Mother and Baby Care in Chicagoland

Welcoming a new life into the world never loses its magic. That's why our obstetricians take such great care to ensure that your baby's first moments are met with the caring touch of the region's leading obstetric specialists, midwives and doulas.

At our home-like Birth Centers, mothers and their newborns can experience amenities and pampering alongside high-level maternity care. During childbirth, you can expect hands-on, compassionate care to create the labor and delivery experience you want, and that keeps you and your baby healthy and safe.

Our Birth Center amenities include:

• A single space for labor, delivery and recovery
• Bedside education on feeding, cord care, diapering, bathing techniques and more
• Certified midwives and doulas
• Dedicated primary care nurse caregiver
• Hidden, state-of-the-art medical technology, so your room feels less clinical
• Hydrotherapy
• Large, private birthing suites
• Overnight accommodations for your support person
• Pain management choices, including epidurals, relaxation guides and more
• Special suites for mothers who have undergone cesarean deliveries

We understand women's health needs are highly personal, especially when having a baby. We also respect that you know your body better than anyone else. That's why it's always your choice whether you see the doctor or a certified nurse midwife (CNM).

Available at our UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale hospital, our CNMs collaborate with our doctors, listening carefully to you and ensuring that you receive the highest quality of compassionate care. We can also help you find doula support before and after your pregnancy.

About Our Certified Nurse Midwives

A certified nurse midwife (CNM) is a registered nurse who has a minimum of a master's degree from an accredited university and has passed a national board certification exam.

Here, CNMs provide a continuum of healthcare for low-risk women throughout adulthood, offering gynecologic medical care and obstetric care that includes prenatal, childbirth and postpartum care.

When having a baby, women who choose a CNM often do so because they’re seeking a more holistic pregnancy and birth experience. Our CNMs are ardent supporters of vaginal births with fewer medical interventions (without epidural anesthesia, episiotomies, instrument deliveries, etc.).

Our CNMs view pregnancy and birth as events that can typically happen without major medical complications. They encourage women to actively participate in their care, emphasizing preventive medicine with a holistic approach.

If required, interventions for childbirth are used, but are done so judiciously and in collaboration with an obstetrics and gynecology doctor. Obstetricians and neonatologists are on the unit floor 24 hours a day. Your health and safety, and that of your baby, are our highest priority.

Physicians in the field of maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialize in treating high-risk pregnancies and the most common types of pregnancy complications, including congenital disabilities, chromosomal issues and genetic disorders. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist can help improve the likelihood of a successful, healthy delivery for mothers and babies who have risk factors.

Present through all stages of your pregnancy, our MFM team of obstetricians, gynecologists, genetic counselors and sonographers can coordinate your prenatal tests and screenings, monitor your baby’s growth and help manage any pre-existing conditions that could affect your pregnancy.

Your obstetrician may refer you to a maternal-fetal specialist if you have any of the following risk factors:

• History of diabetes, heart disorders, hypertension or breathing problems
• History of pregnancy complications
• History of smoking, drinking or drug use
• Multiples pregnancy (twins, triplets, etc.)
• Older than age 35
• Past abdominal surgeries

An MFM specialist can also offer care for several different conditions diagnosed in utero, including:

• Amniotic disorders
• Genetic disorders
• Growth disorders
• Placental disorders
• Prenatal complications
• Suspected congenital disabilities (birth defects)

Not every pregnancy goes according to plan. As more women wait until after age 40 to start a family, the risk of birth complications and premature deliveries goes up.

Manage your risks and eliminate stress by delivering at a UChicago Medicine AdventHealth hospital campus with a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and a perinatal services level appropriate to your needs. And because our locations are so close to home, you and your family can spend less time traveling — and more time at your new baby's side.

Perinatal Care

Perinatal services are special medical centers designed to care for babies that experience problems in the weeks leading up to and just after birth. The State of Illinois has special designations for the level of care (Level I, II, II+ and III) according to the level of risk. Having your baby at a hospital with the appropriate level of care available can dramatically improve outcomes for a high-risk pregnancy.

Recognized Care

Some UChicago Medicine AdventHealth hospitals have achieved the Level II designation from the Illinois Department of Public Health, meaning they provide excellent care for 32 weeks/1,500 grams and up. They’re also equipped to handle moderate risk factors. Others offer Level II+ (sometimes called IIE, for "extended") or Level III perinatal services with NICU and antepartum units — the highest designation in the state.

UChicago Medicine AdventHealth NICUs in Chicago

With the most advanced care available, you'll never have to transfer your baby to another hospital or spend time traveling far from home.

Our hospitals in the area have the following NICU designations:

NICU Level II:

• UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook
• UChicago Medicine AdventHealth GlenOaks

NICU Level III:

• UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale

Take comfort in knowing that whatever services you need, we will coordinate seamlessly with the obstetricians and specialists you and your baby need.

At our UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Bolingbrook hospital, we offer 24-hour, on-site OB hospitalist coverage, provided by OB Hospitalist Group (OBHG), the nation’s largest and only dedicated provider of customized obstetric hospitalist programs. Hospitalists are physicians who specialize solely in caring for patients who are hospitalized, rather than those in a clinical office setting. This hospitalist program adds to our hospital’s quality obstetrics and women’s health services.

When an expectant or postpartum mom enters the emergency department, these OB hospitalists:

• Evaluate within 30 minutes of arrival for patients 16 weeks or greater gestation and those within six weeks postpartum
• Admit to the labor and delivery unit or discharge the patient home within four hours of arrival
• Contact the patient’s obstetric physician and work collaboratively on care
• When an expectant mom in labor arrives, the OB hospitalists:
• Care for laboring patients while waiting for their obstetrician to arrive
• Support the care of high-risk pregnancy patients
• Deliver babies and care for patients who do not have an obstetric care provider
• Provide postpartum care

We’re here to help you navigate the ups and downs of breastfeeding. We understand that the journey isn’t always easy and may not look like what you envisioned. Feel confident knowing that our team of certified lactation consultants is here for you every step of the way, from working on latching techniques to troubleshooting clogged ducts, supply issues and more.

Certified Lactation Consultants to Guide You

Our lactation consultants want every new mother leaving our hospitals to approach breastfeeding with confidence. That’s why we have several lactation consultants available for consultations every day of the week by appointment, and who can follow up with you after discharge.

We also continuously train our team of nurses on the latest breastfeeding techniques — taking great care to comply with the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a joint effort by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) that encourages hospitals to teach successful feeding skills. Together, we'll work one-on-one with you to achieve successful breastfeeding.

In addition, our lactation consultants are certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE), which demonstrates their commitment to staying in the know on the latest evidence-based care and support for breastfeeding mothers.

The Nurturing Nook

At our Hinsdale and Bolingbrook hospitals, we offer The Nurturing Nook, which promotes and protects the initiation and duration of breastfeeding through support, supplies and education. Most visits are covered by insurance, but please check with your insurance coverage.

The Nurturing Nook offers:

• Breastfeeding Support Group (Tuesdays from 12 to 1:30 pm)
• Lactation management
• Pre/post-feeding weight checks
• Proper latch instruction
• Milk production concerns
• Breast or nipple pain
• Breast pump use and pumping support
• Support for returning to work
• Hospital-grade Symphony breast pump rentals and Symphony kits
• Prenatal breastfeeding education classes taught by an Internationally Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
• Donor milk Depot and Dispensary locations for the Mother's Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes

The Nurturing Nook is available at our Bolingbrook and Hinsdale hospitals and is also open to our GlenOaks patients.

To reach The Nurturing Nook at our Bolingbrook hospital, call 630-312-4234 for an appointment, pump rental or to schedule an in-person tour. For The Nurturing Nook at our Hinsdale hospital, call 630-856-MILK or email HIN.NurturingNook@AdventHealth.com for a one-on-one appointment, to pre-register for Support Group, arrange a pump rental, bra fitting, or donor milk drop-off/purchase.

After childbirth, our team remains by your side as you heal, recover and enjoy your little one’s first moments and milestones. You can count on us even after you go home for ongoing support and encouragement.

Our postpartum services include:

• Dedicated warmlines for non-urgent questions, advice or support
• Lactation support in the hospital and ongoing support through in-person and telephone counseling once you’re home
• Support groups for new moms and parents
• Umbilical cord banking

It's perfectly natural to feel overwhelmed during and after pregnancy. But if those feelings interfere with your happiness or caring for your baby, it's important to ask for professional help right away.

We offer compassionate, proven treatment for pre-, peri- and postpartum depression and anxiety symptoms. Guided by certified behavioral medicine specialists, our care promotes whole-family bonding by inviting partners, fathers and co-parents to participate in the therapeutic process.

Is It the "Baby Blues" or Postpartum Depression?

"Baby blues" are very common for new mothers, usually starting within a week of giving birth and lasting up to two or three weeks. Postpartum depression, on the other hand, can last longer than three weeks and even worsen throughout the year following your child's birth.

Learn the difference between the two with the symptoms listed below. And remember, we’re just a phone call away. So, please reach out and let us know if you’re not feeling your best. We’re here to care for you, your baby and your entire family.

“Baby Blues” symptoms usually include:

• Anxiety
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Lack of concentration
• Sadness or weeping
• Unstable mood

Postpartum depression symptoms usually include:

• Difficulty making decisions
• Excessive worry or anxiety
• Feeling guilt, hopelessness or fatigue
• Feeling sad and overwhelmed
• Irritability or short temper
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Physical symptoms without any apparent cause
• Significant changes in appetite or weight
• Sleep problems (either inability to sleep or sleeping too much)

Our Hinsdale and Bolingbrook hospital campuses offer several online classes for expecting parents to help prepare for the birth and care of their newborn:

• Prepared Childbirth Marathon
• HypnoBirthing
• Breastfeeding
• Baby Care 101

Learn more and sign up on our events page.

Truth: Most new mothers’ breasts will start producing milk, rich in protein and antibodies your baby needs, two to five days following childbirth — regardless of whether they’re at the hospital or home. The hospital is a great place to start breastfeeding because you’re surrounded by experts who can show you important techniques to help keep your baby nourished and safe.

Truth: Babies should always be allowed to feed as frequently as they want. When babies feed more often than average, it’s rarely because the mother fails to produce enough milk. Feeding frequently actually signals the mother’s body to produce more milk.

Truth: We recommend letting your baby set the pace when it comes to breastfeeding. This will help your body optimize its milk supply, which can improve breast milk quality.

Truth: The more often you breastfeed, the more milk you’ll produce. That’s because your body can sense when your breasts are running low on milk and works harder to replace it as fast as possible.

Truth: This can be true for babies. Newborns, however, still need time to learn how to suckle, and it may take longer. In either case, you should continue feeding until your baby shows signs that they are relaxed and full.

Truth: This is usually true, but not always. Newborns, for example, may need to be woken up so they can eat at least eight times a day. Babies are usually sleepy during the day and do their best feeding at night.