Maternity Services - Evansville

The St. Vincent Personal Birth Consultant is a registered nurse who specializes in pregnancy, labor and delivery, baby care, and breastfeeding. She is dedicated solely to helping you prepare for the birth of your little one.

For more information call 812-485-6016.

Register online at St. Vincent Evansville Classes and Events. 

• Breastfeeding: Getting Off to a Great Start!
• Infant and Child CPR
• Mother and Infant Care
• Natural Family Planning Session
• Getting Ready for Baby - Prepared Childbirth
• Pumping and Back to Work
• Safe Sleep Class
• Sibling Class

Car Seat Safety 

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages two to 12 in the United States.  Properly installed car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.  National studies have shown that as many as 90% of car seats are not installed or used properly.

To help ensure you are using your car seat correctly, St. Vincent Trauma Center operates a Car Seat Hotline.  St. Vincent certified technicians will check your car seat, by appointment, to ensure its safety.  The technicians are staff members of St. Vincent and have been certified through the National Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program.

Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians are dedicated to providing education to parents and caregivers of children for a safe and proper installation of car seats and child restraints.

The purpose of a car seat inspection is to reduce the injury and death to infants and children by increasing the proper installation of their seats as well as providing education to parents and caregivers of children.  Our car seat technicians work with parents to ensure every child is properly secured and safe every trip, every time.

Call today to make your appointment.  You will need to bring your car manual and the car seat manual to your appointment.

It's important to choose a doctor for your baby before you deliver. Visit our online provider finder to find the right pediatrician for you and your child.

Place baby skin-to-skin with you as soon after birth as possible. Place baby on your chest in between the breast with a blanket covering the two of you. Early skin-to-skin contact with mother increases success of breastfeeding.

Offer breast as soon as hunger cues are observed. Babies are very patient at this time. The following are a newborn's way of telling you they are hungry:

• Rooting
• Fisted hands close to the face
• Licking lips
• Crying is a late sign of hunger that occurs 20-30 minutes after early signs have been missed

Offer the baby a chance to latch during the first hour of life. Baby will be very alert during this time. Keep baby with you as much as possible. This will allow you to observe hunger cues and feed on demand. Frequent feedings will give you and baby lots of practice.

Avoid giving bottles and pacifiers during the early weeks. The use of artificial nipples has been shown to increase nipple pain in mothers. Breastfed infants need to nurse frequently for the first few weeks to establish a good milk supply for mothers.

Choose a position that is comfortable for you and baby. The cross-cradle hold works well for newborns. See the section on positioning to find a position that works well for you.

Nipple should be at the level of the baby's nose to encourage the baby to look up at the breast when latching. This helps to achieve a deeper latch.

Brush the nipple above the top lip to encourage the baby to open wide like a yawn. Once baby opens wide, place nipple in the top 1/3rd of the mouth. Nipple should be pointed to the roof of the mouth.

You should feel a strong tug with each suckle, not pain. If pain is felt, break the latch by using gentle pressure at the corner of the mouth and attempt the latch again. Baby should be latched well onto the areola, not just the nipple. Baby should not be making smacking sounds while nursing and cheeks should be full and round, not dimpled.

Some moms experience tenderness at the beginning of each feeding (approximately 15 - 20 seconds), but that subsides during the first week. We encourage moms to check the shape of the nipple after each feeding. The nipple should be elongated, but still round. If nipple is oval in shape, has lines or creases thru the end, baby is probably smashing the nipple between the roof of the mouth and the tongue. This can lead to painful cracked nipples.

Cracking, bruising, blisters, and pain the entire feeding are not normal and signs of an incorrect latch. Sometimes simple changes in positioning can fix the problem. Please feel free to contact us for assistance at any time.

Baby's need to nurse often in the beginning to help moms establish a good milk supply. Watch baby for hunger cues and offer breast when observed.

Breast milk changes throughout the day in amount and consistency. This means that sometimes digestion happens faster with some feedings than others. Therefore it is very normal for babies who are breastfed to nurse frequently and sporadically in the first few weeks.

Frequency can be anywhere from 1 - 3 hours for newborns and should be determined by hunger cues from baby. Duration of feedings should also be determined by the baby. All babies eat at different rates just like adults. Only allowing baby to nurse a set number of minutes at each feeding can affect weight gain and your milk supply. Watch baby for cues of satisfaction to determine when they are finished. Baby's arms usually will straighten out or at least relax, and fists open up.

Feeding as often and as long as the baby desires will lead to a great milk supply and a happier baby.

Reverse Cradle Hold

Start by positioning baby and yourself tummy to tummy. Baby's ears, shoulders, and hips should be in a straight line. Baby should not be trying to latch with head turned to the side. If nursing at the left breast, support your breast with your left hand. Your hand should be shaped like a C with your fingers under the breast and thumb on the top. Try not crowd the nipple and areola by leaving an area of skin between the edge of the areola and where you place your hand to support the breast.

Supporting the breast will decrease nipple discomfort. Support the baby with your right arm along the baby's back. Right hand should also make the letter C. Place this around the baby's neck with the palm on the top of the shoulder's and the fingers close to the baby's ears. Avoid placing your hand or fingers on the back of the baby's head. Once in this position, your baby's nose should be across from your nipple. This will encourage the baby to look up when latching which will assist in getting more of the nipple and areola in the baby's mouth. Baby should be supported just below the level of your breast.

Cradle Hold

Start by placing baby tummy to tummy, right below the level of your breast. If you are nursing at the left breast, the baby should rest in your left arm. Baby's head should rest on top of the bend of your elbow. This allows the baby to flex head and look up at the breast when latching. You should not let the baby latch when the baby's chin is resting on its chest. This will make the latching difficult and often results in sore nipples.

Baby is in the correct position if the chin is off the newborn's chest and the neck is exposed. Also, before attempting to latch, place the baby with the nose across from your nipple. This encourages baby to look up when latching to assist with a deeper, more comfortable latch. You may hold your breast in your right hand to assist with the latch. Be sure to use the C-hold described in the cross cradle positioning.

Football Hold

Start by placing a pillow behind your back on the opposite side you desire to nurse from. This will allow extra space for the baby's feet and legs. In the football hold it is still important to start with baby facing you; in this position baby will be at your side. Baby will be supported just below the level of your breast.

If you are nursing on your left side, you will hold baby in your left arm supporting baby's head by placing your hand around the back of the baby's neck with the fingers and thumb by the ears. Palm of the hand should be on the shoulders and the top of the back and the rest of the baby supported by the forearm. Again, in this position, it is important that the baby's chin not rest on its chest. Position the baby so that baby is looking up when attempting to latch to assist with a deeper, more comfortable latch.

Side Lying

Start by finding a comfortable place to rest on your side. Your pillow should be under your head only. Turn to the side you wish to nurse from. Place the arm on the side you are nursing from under your pillow up out of the way. Hold your breast using the C-hold described in the cross cradle section. Have someone place the baby next to you on its side. Nipple should be across from the baby's nose to encourage baby to look up when latching. This will help with a more comfortable latch.

Breastfeeding helps a mother's health and healing following childbirth and may lead to a lower risk of developing these health problems:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Certain types of breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer

Breastfeeding provides many known health benefits, including nutritionally balanced meals, some protection against common childhood infections, and better survival during a baby's first year, as well as a lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Research shows very early skin-to-skin contact may have physical and emotional benefits.

Breastfeeding supplies and breast pump rentals can be arranged through the St. Vincent Medical Equipment store located at the St. Vincent Evansville Hospital near the main lobby.

Lactation consultants are available to mother and baby while in the hospital and afterward when you go home. We are here to help you successfully establish and continue breastfeeding. For more information, call 812-485-4322.

In-Room Massage

This gentle and nurturing massage focuses on your needs as a new mother. Massage can help relieve the stress of sore muscles and help you regain the vital energy needed in caring for your newborn. The benefits of massage include:

• Relaxes body and mind, and renews your spirit
• Releases tension in shoulders, neck, back, and arms as you care for and feed your newborn
• Helps to relieve muscle aches and pains from the birthing process
• Supports circulation and fluid balancing
• Aids in postural realignment

Cost

• 15 Minutes - $25
• 30 Minutes - $45
• 60 Minutes - $65

About the Massage Therapist

Emily Sandullo has worked with Bodyworks Massage Institute since 2006 as a nationally certified massage therapist, with her focus being fertility, pregnancy and postpartum massage. She has worked with the massage training institute as a Student Massage Clinic Supervisor since 2007; she teaches Massage Theory and Practice as a part-time instructor; and she instructs Spa Treatments weekend workshops.

Online Baby Photos 

Professional photography services are offered to the parents of all newborns during your stay at St. Vincent Hospital for Women & Children.

Kerri Zeien Photography is the exclusive newborn photographer for St. Vincent.  Kerri specializes in newborns, children and families bringing her own unique & creative style.

For the privacy of mother and the baby, the online baby photos are password protected. The password can be provided by the newborn's mother to those she wishes to allow access to this area.

Yes! Although we encourage rooming-in (the practice of keeping healthy babies with their mothers as many hours of their hospital stay as possible) we still have staff who are able to care for your baby away from your room if needed. It’s important to us that you are supported if you decide you need some time alone.

No. We will work hard to provide you the education you need about both breastfeeding and formula feeding so you can make a well-informed decision on what your nutritional goals will be for your baby. Our goals are to provide an atmosphere that promotes, protects and supports successful breastfeeding, to promote better bonding and to help teach the proper way to mix formula and start bottle-led feedings if you choose. 

We support our moms in a wide variety of ways:

• All our maternity staff has been educated and trained to support a breastfeeding mother in her goal to successfully breastfeed.
• We also provide highly skilled lactation consultants to answer your questions, provide support and to serve as resource for you while you are in the hospital and after you go home.
• Our lactation department provides inpatient support at the bedside, follow-up phone calls when going home and outpatient visits if you have questions or are having difficulties while at home.
• Breastfeeding classes are available to help you prepare and gain confidence before your baby arrives.
• Our breastfeeding support group offers weekly weight checks and the support of other breastfeeding mothers.

Our comprehensive, cutting-edge NICU services include:

• 24/7, on-site coverage by experienced, local neonatologists
• The Tri-State’s first specialty transport teams for expectant mothers and newborns
• The Tri-State's first hospital to provide inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy, an innovative therapy for infants in respiratory failure
• The Tri-State's first hospital to provide therapeutic hypothermia treatment
• Care of common surgical problems such as GI obstruction and hernias so you don't have to go out of town to get the care your child needs
• Several types of ventilation for babies with respiratory problems

At St. Vincent, an experienced neonatologist is always in charge of the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and provides direction for the NICU team. A neonatologist is a pediatrician with specialized training in the care of high-risk babies - those born prematurely and/or with potentially serious medical problems. These physicians are fellowship-trained and board-certified in Neonatology.

At least one neonatologist is present in the hospital 24/7/365.

• registered nurses
• respiratory therapists
• physical therapists
• occupational therapists
• speech therapists
• lactation consultants
• social workers
• discharge planners

Your family's spiritual needs are also of great importance to us. Our pastoral care staff is available any time day or night.

Ronald McDonald House

Evansville's Ronald McDonald House is located adjacent to St. Vincent campus to provide a "home away from home" for the families with critically ill or injured children.

St. Vincent provides rooms designed for parents and babies to stay together just before discharge. This allows parents to become comfortable caring for the newest members of their families and attending to any special needs, with the reassurance of knowing the NICU staff is nearby, before taking their babies home.

Features of the House include:

• 10 comfortable bedrooms, each with a private bathroom and other amenities
• LEED certification providing health and environmental benefits
• Three community kitchens fostering emotional support and comfort from group meals
• A community area offering daytime respite facilities for local families

Mood and anxiety support is available to NICU families during this stressful time. Talk to our Personal Birth Consultant about services that fit the needs of your family. For more information, call 812-485-6016.