Bringing a child into this world can be one of the most fulfilling and exciting times in your life — and at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital we want to make sure that you have a warm, safe, caring environment for the birth of your baby. Our beautiful, state-of-the-art Birthing Center is designed to meet the physical and emotional needs of mothers, mothers-to-be and their birthing partners as they embark on this exciting journey.

Our recently renovated, state-of-the-art SLCH Birthing Center features a new operating room suite, as well as newly renovated labor and delivery rooms with private bathroom and shower, and private and semi-private recovery rooms. Luxurious birthing suites for labor, delivery, recovery and post-partum (LDRP) — also are available, allowing new moms to continue their stay in the same room. (Not available to Cesarean patients.)

Our birthing suites feature:

• The comfort and beauty of a luxury hotel, with breathtaking
  views of the Hudson River.
  
• Private bathroom with Jacuzzi tub.
  
• Accommodations for birthing partner, who is welcome at
  any time!
  
• Refrigerator stocked with goodies including cheese-and-cracker plate, fresh fruit, crudités and dip, cookies and beverages.
  
• Congratulatory gift basket.
  
• Special celebration dinner for mother and birthing partner.
  
• Television and VCR.

(There is a $75-per-day charge for the birthing suite that is not
covered by insurance.)

We encourage all expectant mothers and their birthing partners to tour our facilities before the big day. Tours are offered on Sundays at 2:00 p.m. To schedule a tour, call 568-2365. See our online Medical Staff Directory for a list of our highly skilled OB/GYN physicians.

When it’s time for the baby to arrive, our team is ready. Upon a patient’s arrival, we assess her condition to determine where she is in the birthing process. Our team continuously monitors the mother, assessing her comfort level and working closely with her to support her birthing plan.

After the baby arrives, our care-giving team is by the new mom’s side to ensure her comfort and help her and the birthing partner get to know the new baby. Education and communication are essential to our family-centered model of care. That’s why we work with the family members and others in the new mom’s support network, whenever possible, to make sure there is a good understanding of how to care for both mother and baby before they leave the hospital. Our lactation consultant will also provide assistance and education to breast-feeding mothers – including techniques and nutrition advice.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Parents delivering babies at SLCH have the added comfort of knowing that our Elaine Kaplan Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is just steps away from our Birthing Center. The only facility of its kind in Orange, Ulster and Sullivan Counties, the Level II NICU offers acute and chronic care for premature infants and ill full-term babies born throughout the region. Using a family-centered approach, the NICU provides medical care to critically ill babies and offers special therapeutic services, community referrals, family education and discharge planning.