Prepare For Childbirth
The Birth Place at CHI St. Alexius Health in Bismarck is dedicated to helping you prepare for the delivery experience as well as providing state-of-the-art care for you and your newborn when the big day arrives. Our physicians and nurses work closely with the OB/GYN’s at Mid Dakota Clinic. With their expertise, you and your baby are offered the very best care.
See a video tour of our Birth Place.
Prenatal Classes
Prenatal classes such as Childbirth Preparation and Breastfeeding Basics get you off to a good start. The Childbirth Preparation class teaches you about the different phases of labor; breathing, relaxation and massage techniques designed to help you through each phase; medications that can be used during labor and how to care for yourself and your new baby after delivery. The breastfeeding class is for you and your support person to learn more about breastfeeding and its benefits for you and your baby.
Childbirth Preparation
Childbirth Preparation classes are offered to help prepare expecting mothers and their support person for the birthing process. These classes not only focus on breathing techniques, but all areas of birthing. Subjects covered through the course include:
- Breathing techniques
- Labor phases and medication
- Massage
- New born and postpartum care
- Pushing techniques
- Relaxation
Expectant parents should take the classes eight weeks prior to due date. Classes fill quickly and pre-registration is required. Please register between the fourth and sixth month of pregnancy.
For more information or to register, call the Education Center at 701.530.7700.
Breastfeeding Basics
The Breastfeeding Basics class is an opportunity for parents to learn more about breastfeeding to help them make informed decisions about feeding their baby. Topics include benefits of breastfeeding, getting started, tips for success, questions and solutions, working while breastfeeding, and resources for ongoing support. The class is taught by Certified Lactation Counselors.
For more information call 701.530.4270.
Well Baby Clinic
After the birth of your baby, The Birth Place hosts a Well Baby Clinic and is staffed by nurses from The Birth Place and a certified lactation counselor. Nurses are available to weigh and measure your baby, discuss feedings and answer questions you may have. The lactation counselor is specially trained to offer breastfeeding consultations, support and advice. No appointment is needed and there is no charge for the clinic visit.
Labor and Delivery is a secure unit designed with your comfort and privacy in mind. Each birthing suite is spacious enough so your entire family may share in the joy and excitement of welcoming your new baby. You will receive one-on-one care from a highly skilled nurse prepared to handle your birthing experience with care and compassion.
Friends and family are welcome to visit you and meet the new addition to your family. While Brahm's Lullaby plays overhead announcing that a new baby has arrived, you and your family are escorted to your spacious family-centered room on the Maternity/Women’s unit. If you need some well-deserved sleep or time to shower, compassionate and skilled nurses watch over newborns in the twenty-four hour nursery. Free Wi-Fi internet access, open visitation for family members and room service is available to women who have their baby at the medical center. Each room is individually locked to protect you and your baby throughout your stay.
Family and friends can share in your excitement by visiting our online nursery. Birth Place Babies is an online photo album in which you as the parent may wish to have a picture and the birth announcement of your newborn posted for others to see.
Before taking the baby home, a postpartum nurse ensures the mother and family have received sufficient instruction on caring for the baby and the mother so everyone feels confident. With anxiety and depression affecting up to one in five women during pregnancy or the first-year postpartum, psychologists meet with new mother’s to make sure they are mentally healthy as well. View more information on Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood and Anxiety.
A Well Baby Clinic is offered each week and is free for newborns and infants born at CHI St. Alexius Health. Maternity nurses record babies’ weight and length, provide basic health evaluations and answer any questions. Certified lactation counselors are also available.
While every family hopes and dreams of a healthy pregnancy, labor and delivery, sometimes things take an unexpected turn. Take comfort in knowing that The Birth Place has a Level III NICU providing the area's most advanced neonatal care. An expert team of neonatologists, nurses, specialists and the region's only full-time pediatric cardiologist work together to provide your baby the specialized care he or she needs.
CHI St. Alexius Health is committed to caring for patients during life's most fragile moments through its Level III NICU. Staffed by neonatal nurses, therapists, neonatologists, a pediatric neurologist and visiting pediatric cardiologists; the care team is educated, skilled and ready to handle critical newborn situations. Learn more about our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
