Megan Ledbetter, prior to delivering her second child at Aiken Regional. “Having my children here was such a wonderful experience.”
When your contractions begin, the Women’s LifeCare Center at Aiken Regional Medical Centers is ready. Director Teresa Lilly, RNC, says it is an exciting time, not just for the parents-to-be, but also for the nurses guiding new moms through the birth experience.
Lilly, who has been at the hospital for 29 years, says new moms have a lot of questions, and her nurses have the answers. “Many of our nurses are certified in sub-specialties just for labor and delivery and newborn care, which involves extra training and maintaining their certifications,” she says. “We also have a lot of longevity with our staff. They love what they do and they love working here.”
Clinical Supervisor Bridget Cunning, RNC, says a nurse is with the mother the whole time they are in labor and delivery to address any concerns. Once the baby is delivered, mother and baby continue to be cared for in the labor and delivery room to allow for bonding and breastfeeding. After a few hours, the baby is taken to the nursery for assessment and the mother is moved to the postpartum unit. Two certified lactation consultants and a full-time Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant are on staff to offer assistance to mothers interested in breastfeeding their babies.
Cunning states mothers are encouraged to keep their baby in the room with them as much as possible, and the rooms can accommodate a family member who wants to stay. She adds that mothers also receive a new, plush robe, and on the evening before discharge, the parents get treated to a special dinner that includes a little birthday cake. “We are very family-centered here,” says Cunning.
A Second Generation of Aiken Babies
Megan Ledbetter got her start at Aiken Regional, and came here when she had her first child in October 2014. She gave birth to her second child in September. “I was born in this hospital, so I think it is really neat that my children were born here, too,” says Ledbetter. “The birth experience with both of my children was wonderful. The nurses and doctors took great care of us and I felt very pampered.”
Ledbetter says she lives very close to the hospital and recommends Aiken Regional to her friends. “Some people feel that driving longer distances to bigger hospitals is better, but we have everything we need right here,” she says.