Experienced providers, compassionate staff, many options for personalized birth
Soon after opening on June 23 Gifford’s Birthing Center staff welcomed three new babies and their families into a beautiful new remodeled space at the hospital. New features include a large tub room with spa-like comforts for those choosing hydrotherapy or water births, and a fully-equipped modern nursery for infants needing extra care. Families like that they can remain in a single room during their stay and are not moved after their child’s birth.
Twins Arlo Jackson Wonder and Wren Ila Wonder actually arrived on June 21, but stayed with parents Willow Wonder and Eric Clifford and big sister Shyloh in a spacious new room after they were born—one by caesarean section. Small details like dimmable lights, quilts, a rocker, and additional sleeping space right in the room made their first days together as a family more relaxed and special.
Willow Wonder’s first child was born at home and she did not want a hospital birth for her twins. She and her husband Eric Clifford came to Gifford when it became clear that she would need to induce labor. As the birth progressed the birthing center nurses helped her with a series of unplanned choices: an epidural provided relief from the exhaustion of a long labor, and when only one of the twins could be delivered vaginally, she had an emergency C-section for the second birth. Pediatrician Dr. Lou DiNicola immediately cared for the stressed infant.
“At the last minute I realized Dr DiNicola had been my own pediatrician!” said proud father Eric Clifford, of Barre Town. “We were so well taken care of. We had not planned on a hospital birth, to induce labor, to have an epidural or a C-section—we really got the hospital at its A-game.”
Makayla Carol Peyton was the first baby born in the new space, arriving on June 26. Her parents Melissa Clements and Jeremy Peyton of Barre said they stayed closely connected with their midwife and loved that the atmosphere was so supportive and personal.
Gifford was the first hospital in Vermont to support individual preferences and childbirth outside of the traditional delivery room. Today women have the best of both worlds at Gifford: our certified nurse midwives and experienced Birthing Center nurses provide compassionate support for low-intervention births. But since each mother’s experience is different, other options are available as birth unfolds, including epidurals and the 24/7 back-up support of three ob/gyn physicians.
For more information about Gifford’s Birthing Center call 802-728-2257 or visit http://www.giffordmed.org/BirthingCenter
