Banner Fort Collins Medical Center (BFCMC) recently expanded it’s delivery department with a fifth labor room and two new providers. The new room completed in October is like the others where labor and delivery room are combined in the room so no moving from one room to another.
What is unique about the fifth room is that it includes a pain-relieving tub to meet the growing demand of patients requesting natural deliveries in Northern Colorado and along the Front Range. While many women opt to receive epidurals to have a more comfortable labor, others choose natural deliveries because of the fear about side effects of medicated births. The pain-relieving tub, also called warm water immersion hydrotherapy, is available to provide comfort, support and relaxation for women undergoing natural labor.
I recently had the opportunity to visit BFCMC and see how busy and exceptional their birthing rooms are. As I walked into the Banner facility I noticed how welcoming it was. I was greeted by Sara Quale the Public Relations Director for Banner. She took me on a tour of the maternity delivery and recovery areas. Brooke Terpstra MSN RN CNL RN Director Inpatient Services Unit took time to visit and discuss some of the newest accommodations available in the birthing rooms. The new delivery room with the warm water immersion hydrotherapy tub was in use, so I didn’t have the opportunity to view it. I did get to view one of the other wonderful labor rooms and see some of the ways mom’s in labor can relieve pain.
All the rooms act like an all-in-one labor, delivery and post partum suite. Mom and baby won’t leave the room for care all care will be done in the room. A Peanut ball similar to a yoga ball is used by mothers to assist with epidurals, this aids in a faster delivery and comfort. There is a wireless monitoring system that can be used to offer more mobility for birthing a moms so they won't be restricted to bed. Doctors and RN’s can monitor both mom and baby to make sure everyone is healthy and safe. The new monitor system offers the freedom to shower, and walk around the room. The new 5th delivery room offers the hydrotheraby tub which gives moms wanting a natural birth a different and welcomed option. The wireless system works in conjunction with this room to help monitor mom and baby so mom can be mobile like the other rooms but also be immersed into the warm water immersion hydrotherapy tub.
The rooms are so peaceful, and everything seems to be calm and under control. Even though there were two ladies in triage, one lady in labor, and one birth while I was there there. During the interview there was a baby born! Banner has a system that plays Brahms Lullaby throughout the whole hospital, so everyone knows there is a new arrival. I thought this was a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of a new little one.
My last stop on my tour, was to meet a Mom who had just delivered her son on New Year's day. Angelique had just delivered her son Soan. She was warm and welcoming as well. This reflects how peaceful and wonderful the experience at BFCMC is. Angelique is pictured with both her son's Soan and Noam. Just a personal comment - Angelique looked fabulous and her sons were so quiet and adorable. Angelique has a beautiful family and I truly appreciate that she let me visit and take pictures of her wonderful family. Her family is somewhat new to the area and loves Colorado. Welcome to Colorado and Congratulations on your newest Family member!
Michelle Shaffer, Women & Infant Services RN Senior Manager at Banner Fort Collins Medical Center offered this comment “We strive to provide the birth experience that the patient desires, while ensuring that the mother and baby are safe, More and more women are choosing natural deliveries and we are proud to offer the pain-relieving tub as an alternative to traditional birthing methods for women.”
In addition to the fifth labor and delivery room, BFCMC announced the department’s expansion with Saskia Thompson, DO and Corrie Wilder, certified nurse midwife. Since its inception in April 2015, BFCMC has surpassed expectations and delivered over 650 babies, 340 just this year with an anticipated increase in 2018. Numbers have almost doubled each year and projections show this trend to continue.
“We are a small team, so expanding our department just makes sense,” added Shaffer. “Our midwives alone are delivering between 20-25 babies a month with many women choosing to forego epidurals and have natural births. We are excited to have Thompson and Wilder join our team so we can continue providing ample care and attention to every one of our patients.” With the two new additions, BFCMC has a total of three OBs and three midwives.
Lastly I wish to thank the BFCMC staff especially Brook Terpstra, Michelle Shaffer and Sara Quale for their hospitality and information on everything that their Birthing rooms have to offer.
About Banner Fort Collins Medical Center
Banner Fort Collins Medical Center is a nonprofit, acute-care hospital offering emergency services, medical imaging, surgery, intensive care, obstetrics, and medical/surgical beds equipped with telemedicine technology. It is part of Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country with 28 hospitals located in six states. For more information, please visit www.BannerHealth.com/FortCollins.
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Sidebar (more details about new staff) – Banner Fort Collins Medical Center (BFCMC) is pleased to announce the addition of Saskia Thompson, DO, and Corrie Wilder, RN, CNM, LCSW, to the delivery department.
Thompson has a special interest in high risk pregnancy, transition through menopause, robotic procedures, and general gynecology. She received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at St. John Macomb Hospital Osteopathic Division in Warren, Michigan.
Wilder specializes in full scope midwifery including antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum. She received her Master of Nursing, Midwifery from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon and joins BFCMC from Valley Women’s Health where she worked as a certified nurse midwife and clinical social work supervisor in McMinnville, Oregon.
