Birth is one of the most joyous and exciting times that a family will share. We do all that we can to ensure your birth experience reflects your desires.
We know every mother has unique needs and a different support system. We encourage you to let our team know what you need.
- Your labor and delivery team: You and your baby are in good hands at Trinity Health Of New England. Our staff includes:
- Board-certified obstetricians
- Certified nurse midwives
- Obstetrical nurses
- Lactation consultants
- In-house anesthesiologists and neonatologists/pediatricians available 24/7***
- Your Birth Experience: When it’s time to have your baby, our family-friendly labor and delivery units offer a homelike atmosphere dedicated to your comfort and well-being. At our birthing center, which is one of our birthing units, you have the option of a midwife-assisted birth with minimal medical intervention and technology.
We help you and your baby adjust to your new way of life while you stay in one of our hospitals or our birthing center.
- Skin-to-skin contact: We help you and your baby bond right after birth with skin-to-skin contact, placing the baby on your chest. Our lactation consultants encourage and support you as you and your baby try breastfeeding after delivery.
- Family-friendly environment: We want your whole family to feel welcome and to join in caring for your new addition. We incorporate families into the birth experience and teach family members — not just mothers — how to care for baby. A welcoming visitor policy helps loved ones share this special time together. Your baby stays with you in your room whenever possible. Rooming-in:
- Leads to better success with breastfeeding
- Helps mothers understand their babies needs more quickly
- Results in better quality sleep for mothers and babies
- Postpartum pain relief: Our postpartum massage therapist* can help you feel more relaxed and decrease your pain. We also promote opioid-free pain relief after childbirth with the use of local anesthetics and medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
We believe pregnancy is a normal condition, not an illness. But no matter how healthy you are, the unexpected can happen. We are here for you with expert care and advanced diagnostics and facilities if you or your baby needs it.
Our maternal-fetal medicine specialists (MFM) care for women with high-risk pregnancies, including***:
- Chronic medical conditions, such as high blood pressure
- Gestational diabetes
- History of preterm birth or miscarriage
- Multiples (twins, triplets or more)
- Advanced maternal age
Care for premature and sick babies
Our specialized care for premature and sick newborns includes a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We care for babies born before 32 weeks and any babies who need special care. Our NICU provides***:
- On-site neonatologists and neonatal nurses available 24/7
- Respiratory support for babies whose lungs haven’t fully developed
- Advanced imaging, including MRI and echocardiography
- Pediatric specialty care
Childbirth and New Parent Classes
There’s a lot to learn — even if you’ve done this before. We offer childbirth education classes, support groups for new mothers and more.
Find out about our prenatal classes
Breastfeeding Support
The right support can help new mothers breastfeed successfully. Even before your baby is born, you can receive a breastfeeding consultation. Support continues while you’re in the hospital and after you go home. Learn more about our breastfeeding support services.
Learn about our breastfeeding support services
Focused on Safety
A comprehensive safety program helps Trinity Health Of New England improve health care services and prevent problems before they occur, resulting in healthier mothers and babies.
We focus on seamless communication and following evidence-based care. We also continuously improve our approaches to care and emphasize the importance of following standard procedures to ensure safety.
* available at Saint Francis Hospital/** available at Saint Mary's Hospital/*** available at Saint Francis Hospital and Saint Mary's Hospital
Breastfeeding gives your baby a healthy start and helps create a special bond between mother and baby. At Trinity Health Of New England, we encourage, teach and support mothers who want to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding Support
Even though breastfeeding is natural, it does not always come easily. We are here for new mothers with support:
- Before you deliver: Expectant women can have a breastfeeding consultation before birth, so they have the information and tools they need for a successful start.
- During your hospital stay: Lactation consultants and nurses who are certified lactation consultants support mothers and babies as they figure out breastfeeding and baby care.
- After you and your baby go home: Support continues after you return home, with phone consultations and support groups.
How We Encourage Breastfeeding
Your breastfeeding journey starts with health care providers who have the experience to help you figure out what works best for you and your baby. We support:
- Skin-to-skin: We give babies skin-to-skin contact with their mothers immediately after birth whenever possible.
- Rooming-in: Babies staying in the room with their mothers encourages bonding and breastfeeding.
- Immediate breastfeeding: We help you start breastfeeding right after birth, often in the delivery room or recovery room.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding comes with many benefits for the mother and baby. Breastfeeding protects babies against diseases, including:
- Diarrhea
- Respiratory tract infections
- Ear infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Diabetes
- Childhood obesity
Breastfeeding can also help mothers lose weight more quickly and decrease the risks of postpartum bleeding and breast or ovarian cancer.
Problems With Breastfeeding?
Our lactation consultants can help you with breastfeeding problems at any stage. We can help you tackle issues such as:
- Problems with latching
- Pain when breastfeeding
- Clogged or plugged ducts
- Mastitis
- Low or high milk supply
- Thrush
Feeding Your Baby in the NICU
The lactation consultants in our neonatal intensive care units (NICUs)* encourage breastfeeding for mothers of premature babies and babies with special medical needs.
However, many premature infants are not able to breastfeed right away. We help mothers find a breast pump and learn how to build up their milk supply by pumping.
A Commitment to Breastfeeding
We are committed to increasing breastfeeding rates in the communities we serve. Through a grant-funded program, we identify women within our communities who breastfed their babies for at least six months. We provide them with special training to become Peer Mentors for breastfeeding support.
The grant enables us to hire the Peer Mentors so they can offer support and encouragement to other new mothers in the community, including visiting them in the hospital and at home.
*available at Saint Francis Hospital and Saint Mary's Hospital
