Labor & Delivery at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center
Mothers-to-be trust us to provide exceptional care when it’s time to welcome their baby.
About Us
Outstanding Care for You & Your Baby
From the moment you arrive at Labor & Delivery at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center, you can rest assured knowing that you and your baby are receiving care at one of Georgia's leading hospitals for maternity care. With exceptional expertise in emergency obstetrics and high-risk pregnancy management, our dedicated team of physicians and nurses are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for you and your newborn. Your peace of mind is our priority as you embark on this incredible journey.With highly trained teams and well-equipped labor and delivery rooms, Wellstar MCG Health is prepared to help you bring a new life into the world. Our focus is on you and your baby, making you feel safe, comfortable and in control every step of the way.
A caring, dedicated team
Our Labor & Delivery team includes board-certified obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, certified nurse-midwives, perinatal nurses and other skilled professionals who are dedicated to ensuring you have a safe and memorable birth experience. We embrace a patient- and family-centered approach, which means you and your loved ones are actively involved in every decision concerning your care and that of your baby.We proudly offer the region’s only Obstetrics Emergency Department, dedicated to providing specialized care for mothers facing pregnancy-related concerns and emergencies. Our reputation for excellence in caring for pregnant and postpartum women is so strong that other hospitals in the area frequently refer their patients to Wellstar MCG Health, confident in the high level of expertise and support we deliver.
Here to help after birth & beyond
As you enter your postpartum phase, our trained nurses and support staff are here to offer compassionate care and answer all your questions as you adjust to life with your baby. We provide 24/7 nurse access, breastfeeding and lactation support, and more.We are conveniently situated next to Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia, a premier children’s hospital and the only one of its kind in the region. Should your baby require advanced treatment for any diagnosed condition, rest assured they will receive exceptional care from the skilled doctors and surgeons at Wellstar Children’s.
Our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is the highest rated in the region, located on the 5th floor of Wellstar Children’s, just steps away from Labor & Delivery. We specialize in caring for premature babies and other infants requiring expert attention during those critical moments after birth and throughout their early development.
Learn more about Labor & Delivery at Wellstar.
Our Services
Our Team
When you choose Labor & Delivery at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center, you will have access to:- Obstetricians: Board-certified physicians who offer comprehensive care during pregnancy, including prenatal check-ups, labor and delivery management, and monitoring maternal and fetal health. They are trained to manage complications and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure safe and effective care.
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists: Obstetricians who have additional training in high-risk pregnancy care. Our maternal-fetal medicine specialists focus on the health of both the mother and the fetus, managing complications that may arise throughout pregnancy such as complex medical conditions, multiple pregnancies or other factors that may pose risks to maternal or fetal health.
- Certified nurse-midwives: These healthcare providers are both a registered nurse and a trained midwife. Certified nurse-midwives provide a range of services, including prenatal care, labor and delivery support, and postpartum care, often focusing on empowering women through the childbirth process.
- Perinatal nurses: Registered nurses that receive specialized training to care for women during pregnancy, throughout labor and birth, extending into the postpartum period. Our nurses focus on both maternal and newborn health and well-being by providing supportive care, educating and advocating for their patients.
- Obstetric anesthesiologists: Medical doctors that specialize in providing anesthesia care to women who are pregnant. They are trained in managing pain relief options for women who are pregnant, including epidurals and other forms of anesthesia. They work closely with the obstetrics team to ensure the safety and comfort of the patient during labor and delivery.
If your baby needs critical care or surgery after delivery, we are prepared. Your baby’s specialized care team could include:
- Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses and nurse practitioners
- NICU respiratory therapists
- Neonatologists
- Pediatric cardiac surgeons
- Pediatric neurosurgeons
- Pediatric anesthesiologists
Where to Go
Labor & Delivery is located on the 7th floor of Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center. We offer convenient parking in the parking deck next to the hospital entrance and helpful staff who can direct you to us.- Where is the hospital? Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center
- Where do I park? Medical Center Parking Deck on 15th Street (Entrance 3).
- How do I get to Labor & Delivery from the parking deck? See the walking map to show you how to get to Labor & Delivery.
- What if I go into labor after hours (10 PM to 5 AM)? Go to the Emergency Department on Harper Street (Entrance 1). The staff in the Emergency Department will ensure you get to Labor & Delivery.
If there is an emergency, call 911. Always come to the Emergency Department at Wellstar MCG Health if:
- You go into labor earlier than expected
- You have had trauma where you (or your baby) could be injured
- For any other emergency situation
What to Expect
You don’t always know how your baby will come into the world; every pregnancy and delivery are different. Most often, it’s through the natural onset of labor. However, it could also be through a scheduled induction or a surgical cesarean delivery (c-section). No matter what the method, when the time comes, Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center is ready and honored to help you through labor, delivery and recovery.- Vaginal delivery: An obstetrics provider will complete an assessment to identify your stage of labor. Based on this assessment, you can request pain relief options such as an epidural or other methods. If you are planning a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), you and your doctor will establish a safe delivery plan before labor begins, ensuring the best outcomes for both you and your baby.
- Induction: A procedure used to stimulate uterine contractions before natural labor begins. This may be done for several reasons, including being past your due date, whether there are health concerns for the mother or baby, or if there are complications that necessitate an earlier delivery. Induction can involve the use of medications, such as oxytocin, or other methods, such as breaking the bag of water or using a balloon catheter to help dilate the cervix. Our goal is to safely initiate labor and facilitate the delivery process.
- C-section: For mothers who have a scheduled c-section, surgery will be performed by your obstetrician. C-sections are carried out with the utmost safety and care for you and your baby. An emergency c-section may be required if the baby's or mother's life is suddenly at-risk during a delivery.
After your baby is born
After delivery, you and your baby will remain on Labor & Delivery for a recovery period. Our perinatal nurses and support staff are here to care for you and answer all your questions during this time. In addition to 24/7 nurse caring, Wellstar MCG Health offers:- The Golden Hour: If you and your baby are stable after delivery, we offer the research-based practice of “The Golden Hour.” This is the first hour following a baby's birth, which is considered a crucial time for bonding and establishing early connections between the newborns and parents. During this hour, skin-to-skin contact is encouraged for bonding, early breastfeeding initiation and assisting with maternal recovery. This period is also important for stabilizing the baby's heart rate, temperature and blood sugar levels. The Golden Hour emphasizes the significance of immediate postnatal care and the benefits of close physical and emotional contact for both the mother and the baby.
- Mother-baby couplet care: If you and your baby are stable after delivery, your baby will remain with you in your room during recovery and when you move to the postpartum unit.
- Breastfeeding and lactation support: In addition to each of our perinatal nurses being trained to assist with initiation and breastfeeding support, Wellstar also provides lactation consultants to help assist mothers with breastfeeding and offer education and newborn nutrition.
Your hospital stay
Typically, the hospital stay for a patient who has had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery is 26 to 48 hours. However, the stay for a patient after a c-section delivery is 48 to 72 hours. These time frames can vary based on maternal status and medical need. As is practice throughout the state, Wellstar MCG Health does not discharge anyone prior to 24 hours after delivery as babies are required by the state of Georgia to have a metabolic screening at or after 24 hours of birth.Patient Resources
What to pack for your hospital stay
To prepare for a comfortable stay with us, consult this list of some essential items you can bring.Mother:
- ID
- IPhone and phone charger
- Birthing plan (if you have one)
- A list of prescription medications
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Soap, deodorant, lip balm, moisturizing lotion, other toiletry items
- Shampoo, conditioner, hair brush/comb
- Clothing for going home—bring underwear, socks with grips, loose-fitting pants and shirts or a dress. Base your choices on the time of year and temperature.
- Nursing bra (if you are planning to breastfeed) with absorbent disposable breast pads
- Slippers/flip flops
Baby:
- Car seat
- Baby clothing for going home—bring two different sizes (newborn and 0-3 months). We suggest comfortable, easy to put on (and take off) items such as onesies and one-piece jumpers/suits with snap front, hat, socks and baby mittens.
- Burp cloth(s) for feedings
- Receiving blanket