Getting to Know Your New Baby

The Mother/Baby Unit provides a warm, comfortable and quiet atmosphere that allows the bonding process to continue. To ensure you have the best care at every stage, you and your baby will be transferred to Mercy’s Mother/Baby Unit after you recover in the Birthing Unit for one to two hours. While each delivery is unique, the average length of stay is two days for an uncomplicated vaginal delivery and three days for an uncomplicated cesarean section delivery.

One nurse will care for you and your baby during each shift of your hospital stay. Visitors are welcome between the hours of 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.

The Mother/Baby Unit contains luxurious private rooms that include:

• Sleep sofa for labor partner
• Double beds in some rooms
• Flat panel television with DVD/CD player
• State-of-the-art infant security system
• Wireless Internet
• Large windows with scenic views of downtown Des Moines
• Room service for all meals
• Complimentary room service meal for support person
• State-of-the-art infant security system
• Dining area
• Refrigerator
• Hair Dryer
• Large, beautiful waiting area in the atrium complete with a fireplace

We encourage you to keep your baby with you in your room. The newborn nursery is also available if you choose. Keeping baby with you provides the opportunity to practice baby care with assistance from your nurse. The father or support person is also encouraged to get involved in the educational process and newborn care. Your nurse will assist you with feeding, any baby care questions you may have and instruct you on your personal care once you leave the hospital. Lactation consultants are also available to help you with breast-feeding, if that is your option.

The opportunity to have professional photos of your newborn taken is offered to all new parents by Bella Baby Photography.. Photos are typically taken the day you and your baby go home. Mercy has also established a special Web Nursery, so that you can share the photo of your newest arrival with all your friends and family via the Internet. Friends and family may visit the site to see your baby’s picture and post their best wishes on a message board.