
Family Maternity Center
Family Maternity Center
The Family Maternity Center at Providence St. Patrick Hospital is ready to help you welcome your little one into the world with the best possible care.
We offer classes to help you prepare for your baby’s arrival and a supportive environment for you to give birth. We provide all the services you and your baby might need – from lactation specialists who can help you with breastfeeding to our Level II neonatal intensive care unit, where we care for babies born up to eight weeks premature.
Our patient suites allow you to labor, deliver and recover in one room. This enables you and your baby to settle in and bond as soon as you give birth. We welcome both written or verbal birth plans and any support you choose to have present, including birth doulas.
-
Prenatal care
Once you know you’re pregnant, it’s important to see a doctor regularly. These appointments allow your doctor to monitor your health and your baby’s. In most cases, you see the doctor once a month for the first 28 weeks. As your due date gets closer, your appointments will become more frequent.
Doctors from the Western Montana Clinic partner with us to provide prenatal care.
-
Breastfeeding consultations
We can get you started with breastfeeding and help address any problems you might have, such as pain, slow weight gain in your baby, or challenges created by returning to work or school.
Resources:
-
Pain management during labor
Our staff is trained in natural childbirth methods that can help you avoid or delay the use of pain medication. If you choose to use pain relievers, we offer several options, including:
- Epidurals and spinal blocks
- IV medications
- Nitrous oxide
Resource: Possible Effects of Medications and Anesthesia During Labor
-
Postpartum care
The postpartum period usually lasts five to seven weeks after your baby is born. This can be both a joyful and difficult time, where you experience many emotions and challenges. It’s important to take good care of yourself. If you have questions or concerns, you can always call us. But be sure to call and schedule a medical exam for yourself two to six weeks after your baby’s birth. Seek help right away if you have:
- Abdominal pain that gets progressively worse
- Burning, frequent or bloody urination
- Cesarean incision that separates, becomes hot or red or foul-smelling
- Continuous urinary or perineal discomfort
- Fever over 100.4 °F
- Foul-smelling discharge
- Heavy vaginal bleeding that saturates a pad in two hours or less
- No bowel movement for four days after giving birth
- Postpartum depression that affects your daily life
- Severe or constant hemorrhoid discomfort
- Tender and irritated areas on a breast or cracked nipples that do not react to home remedies
Resource: Postpartum Guide - Taking care of mom after baby is born.
-
Printable tips and reminders for new parents
We designed the Family Maternity Center with your comfort and safety in mind. Our patient suites allow you to labor, deliver and recover in one area without having to move from room to room. If you require a cesarean delivery, we have a C-section suite in the center itself.
Each of our rooms has a home-like feel. You have an individually controlled thermostat and lighting, a refrigerator, a TV/DVD player and personal speakers that fit any device with a headphone jack. Our rooms also feature a private bathroom with a large tub.
Other amenities include:
- A sleeper sofa for your support person
- Birth support tools such as birthing balls, back massagers, mirrors, squatting bar and birth stool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laminated booklets that offer tips on breathing, physical and mental relaxation, laboring positions, pushing positions and ways for your partner to support you while in labor
- LED candles
- Reserved parking for mothers in labor
- State-of-the-art electronic security system
- We offer optional photos from a professional photographer who specializes in newborn photography and a book with your baby’s footprints.
Experience the high-quality and award-winning care that Providence St. Patrick Hospital is known for by delivering your baby at our new Family Maternity Center. We offer a unique environment—your own beautifully-decorated private room where you’ll labor, deliver and recover. Your baby will stay with you in the same room after delivery (unless your baby needs additional care), allowing you to spend those initial precious moments together. If a caesarean delivery is needed, the C-section suite is also within the Family Maternity Center.
During this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are unable to offer in person tours of the Family Maternity Center. Please click here to view our facilities virtually. We also welcome you to call our unit with any specific questions you might have: 406-329-5300.
Providence St. Patrick Hospital offers education classes to ease your way into this new stage of your life. Our classes are taught by certified childbirth educators and are designed to prepare you and give you peace of mind during these next exciting phases of your life, from pre-delivery to life with a baby at home. Space is limited. Registration is required.
-
Six-week comprehensive birth class series
This class explores the physical, mental and emotional process of labor and will enrich your understanding of what your body and baby do throughout the birthing process. This class meets for two hours, once a week, for six consecutive weeks. -
Saturday birth class intensive
This is a condensed version of our six-week birth class series, covered in one Saturday.
-
Breastfeeding basics
This prenatal breastfeeding class is designed for mothers who plan to breastfeed and for those that have not yet made the decision, but want to learn more. -
Newborn care basics
Discover ways to ease your baby’s transition into the world, key considerations to keeping your newborn safe, and develop confidence in your ability to meet your infant’s basic needs. This two-evening class includes infant CPR and resuscitation. (This class does not provide CPR certification).
-
Sibling class
"Becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister" is a fun and interactive experience that will help your child prepare for the role of big brother or sister, explore what life with a new baby is like and mix and mingle with other children who are also waiting for a little brother or sister to arrive. -
Grandparents class
Babies haven’t changed, but what we know about them has! This class brings together seasoned, first time and expecting grandparents to celebrate the arrival or coming of a grandbaby.
-
Back to work or school breastfeeding class
Learn the basics of effective pumping and milk storage, bottle feeding, keeping up milk supply and confidently transitioning from home back to work or school. -
Infant massage class
Learn techniques that will contribute to your baby’s development, deepen attachment, help you understand and respond appropriately to your baby’s cues, relax and soothe a fussy baby, relieve gas and symptoms of colic and help your baby sleep better.
St. Patrick Hospital is a Gold Safe Sleep Champion. This is the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program’s highest designation and recognizes our commitment to keeping babies safe in their sleep environments and helping prevent deaths from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants between 1 month and 1 year of age.
To help protect your baby once you get home:
- Keep your baby in your room at night, but in the baby’s own safety-approved crib or bassinet - never your bed
- Always put your baby on their back for sleep
- Avoid putting pillows, blankets, toys or other items in your baby’s bed
- Avoid putting your baby to sleep on furniture such as couches or chairs
- Don’t routinely allow your baby to sleep in bouncy seats, infant carriers, swings or strollers.
- Don’t use sleep positioners, like foam wedges or tubes, with your baby
- Keep your baby away from all smoke
- Make sure your baby gets regular checkups, and follow the doctor’s recommendations
- Prevent your baby from overheating during sleep
Maternity Center Tours
Tours of the Family Maternity Center are offered at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday. To schedule a tour, call 406-329-5300 or register online.
If you’re unable to visit us in person, we invite you to take a virtual tour.
Tour not loading? Click to open in a new browser