Anna Wallace of Conover has a large family. She has given birth to five
children in three different hospitals, and those experiences have helped
her and her husband Jeremy set a standard for what they expect from a
birthing center. When they found out the anticipated birth date of their
fifth child happened to coincide with the opening of the new Center for
Women & Children at Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC), they were excited.
CVMC’s Birthing Center began deliveries in the new Center for Women
& Children Feb. 4. The facility features 18 private labor, delivery,
recovery, postpartum (LDRP) rooms, and each is built with comfort in mind.
The rooms feature large tubs for labor and postpartum, upholstered glider
rockers, as well as a twin-sized partner bed and sofa.
“Mentally knowing that the whole area is geared toward women feels
much more personal,” she said. “Jeremy and I really wanted
to be one of the first to deliver in the new wing.”
The Wallace’s dream came true on Feb. 5, as Anna gave birth to a
seven pound eight ounce baby boy named Jabyn Asher. While they weren’t
the initial family to deliver in the Center, Anna was happy to be one
of the first mothers in residence.
“Everyone who helped, from the nurses to the doctors, were bending
over backwards to make our stay as comfortable as possible,” she
said. “Courtesy was a priority for the staff and the constant focus
on my care really meant a lot. It was a joy to be there and we never felt
like a hassle.”
During the design process, CVMC Birthing Center staff members worked with
architects and builders to ensure that each room was built with comfort,
convenience and privacy in mind. To that end, each room is outfitted with
everything needed for the birthing process, from a baby warmer to a stool
for doctors, nurses and midwives to use during delivery.
“Having everything built into the room made the process so much easier,”
she said. “The whole facility was so nice. It felt more like we
were staying in a hotel than a hospital, plus Jeremy really enjoyed the
new [partner] beds. It was just really comfortable.”
While Jeremy was happy to have better sleeping accommodations, he says
being a part of the process means more to him.
“The staff made me feel like this was my experience as well,”
Jeremy said. “Having a baby is one of the greatest gifts from God,
but being comfortable helps, too. I am glad we were able to welcome our
little man into the world in this new building.”