Having a baby is a life-changing event and one that all of us at Sierra Providence East Medical Center want to help be a family centered experience for you.

At The Birthing Center we deliver high-level obstetrical care, along with support services that give parents the comfort of knowing that any complication can be addressed by specialists on site.  Sierra Providence East Medical Center has ten Labor-Delivery-Recovery Rooms (LDR) and traditional labor progress rooms. An in-house anesthesia service serves the Birthing Center 24 hours a day.  

As soon as a woman learns she is pregnant, Sierra Providence East Medical Center stands ready to help her and her family prepare for the new arrival. We recognize how special a time this is for expecting mothers, and we offer resources each step of the way.  

Labor and Delivery

Expectant mothers are offered the comfort of Labor-Delivery-Recovery (LDR) rooms that carry them through the entire birth process. Each room is connected to a central fetal monitoring system so nurses can easily monitor each mother and baby at all times. The Birthing Center also has operating suites for Cesarean deliveries.

Post-Partum/Gynecological Services

This unit cares for new mothers after delivery and for women undergoing gynecologic surgery or receiving gynecologic care.  

Neonatal Services

Three levels of neonatal services are available to care for newborns.  

Newborn and Intermediate Care Nurseries

The Birthing Center has a newborn nursery as well as a Level II Intermediate Care Nursery to take care of babies who need special care. This nursery provides Level II care for newborns who are not in critical condition, but who require close observation and a higher level of care than most newborns.

The intermediate care unit is staffed by specially trained physicians, registered nurses and respiratory therapists who give your baby care 24 hours a day.

Preparing for Your Stay at Sierra Providence East Medical Center

Pre-Register for Your Delivery

We encourage you to pre-register for your hospital stay by your seventh month of pregnancy. Pre-registering is quick and will save you time when you arrive at the hospital in labor.

We also recommend that you check with your insurance carrier to see if you have been preapproved for hospital admission. Please be sure to bring your insurance cards or current Medicaid certificate with you to the hospital. We will need to make copies for your file. If you do not have insurance, please contact our Business Office well in advance of your stay to make financial arrangements.

Maternity Tours

We encourage our patients to tour our maternity area to help prepare for the upcoming birth of their baby. Expectant parents may schedule a maternity tour during any stage of pregnancy. The best time to tour is during the seventh month of pregnancy in case the baby arrives early. We offer several choices of dates and times each month. The tour lasts approximately one hour, and children are welcome to accompany their parents.

A Wide Array of Prenatal Classes

Helping families have a healthy, joyous pregnancy and delivery is the goal of our many educational offerings. Being well-informed is key to prenatal health and an important part of the labor and delivery experience. Our complete array of prenatal classes helps families learn about pregnancy, delivery, newborn care, breastfeeding, infant massage and more.

Taught by experienced maternal-child RNs, the general four-week Prenatal Class Series is offered free of charge, and is designed for expectant mothers in the second trimester.

Childbirth Preparation

Sierra Providence East Medical Center also offers childbirth preparation classes led by certified childbirth instructors. These classes provide expectant parents with the knowledge to make informed choices about labor and delivery and to cope with the normal challenges of childbirth.

Breastfeeding

This class is recommended for all parents to help them make an informed decision about breastfeeding.  Board Certified Lactation Consultants offer instructions on breastfeeding techniques, prevention of problems and breastfeeding after returning to work.

Pregnancy Check-List

Congratulations expecting mothers and dads.  Now that you’re pregnant, you may be wondering what to do next. The following information will help guide you in checking off some of the items on your “to do” list.  

First Trimester

• If you need a physician who delivers at Sierra Providence East Medical Center, call us or check our online “Find A Physician” service.
• Ask your obstetrician for the packet of hospital information on your first prenatal visit.
• Education is an important part of the labor and delivery experience. Call The Birthing Center at Sierra Providence East Medical Center to learn more about our maternity services and the many helpful perinatal education classes before and after delivery.
• Our classes include: Infant Care, Breast Feeding, Infant CPR, and Discharge Orientation  

Second Trimester

• Call early, preferably no later than 20-24 weeks, to register for childbirth classes. It will be important for you to know what to expect and to be prepared if things do not go exactly as you have planned.
• Contact The Birthing Center if you have special breastfeeding concerns.
• Call us to arrange a tour of The Birthing Center at Sierra Providence East Medical Center. Children are welcome to accompany their parents on the tour.  

Third Trimester

• Pre-register for your delivery during your seventh month. Check your information packet for pre-registration information.
• Purchase a car safety seat for your baby and install it in your vehicle. If you are not sure that the safety seat is properly installed, you may want to consult with a certified car seat safety technician. To find a certified technician located near you, visit the website for the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
• For questions about our classes, birthing options or our maternity area, please call us. We are here to help you.  

For questions or more information, contact us at (915) 832-2000.  

Virtual Nursery

Families have the opportunity to have photos taken of their newborn. These photos can be securely posted to our online Virtual Nursery to share with friends and family.  

Going Home

As new mothers and infants leave the hospital, the staff prepares them with a discharge plan and any necessary referrals for additional health care. Please come prepared on discharge day with your baby’s car seat installed in your car for that first ride home.