Specialties & Services

Labor and Delivery

Parenthood is an exciting journey, and labor and delivery will be the first of many memories. We’re here to make your experience as safe and comfortable as possible. Our childbirth centers are designed with your needs in mind, and our experienced teams are by your side at every step.

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Why choose us for labor and delivery?

BJC HealthCare works with WashU Medicine physicians, BJC Medical Group, and providers across the region to deliver extraordinary care. You want your labor and delivery hospital to have the expertise to care for you and your baby in any situation. No matter where you deliver with us, our childbirth centers are staffed by experienced nurses, obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and neonatologists (or providers with immediate teleconsult access to these specialists). You can rest assured that you’ll be in the best hands at every step.

Our goal is to provide a quiet, private environment where you can have a peaceful and joyful experience. Our labor and delivery rooms are designed with your needs in mind.

At some locations, we also offer dedicated antepartum (before delivery) rooms, recovery rooms, and postpartum (after birth) mother and baby rooms. Other locations offer private rooms designed to cater to moms throughout the entire childbirth process. These rooms provide a convenient, single destination allowing you to remain in the same room from admission through labor and delivery to recovery and postpartum, until discharge from the hospital.

At our childbirth centers, you’ll find: 

Patient and family-centered care: We focus on you and your family throughout your pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Our expert staff listens to your birth plan and preferences for pain management. We do everything possible to make sure you have the birthing experience you want. 
Breadth of specialty services: We offer a wide range of care and support for all pregnancies and deliveries, including high-risk pregnancies and babies with fetal conditions. We also provide mental and emotional support services, including individual or couples therapy and screening and care for postpartum depression. 
Lactation services: Certified lactation counselors or nurses are available to offer advice and answer questions about breastfeeding, pumping, and breast care.
Highest level of care available for baby: We offer the full range of newborn intensive care, including Level II, III and IV newborn intensive care units (NICUs). Our Level IV NICU at St. Louis Children’s Hospital provides the region's highest level of newborn care. Our locations with NICUs and special care nurseries directly connect to the labor and delivery unit. This makes it easy for you and your family to visit your baby while you recover from giving birth. If you deliver at a hospital without a NICU, we offer teleconsults and immediate transport to the appropriate NICU should your baby need more specialized care.
Classes and events: We want you to feel prepared for your new baby’s arrival. That’s why we offer a range of classes and events, such as child birth center tours, breastfeeding education, and newborn care classes. It’s all part of how we give you and your little one the best possible start on this journey. 
Doula-friendly hospital environments: A doula is a trained professional who offers guidance, support, and comfort during childbirth. If you choose to work with a doula, our care teams include your doula in your birth experience before, during and after labor. Please let us know if a doula is part of your birth plan.

What can I expect during labor and delivery?

You may be excited and anxious about the impending labor and childbirth. You may also wonder how you can help. Learning about the birth process can help you know what to expect. And following the suggestions below can help ease you and the birthing parent through this exciting time.

During early labor

Be sure to time the contractions.
Keep the setting soothing. Dim lights and prevent loud noises. Try playing relaxing music.
Suggest that the birthing parent soak in a warm tub to ease the pain of contractions.
Try to distract the birthing parent from the contractions with a short walk or massage.
Encourage the birthing parent to rest if they are tired.
As contractions become stronger, help them use labor breathing techniques.

During active labor

Have the birthing parent walk or change position at least once an hour. This improves circulation and helps the baby descend.
Keep reminding the birthing parent to breathe and relax through each contraction.
Be reassuring. Try to keep the birthing parent from getting anxious or overstressed.
Take care of yourself. Take a short break to eat or go to the bathroom when you need to.
Rest when the birthing parent does. You'll both benefit.

During a vaginal birth

Help the birthing parent into a pushing position. Support their body as they push. A semi-sitting or semi-squatting position allows gravity to assist the birth.
Remind them to rest between contractions. Encourage them by telling them when the baby's head appears.
Keep in mind that you may be masked and gowned for the birth, depending on hospital policy.

During a cesarean birth

You will most likely be able to stay with the birthing parent during the cesarean. If you remain with them, you'll wear a mask and surgical gown.
Remember that cesarean birth is surgery. The birthing parent's abdominal area will be draped and out of view. Don't touch the draped areas, which are sterile.
If you aren't allowed to attend the delivery or aren't comfortable doing so, wait in the family waiting area.

Labor and delivery options

You have many options when it comes to giving birth. Making a birth plan before labor and delivery ensures that your care team understands your wishes. And while not all deliveries go according to plan, we do our best to support your birth plan at every step.

Your birth plan describes how you want your birth experience to go. It can include your pain management preferences, who you would like with you during labor and delivery and whether you would like a natural birth.

Your care team will help you understand your birth and delivery options:

Vaginal birth: You deliver your baby through your vagina (birth canal), not surgically, with or without medication.

Scheduled Cesarean (C-section): We remove your baby through an incision in your abdomen if a vaginal delivery puts you or your baby at risk.

Unplanned Cesarean: You and your provider may decide on a C-section if risks or complications arise during labor and delivery.

Trial of labor after C-section (TOLAC) and Vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC): TOLAC is the process of having a vaginal birth after a C-section (VBAC) in a past pregnancy. Talk to your provider if you’re considering a VBAC.

Scheduled induction: We may plan to give you medication to start labor for medical reasons if you’re past your due date by two weeks or more.

Natural childbirth: Natural childbirth means giving birth without pain medication. Relaxation techniques, birthing balls, and hydrotherapy are pain relief alternatives.

Labor and delivery rooms

We outfit our birthing suites with the comforts of home and all the necessary technology and capabilities to keep you and your baby safe. If you need an unplanned C-section, we have operating rooms immediately available.

Our luxurious birthing suites include:

• Comfortable sleeper recliners and sofa beds for family members

• TV with cable television access

• Free Wi-Fi

• Labor tubs (available in select hospitals)

• Labor bars and birthing balls and stools