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.
Sep 12, 2019 Reporting from Niles, MI
The Scariest Five Minutes of My Life - Jacklynn Armstrong
https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/medical-services/womens-health-services/pregnancy-care/birthplace/Detail/the-scariest-five-minutes-of-my-life/?utm_source=The_Scariest_Five_Minutes_of_My_Life&utm_medium=PatientStory_Landing&utm_campaign=InternalPages
Sep 12, 2019
Sep 12, 2019
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
For many first-time parents, the number of unknowns can be overwhelming. When it comes time for the second child, most have a better idea of what to expect. At least that’s what 26-year-old Niles resident, Jacklynn Armstrong thought while pregnant wi
The Scariest Five Minutes of My Life - Jacklynn Armstrong
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
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The Scariest Five Minutes of My Life - Jacklynn Armstrong
Sep, 2019
For many first-time parents, the number of unknowns can be overwhelming. When it comes time for the second child, most have a better idea of what to expect. At least that’s what 26-year-old Niles resident, Jacklynn Armstrong thought while pregnant with baby number two.
As she neared the end of her pregnancy, Jacklynn visited Southwestern Medical Clinic Center for Women’s Health in Niles for what she thought would be a routine check-up. Still over a week from her due date, Jacklynn was surprised to learn she was already dilated to five centimeters.
“I came home after my appointment and about two hours later began experiencing strong contractions,” she said. “I went to the hospital that evening and within a few hours I was ready to push.”
The birth of Jacklynn’s first daughter, Mia, went smoothly and she expected to have a similar birth experience this time around as well. Soon after she began pushing, her care team realized baby Armstrong was experiencing shoulder dystocia—a complication that occurs when an infant's shoulders become lodged in the mother's pelvis during delivery.
“I remember everyone telling me they could see the head but no matter how hard I pushed she just didn’t want to come out,” Jacklynn said.
With the encouragement of her family and care team, baby Maci was delivered at 10:21 p.m. on July 31, 2019. As happy as Jacklynn was to see her new bundle of joy, things weren’t in the clear just yet.
“When Maci finally arrived, she was completely purple and wasn’t breathing,” Jacklynn said. “It was the scariest five minutes of my life.”
Thanks to the quick actions of the BirthPlace nursing team, they began administering oxygen immediately and were able to get baby Maci breathing once again.
“My nurses were truly amazing,” Jacklynn said. “They took control of the situation right away and kept us calm. It was a traumatizing situation, but they were very reassuring through it all and constantly provided updates on how my baby was doing.”
After 48 hours in the hospital, Jacklynn and Maci were able to return home—this time as a family of four. Maci had her initial check up with pediatrician, Charlotte Lofgren, MD, and has received a clean bill of health.
“I would recommend the Niles BirthPlace to anyone,” Jacklynn said. “My care team was so attentive to all of my needs and made a scary situation that much easier for my whole family.”
Having a baby is an exciting time in your life – and at Lakeland, we want to make it a healthy time. Whether this is your first baby or you are continuing to build your family, our experienced physicians and clinical staff are here to help you every step of the way. Click here to learn more about the BirthPlace or take a tour.
Photo credit: Our Tribe of Five Photography