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In this section
Care for mom and baby during pregnancy and beyond
As a woman and an expecting mom, you want the right care for the whole you and your new baby. When you choose Ascension St. Vincent's Southside Family Birth Place in Jacksonville, Florida, you’ll find experienced OB-GYNs, certified nurse midwives, and an entire team dedicated to your care. Whether you’re an experienced mom or having your first baby, you know your body best. And your preferences for your birthing experience and questions are important. Every appointment with your doctor starts with a conversation. You’ll be supported by a team providing the care you and your baby need throughout your pregnancy, labor, and delivery, as well as follow-up care.
Birth Place Southside expands with more rooms and services
Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside recently added six new labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum (LDRP) rooms. These units will supplement the 17 LDRP rooms already on campus. These rooms improve the birthing experience by allowing moms, babies and families to experience the entire labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum in the comfort of one space.
This growth project was made possible by Mary Virginia Terry's generous $5 million gift to the Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation. The new unit is named the C. Herman & Mary Virginia Terry Labor and Delivery Suites in honor of the donation.
Having your baby at Ascension St. Vincent's Southside Family Birth Place means you are connected to a network of experienced pediatricians, pediatric specialists and pediatric emergency care when you and your family need it most.
Get personalized pregnancy care in Jacksonville
Multispecialty care for you and your baby
Your experienced care team is ready to support you from pre-pregnancy planning to during your pregnancy and beyond. No question is too big, and no concern is too small. Your care team may include OB-GYNs, certified nurse midwives, neonatal nurses and other specialists. We understand that every pregnancy is different and are here to support you with:
- 24/7 OB emergency care
- Breastfeeding support
- Childbirth classes
- Labor, delivery and postpartum care
- Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM)
- Midwifery services
- Neonatal intensive care (Level II NICU)
For specialized care, you’ll be connected to a consulting maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) doctor. Our Level II NICU delivers advanced care for babies born premature or critically ill. If you or your baby need more care, you’ll be connected to the right specialists close to home.
We provide family-centered birth with home-like comforts. Working together, we help deliver a personalized and memorable birth experience, including:
- Birthing options, such as certified nurse midwife and labor without an epidural
- Aromatherapy
- Birthing balls
- Birthing bar
- Birthing suites for low-intervention deliveries
- Peanut balls
Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) care for high-risk pregnancy
Sometimes, the unexpected happens, and your pregnancy becomes high risk. Your OB-GYN may refer you to an MFM specialist for advanced perinatal tests and monitoring during your pregnancy. This doctor collaborates with your OB-GYN to prepare for the labor and delivery and any special needs your newborn(s) may have. We can also connect you to pediatric specialists and specialty programs for ongoing newborn care.
For life-threatening emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Ascension St. Vincent’s emergency rooms provide care 24/7.
Find women’s healthcare that’s built around your life
Choosing Ascension St. Vincent's Family Birth Place Southside for your maternity care means you are also connected with a national integrated network of doctors and specialists who have expertise in women’s health and pediatric care, including advanced specialty care that you and your family can rely on for a lifetime.
Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside, a certified safe sleep hospital
Your child’s safety is our priority. We are a certified Safe Sleep Hospital through the Cribs for Kids National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program. We are dedicated to making your baby’s sleep environment as safe as possible.
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ABCs of safe sleep
As a certified Safe Sleep Hospital, Ascension St. Vincent’s follows guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics for safe sleep. We provide education and guidance to parents and caregivers on safe sleep practices. To help ensure your baby sleeps safely, follow the ABCs of safe sleep:
- Alone — Share your room, not your bed. Your baby should not sleep with others in a bed, on a couch or in a chair.
- Back — Your baby should sleep on his or her back in a safety-approved crib on a firm mattress during naps and at nighttime.
- Crib — The crib should be empty. Remove all loose bedding, comforters, quilts, stuffed animals, bumpers, wedges and pillows from your baby's crib.
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More tips for safe infant sleep at home
Care teams at Ascension St. Vincent’s are committed to providing you with information to help your child sleep safely. Here are some recommendations from our pediatricians and pediatric specialists:
- Place your baby on their back to sleep every time – for naps and at night.
- Use a safety-approved crib, bassinet or portable crib for sleep. Your baby’s sleep area should conform to the Consumer Product Safety Commission safety standards.
- Do not let your baby get too hot during sleep.
- A pacifier not attached to a string at naptime and bedtime is recommended. If you are breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding has been established to introduce a pacifier.
- Do not allow cigarette smoke around your baby.
- Use a firm, flat, level surface covered by a fitted sheet.
- There should be no gaps between the mattress and the side of the crib, bassinet, portable crib or enclosed play space.
- Keep soft objects like pillows, blankets, toys, stuffed animals and bumpers out of your baby’s sleep area.
- Do not attempt to fix a broken crib – replace it.
- Avoid commercial devices marketed to reduce SIDS, such as wedges, positioners and special mattresses or sleep surfaces.
- It is recommended that babies sleep in their caregiver’s room, close to the bed but on a separate surface designed for infants for at least the first six months.
- Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch or a chair, alone, with you or with anyone else.
- Sitting devices, such as car seats, strollers, swings, infant carriers and infant slings are not recommended for routine sleep, particularly for infants younger than four months. If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller or other carrier, move them to a firm sleep surface such as a crib, bassinet or portable crib for sleep.
Our specialties
At Ascension St. Vincent’s, doctors and care teams provide compassionate, personalized care for mother and baby. Contact us to learn more more:
- Breastfeeding support
- Gynecology
- High-risk pregnancy
- Intensive care for newborns
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Pregnancy and birthing
- Urogynecology
- Women's health
If you are experiencing a medical emergency or require immediate medical assistance, please call 911.