Labor and delivery

To help you feel prepared for labor and delivery, we offer prenatal care services designed to inform you and to help keep you and your baby healthy during pregnancy and childbirth.

We have a high-risk antepartum unit designed to care for you if you need to stay in the hospital because of pregnancy-related complications. Our skilled physicians and nurses provide specialized care and attention for both you and baby.

No one can tell you what your birth experience will be like, but classes can help you feel prepared, confident and ready for the birth of your baby. We offer free maternity and childbirth classes to help you and your family prepare for everything from labor and delivery to infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and newborn care. Classes are taught by an experienced childbirth educator who is dedicated to providing helpful information and thoroughly answering your questions.

We also provide virtual tours of our center, so you can get familiar with our facility before the arrival of your baby. For assistance registering or for additional information, please call (361) 761-1549.

Our skilled OB/GYNs and maternity care nurses aim to follow your birth plan as closely as possible, always prioritizing you and your baby's health. We are highly knowledgeable about the birth process and comfort measures, such as body positioning, relaxation methods and massage. You may also play music during labor to help you relax. Additional features and services include:

• Different types of birthing balls
• Light meals during labor (low-risk pregnancies)
• Private postpartum suites with private bathrooms, recliners and bed for support person
• Showers for laboring (low-risk pregnancies)
• Wireless monitoring during labor

Should your birth necessitate a C-section, we do everything possible to make this experience positive. Our surgical suites have windows in the surgical drapes so you and your support person can see your baby immediately after delivery. We also offer skin-to-skin after cesarean sections to facilitate bonding, should it be safe for you and your baby. After your cesarean, we can provide you with regional anesthesia to assist with pain management.

After your baby is born, we help you begin your recovery in our dedicated postpartum care unit. Our private rooms are designed to reduce stress and encourage rest and healing.

Our on-site lactation specialists provide you with support, education and encouragement during your hospital stay. They are committed to helping you successfully breastfeed your baby and will be a resource during your stay.

If your baby requires special care after birth, we transition to our Level III NICU. Your baby will receive advanced care from a team of neonatal specialists who will do everything possible to support you and your family during your stay and beyond.

The transition to parenthood can present some challenges, so it's our goal to make the shift easier and help you find joy and ease in your new role as a parent. Some of our services include:

• Car seat loaner program — This program is designed to keep all infants safe by providing short-term car seat rental services.
• Early childhood intervention referral program — This program provides parents with interventions that assist babies in reaching developmental milestones.
• Kangaroo care — Skin-to-skin care is designed to enhance bonding between parents and their babies. Your nurse will help you get started with kangaroo care and will help you determine what is best for your baby.
• Tub club — Receive hands-on training on how to give your baby a bath and how to provide daily care to your new baby.

Our prenatal, childbirth and postpartum services, along with our maternity classes, are all provided at Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area. This facility is equipped with the latest in medical technology and designed with your comfort in mind.