Alexander Eilers, Kyla Eilers and baby Lyla Grace
When Kyla and Alexander Eilers found out they were having their first child, they wanted a birth plan that outlined the entire experience. It included hypnotherapy during labor, skin-to-skin contact right after birth and lots of love.
In the months leading up to the big day, they attended childbirth and nursing classes at Northwest to help them prepare for labor and parenthood. Even though they were planning an all-natural birth, they had a chance to learn about different options and scenarios. That proved to be helpful because Kyla was diagnosed with high blood pressure and was admitted to the hospital. “Every step and obstacle we came up against was met with a knowledgeable staff,” she says.
As her contractions began, she worked closely with her maternity team – including Hannah Murdock, RN – to manage her pain in accordance with her birth plan. “Hannah supported us 100 percent and never mentioned pain meds as an option unless I suggested it,” says Kyla, who had specific preferences about medication.
When more complications arose, Kyla and Alexander decided with their medical team that a Cesarean section would be the safest and best way to bring their baby into the world. Their surgeon spent time before the procedure telling them about everything they could expect. This reassurance helped them to feel more comfortable. “Our surgeon was wonderful,” says Kyla. Just hours later, she remembers her husband holding their baby girl next to her. “It was perfect,” she says.
As part of the family-centered approach at Northwest, the Childbirth Center offers specialized couplet care, which allows mom and baby to stay together from birth to hospital discharge. This was important to the Eilers and helped facilitate bonding and breastfeeding. Kyla says she loved being able to watch everything that was happening in her room as the nurses examined and cared for their daughter, Lyla Grace. She also appreciated how their room accommodated their big family and enabled everyone to be together comfortably.
“Our most enjoyable experience was naturally our first moments with our baby girl,” says Kyla. “Apart from that were all the small things the staff did to comfort and soothe us through our stay.”
“We have been so blessed with this hospital and all the help offered,” she says. “Our whole experience was wonderful.”
How Does Couplet Care Work?
Couplet care is available as an option after delivery at Northwest. It enables mothers to be with their baby in the same room throughout their hospital stay. Nurses coordinate with moms to plan a daily schedule and they provide routine care for baby in the room.
For moms who choose to breastfeed, couplet care can allow uninterrupted feeding schedules and help to establish milk supply. It can also help to promote family bonding and provide an opportunity for families to learn about caring for their newborn as they prepare for the transition home.
Getting Ready for Baby: Discover the Northwest Difference
"I think patients love coming to deliver at Northwest because of the patient-centered care that we give," says Hannah Murdock, RN. "It's all about the patient and their family and the way they want things to go."
She notes that many patients, like the Eilers, prepare a birth plan ahead of time and have specific preferences about their delivery. The highly trained staff and physicians in the Childbirth Center work together to follow each birth plan to the greatest extent possible and support a safe, healthy delivery for mom and baby. Staff and specialists at Northwest include obstetricians/gynecologists, maternal fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists, anesthesiologists and neonatal nurses. “We have excellent teamwork,” says Murdock.
The setting at Northwest is designed to provide a comfortable and nurturing environment, while also providing access to advanced services and medical technology. In the event that specialized care is needed, the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is just steps away.
Our Services Include:
- Specialization in high-risk deliveries and neonatal care
- Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Obstetrician/gynecologists, maternal fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists, nurse anesthetists and neonatal nurses available 24 hours a day
- The Panhandle’s only high-risk OB and neonatal transport team with a neonatal and labor and delivery nurse available 24/7
- Board-certified lactation consultants
- Childbirth and sibling classes (call 806-354-1701 for information)
- Breastfeeding help hotline 24 hours a day (call 888-691-6667)
- Tours of our maternity facilities (call 806-351-7610 for information)
- Help with buying or installing a child car seat (call 806-354-1444)