American Fork Hospital's new Birthing Center is more like a home away from home or a vacation getaway for mothers-to-be.
The amenities at the center, which had its formal opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, read like a five-star hotel: a state-of-the-art facility with beautiful interiors, 24-hour room service, spacious new suites featuring larger bathrooms with whirlpool tubs, and a homelike environment for the whole family to enjoy the birthing experience."This is a drastic difference," said Lori Durrant. When she delivered her first child six years ago at American Fork, she said the hospital put her in "just a room, then they wheeled you into delivery."
Durrant and husband DeWayne agree that "the room is really soothing, the colors and the flooring," said Lori.
"It's real homey," DeWayne added. The Durrants, the parents of two girls, live in Vernon, Tooele County, but opted to come to the American Fork Birthing Center to deliver their third child. The wait wasn't long as Tanner Caige Durrant made his appearance in the delivery room at 5:01 p.m. on Wednesday.
With the tremendous population increase in the area, Intermountain Health Care and American Fork Hospital saw the need to expand its Women's Center. The $1.4 million Birthing Center, located on the south end of the hospital, boasts a total of nine labor/delivery/recovery rooms; three are new, the rest remodeled. Five suites feature jetted tubs for relaxation therapy during labor. The center also features a large waiting room and an additional Caesarean section room and nurses station.
"Our aim with the Birthing Center was to create a family friendly place where mom and baby would feel right at home," said Karalee Allen, manager of the hospital's Women's and Children's Services. "We've strived to create a serene and nurturing environment for this precious occasion."
During ribbon-cutting ceremonies, Malcolm Beck, chairman of the board at the hospital, said, "This is a real step forward in how we treat babies." He said the suites allow parents to bring their children into the world in pleasant surroundings. Last year 2,156 babies were born at the hospital.
Dr. Marshall Willis said he has delivered babies whose parents have come from as far away as Phoenix, Palm Springs and Seattle to have the baby at American Fork. American Fork Hospital also works closely with certified nurse midwives who are allowed to deliver babies at the center.
As for the jetted tubs, Jill Nielsen, administrative director for Women's and Children's Services for IHC Utah County, said, "The jets help those going through natural birth. It relaxes the patient." Doctors have found water therapy relieves some labor pains.
Before the addition, Allen said it wasn't uncommon to have patients waiting for a bed. "It was kind of like a take-a-number service. This allows us to keep up with the volume."
For more information about the American Fork Hospital Birthing Center, call 763-3300.