It’s the little things that deliver big smiles
Having a baby is an exciting time in your life – and at the BirthPlace in our Niles and St. Joseph hospitals, we want to make it a healthy time. Our family of obstetric and pediatric physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners, midwives, and lactation consultant strive to continuously provide our moms, babies, and families a safe, nationally-recognized, and high-quality experience.
Some of the little things that make the BirthPlace a special space for you a baby:
- Access to pediatric specialists 24/7
- Experienced and loving health care professionals
- Intimate family-centered birthing suites
- Newly renovated rooms
- Online nursery for friends and family who can’t be present
- Daily serenity hours
- Continued support throughout your delivery until you depart home
- Ongoing new parent education
Your baby's safety is at the heart of what we do.
Spectrum Health Lakeland Niles Hospital proudly earned a platinum designation for maternal care from the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM). Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph also earned gold level designation, the second highest ranking.
MI AIM works with birthing hospitals to reduce and eliminate preventable maternal mortality and severe morbidity. Hospitals implement structured “safety bundle” plans to improve health outcomes for mothers to combat the leading causes of maternal mortality such as obstetric hemorrhage and severe hypertension. Safety bundle plans help hospitals by defining actionable protocols, education, equipment, and drills to prevent and treat serious maternal events. Learn more.
The Economic Alliance for Michigan (EAM), a nonprofit group comprised of Michigan’s largest employers and unions, has awarded Lakeland Hospitals with the 2022 Maternity Care Excellence Award for demonstrated excellence in maternity care and delivery outcome. The Niles Hospital received this award a third year in a row.
The awards are part of EAM’s Maternity Care Project. Created in 2018, the project goals are to decrease the state’s infant mortality rate, reduce the rate of unnecessary C-sections, and be an educational resource for new and expecting parents residing in Michigan.
Aug 14, 2015 Reporting from Niles, MI
A Love That Knows No Boundaries - Sharon Beck
https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/medical-services/womens-health-services/pregnancy-care/birthplace/Detail/childbirth-southwestmichigan/?utm_source=A_Love_That_Knows_No_Boundaries_&utm_medium=PatientStory_Landing&utm_campaign=InternalPages
Aug 14, 2015
Aug 14, 2015
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
When Sharon Beck, 30, a Three Oaks resident, found out she was pregnant with her third child, she couldn’t imagine the thought of her husband Andrew not being present for the birth. However, the Beck family knew this was a possibility since Andrew, a
A Love That Knows No Boundaries - Sharon Beck
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
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A Love That Knows No Boundaries - Sharon Beck
Aug, 2015
When Sharon Beck, 30, a Three Oaks resident, found out she was pregnant with her third child, she couldn’t imagine the thought of her husband Andrew not being present for the birth. However, the Beck family knew this was a possibility since Andrew, a Specialist and Explosive Ordnance Technician in the United States Army, was currently stationed overseas in Afghanistan.
“I was so excited when I found out my wife was pregnant again,” said Andrew. “No one wants to miss the birth of their child, but I knew this was a sacrifice I might have to make when I joined the Army. Thankfully, I have my fellow soldiers here, who are like family to me, to keep my spirits up about everything.”
Sharon was determined to make it possible for Andrew to witness the birth of their first son no matter how far away he may be. That’s when the Beck family had an idea.
Sharon began talking with Brenda Schwartz, RN, Manager of the BirthPlace at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, about her idea to Skype with Andrew overseas during the birth. Brenda enlisted the help of Sean Anderson, an Information Technology team member at Lakeland, to make this family’s dream a reality.
“To be a part of the miracle of birth is a privilege and honor for us,” said Brenda. “At the BirthPlace we strive to provide a safe and memorable birthing experience for all of our families. Sharon’s desire to have her husband be part of the birth of their son touched me deeply. Bringing this family together during this special time became our goal.”
Sharon was scheduled to have a Cesarean section on July 1, but when she went into early labor, Brenda was determined to make sure Andrew wouldn’t miss a thing.
“That was a very emotional day for me – I was woken up at 4:00 a.m. Afghanistan time and told that my wife was going to have our baby,” said Andrew. “The internet connection here is very sketchy and doesn't always work correctly, so I had to drive around the base until I found a working Wi-Fi signal. I was very scared that I was going to miss it.”
Although they were thousands of miles apart, the Beck family never felt closer as Andrew watched the birth of his first son Ashton, born at 9:20 p.m. on June 20, 2015.
“Staying in the military and serving your country has to be a joint decision in any family or else it simply will not work,” he said. “Thankfully my wife supports me to the fullest.”
Andrew said he is looking forward to the day he finally gets to hold his son and reunite with the rest of his family. He returns to his base in Fort Drum, New York in December.
The Beck family foresees many more Skype sessions in their future since Andrew has reenlisted and plans to complete 20 years in the Army.
“The fact that the staff at Lakeland made it possible for me to witness the birth of my first son means everything to me,” said Andrew. “Even though I wasn't able to be there in person, I was still able to talk to my wife and hear my son cry for the first time.”