Labor and delivery

Located on the second floor of HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge women's hospital, the labor and delivery unit is warm, welcoming and beautifully designed to meet your needs. We often hear our patients say they forgot they were in a hospital because the surroundings are more like a hotel than a hospital.

To support you during pregnancy and childbirth, the Birth Place offers:

• Access to a wide spectrum of birth plan options, including birth balls, rocking chairs and squat bars
• Board-certified OB/GYNs, anesthesiologists and certified nurse anesthetists in-house 24/7
• Breastfeeding support from certified lactation consultants and a free breastfeeding success group
• Experienced perinatologists and antepartum care for high-risk pregnancies
• Gifts to pamper and celebrate the new family and baby from The Serenity Shoppe (located on our campus)
• High-acuity, Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where we care for infants 24 weeks old and older
• Maternity tours, pregnancy courses and childbirth classes
• Private, spacious recovery rooms with flat-screen TVs, wireless internet and room for your partner to spend the night in our mom-baby unit
• We are home to the only well-care nursery in South Metro Denver, where we care for your baby when you need to rest

We offer tours of our Birth Place to give you and your partner the opportunity to learn more about our facility and services.

We also provide a wide range of childbirth classes to help you prepare for labor and delivery and parenting classes to help you learn to care for your baby.

We know every family and parent-to-be is unique, and it is important to us that we honor your very personal choices about your pregnancy and childbirth experience. Please let us know how we can best accommodate your needs and those of your family before, during and after the delivery of your little one.

To help you create your birth plan, you will find information about low-intervention birth and childbirth pain management options below.

Here are some of the options for controlling pain during labor.

Spinal anesthesia

This pain medication is used for scheduled C-sections, during which anesthetics and painkillers are injected through the dura (membrane surrounding the spinal cord).

• Pros: The anesthesia does not transfer to the baby
• Cons: time-limited, meaning the anesthesia wears off within a few hours after it is infected

Local anesthesia

This pain medication is used for relieving pain during the pushing phase or tear repair. Anesthetic is injected directly into the affected region.

• Pros: immediate, localized relief
• Cons: does not help with labor pain

Epidural

Epidurals provide anesthetic and painkillers around the dura. It is administered via an intravenous drip to block labor pains.

• Pros: provides continuous relief, can be patient-controlled for desired level of medicine, does not transfer to the baby
• Cons: can increase chance of Cesarean surgery (C-section) and affect recovery if administered too early

Nitrous oxide

This is a colorless gas with a sweet odor that occurs naturally in the atmosphere. In high concentrations, nitrous oxide is a weak anesthetic.

• Pros: self-administered, so you can decide how much to use and when to stop use; effects disappear within minutes; does not transfer to the baby
• Cons: requires you to self-administer the gas when you need it

Low-intervention birth options we offer

Many of our patients want to limit medical interventions. At our hospital, we offer a number of these techniques to ensure a more comfortable, safe and low-intervention birth for you and your baby.

Some options and features we provide are:

• Labor beds that provide maximum comfort and safety
• Comfortable Upright Birth (CUB) supports, inflatable, versatile support stools similar to birthing balls
• Wireless monitors, so you can freely move about
• Nitrous oxide for pain management
• Baby repositioning techniques
• Cool and warm towels for soothing
• Doula-friendly squat bars
• Peanut balls
• Soaking tubs
• Outdoor terrace for relaxation
• Honoring the golden hour when baby arrives

Did you know babies can put themselves in the best positions possible for childbirth?

Spinning Babies techniques can help you have an easier birth by getting your baby in the best position to fit your pelvis. These strategies are especially important when labor seems long, painful or stalls. Spinning Babies® positions have helped many avoid cesarean surgery, and we know this can be very important to you.

These weekly techniques “activate the nature within the body by working with the body in new ways.” During your labor, our team works with you on these positions to make labor easier and less painful.