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.
Nov 14, 2018 Reporting from Niles, MI
No Complications - Sasha Thompson
https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/medical-services/womens-health-services/pregnancy-care/birthplace/Detail/no-complications/?utm_source=No_Complications&utm_medium=PatientStory_Landing&utm_campaign=InternalPages
Nov 14, 2018
Nov 14, 2018
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
At 38 weeks pregnant, 25-year-old Sasha Gay Thompson decided to switch her prenatal care to BellaNova Women’s Health.
“I know I switched late in the game, but I’m so glad I did. I needed answers that I wasn’t getting elsewhere,” said the Berrien Spr
No Complications - Sasha Thompson
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
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No Complications - Sasha Thompson
Nov, 2018
Physicians:
At 38 weeks pregnant, 25-year-old Sasha Gay Thompson decided to switch her prenatal care to BellaNova Women’s Health.
“I know I switched late in the game, but I’m so glad I did. I needed answers that I wasn’t getting elsewhere,” said the Berrien Springs resident.
Obstetricians and gynecologists Ashley Dupuis, DO, and Benjamin Wood, DO, quickly welcomed Sasha to the practice and began to oversee the remaining weeks of her prenatal care.
“At BellaNova, they understood that even though something might be common for most pregnant women, it wasn’t a common experience for me,” said Sasha. “When I switched, they listened to my concerns.”
Although Sasha suspected something wasn’t quite routine with her pregnancy, she didn’t know what a key role BellaNova providers would play during labor and delivery.
When the time came, Sasha was admitted to Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph to deliver her son. But as labor progressed, the baby’s heart rate dropped with each contraction, and it became apparent that it would not be a routine delivery. During the time that these concerns emerged, nurses and midwives were by Sasha’s side.
“One nurse in particular, Jamie, kept reassuring me the whole time and telling me everything would be okay,” said Sasha. “That’s how I know she was really good – I remember her name.”
Around twelve hours into labor, Sasha was given an explanation as to why she needed an emergency Caesarean section (C-section), for the safety of her and her baby.
“I could immediately tell that the doctor knew what she was doing and I didn’t have any questions,” said Sasha.
Although it was an unexpected turn in Sasha’s labor and delivery, she felt the team carefully walked her through next steps.
Sasha's son was safely delivered via C-section, and after a five-day stay in the hospital, Sasha and her son Amir went home.
Recovery from the procedure and adjusting to life with a newborn isn’t always easy. Although Sasha says the biggest change has been the lack of sleep and battling all things postpartum, she is also grateful for the care she received, so she could start life with a newborn without any complications.
“Sometimes, you hear horror stories about C-sections, and that just wasn’t the case for me,” said Sasha. “I walked away with no complications.”
For other new or expecting moms, Sasha recommends not being afraid to ask questions or get different opinions.
“You know your body and you know what works,” said Sasha. “For me, what worked was switching to BellaNova! Don’t be afraid to be honest with your providers. Some days you’ll feel as though you’re a rock star and others you’ll just be happy both you and your baby survived! There is no one size fits all in motherhood. Make sure to find yourself a support system.”