at times, especially for new moms. To help ensure your success Iowa Specialty Breastfeeding Center offers these tips:

• Be Aware of Your Baby’s Hunger Cues
  Cues include restlessness, bringing hands to face or mouth, sucking motions and lip movements. For the first few weeks, most babies breastfeed every 2 to 3 hours.
• Get Comfortable
  Support yourself with pillows. Cradle your baby close to your breast, or try some other common breastfeeding positions until you find one that suits you both.
• Encourage Proper Latch On and Sucking
  With an effective latch-on, you should feel a gentle pulling sensation on your breast, but not pinching or a tight feeling.
• Breastfeed on Both Sides
  Let your baby feed from one breast thoroughly (until your breast feels soft).  Try burping baby briefly after each side. Offer the second breast with each feeding. Baby may not always take both sides but should be offered. Alternate which side you start the feeding on. If baby will only feed on one side, then begin pumping the other side with each feeding to preserve your milk supply. 
• Understand the Role of Pacifiers
  The AAP strongly advises exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months. Exclusive breastfeeding means that your baby has only breastmilk for 6 months. That means giving your baby human milk from your breast or from bottles. The AAP advises using pacifiers to decrease the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) when baby is sleeping. For breastfeeding mothers, the AAP advises waiting until breastfeeding is well-established. Then the pacifier is not replacing the feeding. Well-established breastfeeding means: your baby can easily latch on, the latch is comfortable to you with no cracks or bleeding, and your baby is back to birth weight or weighs more than at birth.
• Take Good Care of Yourself
  That means eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of fluids, moderate amounts of caffeine, resting as much as possible, quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke, and checking with a health care provider about any medications you’re taking. If your nipples are dry or cracked, apply breastmilk or purified lanolin to help with healing, as well as fixing the latch - deeper (more breast in mouth).
• Keep Your Chin Up
  If breastfeeding is frustrating or going slower than you anticipated, try not to be too hard on yourself. Hang in there. Seek out a lactation consultant, nurse, or doctor for guidance (particularly if your baby isn’t gaining weight or you experience pain with every feeding).
• Speak Up and Seek Support
  Don’t hesitate to ask questions or express any concerns with your nurse, your doctor, your hospital lactation consultant or other moms, family and friends.
• Take a Class
  Iowa Specialty Breastfeeding Center offers breastfeeding classes every other month. A breastfeeding class will give you time to learn more about breastfeeding, ask questions you may have, and develop a relationship with the lactation consultant. Your support person is encouraged to come. Use the links below to learn more and to sign up for a breastfeeding class.

Learn more about our childbirth and breastfeeding classes.

View our event calendar to sign up for a class.

Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa

If you have the gift of surplus milk, you may donate it to the Mother’s Milk Bank of Iowa to help other babies (many who are vulnerable, fragile, sick, born prematurely), by satisfying their hunger and saving their lives. If you have experienced a loss and want to help other babies, you may also gift your milk to the Milk Bank. There is a prescreening process. If you are interested, please click on the following link for further information. https://uihc.org/childrens/information-milk-donors. 

Iowa Specialty Hospital is a depot or drop-off location. Once you have completed the milk donor screening process, you may bring your frozen milk for donation to Iowa Specialty Hospital – Clarion and we will coordinate with Mother’s Milk Bank of Iowa. 
 

Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your baby! 

Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics is excited that you have chosen our hospital for your care and delivery.  We are here to support you every step of the way.  We offer education classes designed to build your confidence as they will prepare you for the upcoming birth of your baby and caring for yourself and baby when you return home.  

Advance registration is required for our maternity education classes. View our events calendar for upcoming class dates and to complete the registration.  

Events Calendar

Childbirth Classes

Childbirth education topics that will be covered include: breathing and relaxation techniques, the stages of labor, pain management, delivery methods, postpartum care, and newborn care. You will also receive a tour of the Maternity Center and have a chance to have your questions answered. Lunch will be provided, and the best thing is that the class is free of charge! 

Patients need to register online on the Iowa Specialty Hospital webpage. Classes are located in the Clarion boardrooms. On the day of the class, patients and their support person should enter through the ER / Outpatient entrance on the northeast side of the hospital.  You will be directed to the boardrooms upon arrival. 

Breastfeeding Classes

One important part of your prenatal time is determining your feeding choice for your baby. Whether you have already decided to breastfeed or are still undecided, a breastfeeding class helps answer your questions.  The class goal is to help you feel ready to breastfeed your baby so you can have an easygoing and enjoyable breastfeeding experience.

Topics include the benefits and properties of breast milk, understanding the lactation process, latching and positioning, pumping, storage and handling, and the first month.

The class is approximately 2 hours in length and is free of charge.

Patients need to register online on the Iowa Specialty Hospital webpage. Classes are located in the Clarion boardrooms. On the day of the class, patients and their support person should enter through the ER / Outpatient entrance on the northeast side of the hospital.  You will be directed to the boardrooms upon arrival. 

The health and safety of our patients, families and staff are our top priority. We continue to evaluate our visitor policy to allow more people to safely visit their loved ones while receiving care. Effective August 3, 2022 Iowa Specialty Hospital will welcome additional visitors in our OB department.

During Labor and Delivery:
It is our policy to provide the childbearing family with an environment that promotes parent/infant bonding. In Labor & Delivery, visiting is limited to the two support persons designated by the patient during labor and for the two hour recovery period for mom and baby following the delivery. Support persons must be at least 18 years old.

Postpartum:
It is during this time that grandparents, siblings, family and friends are encouraged to visit after the birth of the baby. We ask that you have no more than two visitors at a time. Visitors must be above the age of 18 unless they are siblings of the new baby. No overnight sibling visitation is permitted.
 

**All visits are at the discretion of the patient, nursing staff, and medical staff.  Should the need arise, visitors may be asked to leave the patient’s room and may wait in the lobby.  Visitors must be healthy and free from infection and pass daily screening questions.  Visitors will be instructed to wash their hands prior to handling babies.**
 

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a serious disease related to high blood pressure. It can happen to anyone between 20 weeks of pregnancy and 6 weeks after delivery.  Many women who get preeclampsia do not have clear risk factors.

Talk with your OB/GYN provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Headache that will not go away
• Seeing spots, blurry vision, or other eyesight changes
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the face or hands
• Sudden weight gain
• Nausea and vomiting in the second half of pregnancy
• Pain in the shoulder or upper abdomen

You may need to see your OB/GYN provider earlier and more often after childbirth so they can monitor your health. You should also tell any future health care providers that you had preeclampsia as you may be more likely to have health problems in the future when you are not pregnant including: high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease.  

Elevated Blood Pressure in Pregnancy

Why is high blood pressure a problem during pregnancy?

• High blood pressure can lead to health problems at any time in life. 
• During pregnancy, severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause problems for you and your baby.
• A serious high blood pressure disorder called preeclampsia can also happen during pregnancy or soon after childbirth. 

How is preeclampsia diagnosed?

• High blood pressure may be the first sign of preeclampsia.
• If your blood pressure is very high, it may be rechecked to confirm the results. 
• Your urine will be checked for protein.
• You may also have lab tests done to check your liver and kidney function and to measure the number of platelets in your blood. 

How is preeclampsia treated?

• You and your doctor will talk about how to manage your condition.
• The goal is to limit complications for you and to deliver the healthiest baby possible. 
• Many factors guide the provider’s decision about how to manage preeclampsia, as it’s a serious condition that needs to be managed carefully. 
• The doctor will monitor blood pressures and assess laboratory tests.
• The main treatment is the delivery of the baby. 
• If preeclampsia develops close to the end of the pregnancy, the doctor may recommend inducing labor or performing a cesarean section to deliver the baby.
• If preeclampsia occurs earlier in the pregnancy, there may be close monitoring of the mother and baby, medications may be given to lower the blood pressure, and steroid injections may be necessary to help the baby’s lungs mature faster in case early delivery is needed.

What does preeclampsia do?

• Preeclampsia can cause your blood pressure to rise and lead to signs of damage to other organs systems.
• It can impair kidney and liver function. It can also cause blood clotting problems, fluid in the lungs, seizures, and, in severe cases or if left untreated, maternal and infant death. 
• Preeclampsia affects the blood flow to the placenta, which can result in smaller or prematurely born babies, restricted fetal growth, or a stillborn birth. 

If my first pregnancy was normal, can I still develop preeclampsia?

• If you had a normal first pregnancy, your risk of having preeclampsia in the next pregnancy is very low. 
• However, if you have other risk factors (such as advanced maternal age, excess weight, or history of hypertension) you should be watchful and alert to early warning signs. 

If I had preeclampsia with a previous pregnancy, can I get preeclampsia again?

If you’re planning on becoming pregnant again after experiencing preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, you may have some concerns. Here is what you can expect.

• Deciding to try again is a highly individualized situation. Talk with your primary health care provider about becoming pregnant and what recommendations they have for you. They may examine any underlying risk factors or health issues that may affect a future pregnancy to help get them under control. It is important to understand your personal risk based not only on population-wide statistics but also on your own personal situation. Essentially, do what you can while also recognizing that nothing absolutely prevents preeclampsia. 
• Once you have a positive pregnancy test, contact your primary health care provider and they will schedule you for your first appointment. They will monitor you closely and encourage you to be watchful and alert to early warning signs. 
• Women do go on to have healthy pregnancies and babies after experiencing preeclampsia. Talk with your primary health care provider to reduce anxiety. Developing a strong support system will also help reduce anxiety. This system can include friends, family, clergy, therapist, provider, and more.  

Taking a Proper Blood Pressure at Home

How can I take my blood pressure at home?

• Sit in a chair with your back supported and your arm at heart level.
• Have your feet flat on the ground (not dangling).
• Don’t cross your feet.
• Sit quietly for 5 or 10 minutes before taking your blood pressure.
• Place a blood pressure cuff on your bare upper arm; do not place over clothing.
• Keep your arm straight at heart level.
• Take an additional blood pressure reading 15 minutes after the first one, and use the higher blood pressure reading. 
• If it’s 140/90 or higher, further evaluation is needed. Call your doctor right away. 

What can I do to help get a more accurate blood pressure reading?

• Do not talk while taking your blood pressure.
• Avoid smoking, alcohol, and caffeine for 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure.
• Empty your bladder and avoid any food or drink for 30 minutes before a reading.
• Sit quietly for 5-10 minutes before measuring your blood pressure.
• Relax.

What do blood pressure numbers mean?

• A blood pressure has two numbers separated by a slash.
• For example, a reading of 110/80 is referred to as 110 over 80.
• The first number, in this case 110, is called the systolic blood pressure. This is the pressure in your arteries when your heart contracts and pumps blood.
• The second number, in this case 80, is called diastolic blood pressure. This is the pressure in your arteries when your heart relaxes and fills with blood.

Postpartum Preeclampsia

What causes postpartum preeclampsia?

• Exact cause of preeclampsia is unknown.

Can you get postpartum preeclampsia without having preeclampsia during pregnancy?

• Yes, you can!
• Postpartum preeclampsia can develop in women who did or did not have preeclampsia during pregnancy. 
• It is possible that this condition starts during pregnancy but does not show signs or symptoms until after the baby has arrived. 

When does postpartum preeclampsia occur?

• Most commonly within the first 7 days after delivery.
• BUT you are still at risk for postpartum preeclampsia up to 6 weeks after giving birth.

What can I do to prevent or treat postpartum preeclampsia?

• Preeclampsia cannot be prevented.
• Learn the warning signs and pay attention to your body, so you can spot symptoms right away.
• Prompt treatment saves lives.

I’m experiencing symptoms. I called my healthcare provider, but I haven’t heard back.

• Trust your instincts and always seek medical care if you are not feeling well or you feel something is not right.
• Go to the nearest emergency room and tell them you have recently given birth.
• Notify your doctor of your decision to seek medical help. 

I went to the Emergency Room and was sent home, and now I am feeling worse. What should I do?

• Trust your instincts!
• If you are experiencing warning signs of postpartum preeclampsia, go back to the emergency department, request to be seen by an OB/GYN provider, and report you have recently given birth. 
• Notify your health care provider that you are experiencing symptoms and are at the hospital. 

After Delivery - Recognizing These Signs Can Save Your Life

The Safe Haven Act is a law that allows parents - or another person who has the parent's authorization - to leave an infant up to 30 days old at a hospital or health care facility without fear of prosecution for abandonment. A parent may also contact 911 and relinquish physical custody of an infant up to 30 days old to a first responder of the 911 call. More than 40 children have been declared safe havens since the Iowa law was enacted in 2002. All states have Safe Haven laws, although provisions differ.

Who is a Safe Haven?

A Safe Haven is an institutional health facility - such as a hospital or health care facility or a first responder who responds to the 911 telephone call.

According to the law - an "institutional health facility" means:

A "hospital" as defined in Iowa Code section 135B.1, including a facility providing medical or health services that is open twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week and is a hospital emergency room, or

A "health care facility" as defined in Iowa Code section 135C.1 means a residential care facility, a nursing facility, an intermediate care facility for persons with mental illness, or an intermediate care facility for persons with an intellectual disability.

According to the law, “first responder” means an emergency medical care provider, a registered nurse staffing an authorized service program under section 147A.12, a physician assistant staffing an authorized service program under section 147A.13, a fire fighter, or a peace officer as defined in section 801.4.
 

Requirements for Safe Haven Facilities and First Responders:
Hospitals and health care facilities are encouraged to prominently display the Safe Haven logo.

First responders must transport any infant relinquished to them to the nearest institutional health facility and provide any parental identification or medical history information to the institutional health facility.
 

Hospitals, health care facilities, and first responders may:

• Ask for, but cannot require the name of the parent or parents. medical history of the infant. or medical history of the infant's parents.
• Perform reasonable acts to protect the physical health and safety of the infant with immunity from criminal or civil liability or omissions made in good faith.
• Testify at any court hearing held concerning the infant.

Hospitals, health care facilities, and first responders must:

• Notify the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) as soon as possible by calling 1-800-362- 2178 that physical custody of an infant has been taken under the Safe Haven Act. DHS will make the necessary court and legal contacts and assume care, control and custody of the child.
• Submit the certificate of birth report as required in Iowa Code section 144.
• Keep confidential any information received or recorded in connection with a good faith effort to voluntarily release an infant under the Safe Haven Act except as outlined in Iowa Code Chapter 233.
• Failure to keep information confidential is a serious misdemeanor.

For more information about Iowa's Safe Haven Act, please visit the Iowa Department of Human Services website.  
https://dhs.iowa.gov/safe-haven