The Baby Place at Peterson Health has a hydrotherapy tub, which some women find helps improve comfort, reduce pain, reduce the need for medication during labor, and speed labor up in some instances.

Peterson Health is one of only two hospitals in Texas to use a Certascan Digital Scanner for baby footprinting. Your nurse just puts your baby’s foot up to a scanner, which takes a perfect footprint image with no ink to stain your baby’s toes. This image automatically goes to the Center for Missing & Exploited Children. You will also get a printed keepsake of your baby’s footprint to take home.

Your obstetrician will encourage you to come back about two weeks after having a baby and then again at six weeks to make sure your body is healing appropriately and to address any other needs.

Baby will need an appointment with his or her pediatrician or family doctor in the first week after birth and then at regular intervals throughout the year.

You’re encouraged to have one support person with you during a C-section.

When you’re having regular contractions, it’s time to head to the hospital at the stage you and your provider planned ahead of time. If you have questions, call your doctor or Certified Nurse Midwife and see when she or he wants you to leave home for the hospital.

Nurses care for both mom and baby as needed as the family spends the rest of their time in The Baby Place, generally 24 hours for a vaginal birth and 48 hours for a C-section.

Each room features amenities to make your stay enjoyable, including wireless service, cable TV, an adjustable thermostat, and “at-your-request” room service for your nutrition needs. Beyond the family-centered, home-like environment, you can rest assured your room features advances such as bedside monitoring, electronic medication dosing and a high-tech security system.

One way you can prepare for the big day is to pack a bag for the hospital…before you go into labor. You should bring sleepwear and a robe, underclothes, warm socks, clothes, a sweater or sweatshirts, a change of clothes for dad or other support person, nursing accessories, a diaper bag, your phone or camera, and a home-going outfit for baby.

Some pregnancies are labeled high risk for a number of reasons. Moms who are very young or older than usual may be considered high risk moms. Also, moms with existing health conditions such as diabetes, blood disorders, addiction, or other diagnoses would be considered high risk.

Flu shots are recommended and safe to have during pregnancy. Other vaccines are also safe and the Tdap (whooping cough) vaccine is recommended for any adult who will be spending time with the baby. Ask your provider about vaccines you should have during pregnancy.

You should avoid fish with high levels of mercury, raw fish, unpasteurized milk or dairy products, and prepared food that is spoiled or not cooked well. You should also avoid hot tubs, saunas, and litterboxes. You must also wear waterproof gloves when gardening to avoid touching buried excrements from pets.

Our providers encourage you to create a birth plan and will even help you develop it. A birth plan plots out how you would like to experience labor and childbirth. Birth plans can include music, lighting, pictures, activity, hydrotherapy, natural childbirth, medication, epidural, C-section, family involvement, partner involvement, camera use, first breastfeeding, homecoming, or any other aspect of labor, delivery, and newborn care you’d like to plan. Your doctor or Certified Nurse Midwife can help you formulate it or look it over to be sure it’s safe.

Typically, you’ll have a prenatal office visit about once every four weeks in the first 28 weeks of your pregnancy. At the 28th week, we’ll draw some additional lab tests, and your visits will become more frequent, about every two weeks. Starting with the 35th or 36th week of pregnancy, you will have weekly office visits until your baby is born.

You can find information and schedules for The Baby Place maternity and parenting courses by calling (830) 258-7444 and by viewing the course schedule and descriptions on our events calendar.

The Baby Place is always locked, and mom and baby are matched with hospital identification. The Hugs® Wi-Fi Infant Protection Solution from Stanley Healthcare safeguards babies and moms with extra protection.

You and your birth partner are not visitors and can be in your room at any time. Other family and friends are welcome during the normal visiting hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

You’re welcome to have family and friends visit during visiting hours, but when you need them out of the room, they can enjoy a spacious waiting room just outside the unit with a view of the atrium.

The Baby Place is at Peterson Regional Medical Center, 551 Hill Country Drive, Kerrville. Go in the front door during daytime hours, or through the emergency room entrance after hours. Staff will help you get to the Women’s Services area, home to The Baby Place!

For help in choosing a doctor or Certified Nurse Midwife, review our providers here. For more assistance in finding a doctor, please call 830-258-7661.