What is Family Centered Maternity-Newborn care?
A. The birth of a baby, as well, represents the birth of a family. The woman giving birth and the persons significant and close to her are forming a new relationship, with new responsibilities to each other, to the baby and to society as a whole. Family-centered maternity-newborn care may be defined as care which recognizes the importance of these new relationships and responsibilities, and which has as its goal the best possible health outcome for all members of the family, both as individuals and as a group. Q. How is this practiced on the birthing center at BMH? A. Childbirth education focuses on health promotion and freedom of choice in the birthing experience. Family-centered maternity-newborn care is practiced by caring for the mother and baby as a unit with mother/baby care. The infant is cared for in the mother’s room in a comfortable, homelike environment. The father or support person(s) are present and involved in labor, birth, post partum, and neonatal care. Family and frien
