​St. Thomas Midtown is opening a birthing center. Here's what we know so far. 

• The birthing center is scheduled to be open and accepting patients in October. 
• Moms must get approval from her care provider and pediatrician (due to early discharge) to deliver there. 
• Both OBs and midwives will deliver their patients at the center.
• Mom needs to be in active labor,  5+ cm, low risk, and 37+ weeks to be admitted in the birthing center. VBAC moms will not be considered low risk. 
• If mom decides she would like an epidural, she will be transferred to a regular labor and delivery room. If one is not available, she will need to wait for a room.  They are not equipped for epidurals in the birthing center suites. 
• Nitrous oxide will be available in the birth center.
• Mom will have 4 hours of uninterrupted bonding time in her birthing center room.. 
• After bonding, the family will be moved to the postpartum floor for 8-12 hours. 
• Mom can bring her own clear fluids to eat/drink in labor.
• Rooms will have: a full size bed, labor stools, yoga balls/mats, wall-mounted ladders, stabilizer seats for balls, triangular wedge, diffusers (bring your own oils), fridge (being your own drinks and snacks), speakers (wifi/bluetooth), wireless monitors, hydrotherapy tubs, sleeper sofas, and gliders!

​For more in formation please visit the St. Thomas Health website. 

At first I was really skeptical about a birthing center being attached to a hospital. We saw this last year with a different hospital and it was basically a bait and switch marketing tactic. They announced "birthing center" but they really meant "remodeled hospital rooms."

I'm excited about the things I see listed for the St. Thomas Midtown birth center, especially the full sized-beds and labor tubs along with all of the other natural friendly options like ladders, diffusers, and wedges!

Over the last 5 years, STM has really made some major changes to their program. They are once again becoming THE hospital to deliver at but not in the "baby factory" way they were known for in the past. They are currently the ONLY hospital in Middle TN to complete the 10 steps required to achieve Baby Friendly status.  

I'm looking forward to seeing our city continue to make headway in our birth culture and hopefully continue to improve birth outcomes. 

Nashville is equipped with a wide variety of birth professionals including those trained to assist families with the loss of a child. I'm so thankful for these professionals and the resources they can provide to families who have experienced the loss of their baby either in utero or at term. Here's a current list of what's available to our Middle TN families. 

1-844-4-BABYLOSS
If you or someone you know experiences a loss, please contact the number above to reach a Baby Loss Family Advisor. They will help you find the resources you need. They can even meet with a family at home or in the hospital to discuss options and help you in this journey. They also have a Cuddle Cot available that can be used to provide additional time with the baby before saying goodbye. This is a free service that is provided on a volunteer basis. 

SUPPORT GROUPS
Sharing Middle TN meets once per month at Centennial Women's Center. Please view their support schedule or email them at info@sharingmiddletn.org. The group is open to anyone and is free to attend. 
 
LACTATION SERVICES
Kate Cropp provides lactation support free of charge to loss mamas. You can contact her at Kate@nashvillebirthandbabies.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep offers the gift of remembrance through photography. We have several photographers available in Middle TN. Please call the dispatch line at 931-452-9859 to be matched with a volunteer photographer.  

LOSS DOULAS
These women provide birth support as well as loss services. If you are still pregnant and have experienced a  loss, please contact 1-844-4-LOSS and they can help connect you to a birth doula with this area of expertise. 

If you know of other professionals who offer loss services, please contact me and let me know so that I can add them to this list. 

Last week I showed you my favorite Instagram accounts. This week, I'd like to share my favorite pregnancy & birth blogs. ​

​What are some of YOUR favorite blogs? Leave a comment below or on Facebook!

These are my favorite accounts on Instagram as they relate to pregnancy, birth and postpartum!

Sometimes we just need a pick-me-up or a little inspiration. It's all sunshine and roses over on Instagram. It's nice to see an inspirational quote or photo that spills out encouragement. There may even be an image that sparks a new idea. 

​Check these out and click to follow!

As a doula, I'm often asked for recommendations at various stages of pregnancy. 

• Any tips on getting pregnant?
• What can I do for morning sickness?
• Which prenatal should I take?
• Is there anything I can do or take to prepare my body for labor?
• Which birthing class do you recommend?
• What can I do to increase my milk supply?
• Are there any bath products that are safe for my baby?
• What can I use for birth control until we are ready to conceive again?

Now, you can find all of my top recommended resources in one place. I'll be adding more products and items to the list so bookmark this page and check back often.