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baby boom!
Information on due dates and who is readying for delivery comes to the hospital from the doctors of the mothers-to-be so that the maternity staff has time to address nursing schedules and space needs. But because due dates always have a two-week fluctuation on either side, there is plenty of room for surprise. Babies have the uncanny ability to know when they want to enter the world, no matter how anxious their bulging moms might be or what estimation was made by her physician, so NCH has lots of supplies, equipment and extra staff lined up in case there are more than six women in labor at once, which, at the moment, is seen as unlikely. While historical hospital birth records were not readily available, Lucchini said in the NCH fiscal year from September 2005 to September 2006, a total of 119 babies were born; from last September to mid- May, 79 babies have been born, with more to come before the June events. June's births will eclipse the prior record of 19 babies born at the hospital within any given 30-day period, with June seeming to be the month when the greatest volume of deliveries occur. That may be due, in part, to planning by people such as teachers who know they will have the summer off to attend to their infants. In terms of numbers, Lucchini and Stephanie Silva, an NCH maternity department clinical coordinator who has helped deliver hundreds of babies at the hospital for eight years, said they are aware that a lot of young couples and families have moved to Nantucket, and they estimate that about half of next month's babies are first births for their mothers. Childbirth is a very special experience, and Nantucket Cottage Hospital does its best to provide amenities to make birthing memories ones mothers will always treasure. The maternity unit is composed of four suites. Each suite is single occupancy and each mother is attended by a nurse. The suites are decorated in restful colors and contain a private bathroom, TV and VCR, a pull-out chair/bed for the father or significant other, a baby crib and all necessary supplies stored within handsome raised panel oak wall cabinets. There are portable labor monitors and warming tables. The unit also has a family waiting room, a kitchen and a jacuzzi room where the lights can be dimmed for a soothing effect. There is a nursery, as well, but Lucchini said it is not used often because most mothers want their babies in their room with them. In addition, a ladies' group formed years ago by Louise Benoit, hand-knits soft hats for every baby being delivered. "They've heard that there's going to be a boom and the knitting needles are flying," said Lucchini. The suites are designated for moms in labor, who then spend post-partum time in spacious rooms adjacent to the unit which can also be used for labor if more than four pregnancies reach term at once. "It's cool. It's a nice unit and a good staff," said Lucchini, who has been caring for mothers and babies for 23 years. "We have a wealth of experience. People have been here for a really long time and they have all been labor nurses for a long time. Labor nurses tend to be very passionate about their moms and babies." Knowing everything is in place for the pending baby boom makes the maternity crew confident that all will go well when June arrives. "We've done what we could to make sure we have the staffing, supplies and equipment we need," said Lucchini. "And we're praying everyone doesn't come in on the same day," joked Silva. I |
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