Mary V. O’Shea
Under the care of the Saint Peter’s certified nurse-midwives, women with low-risk pregnancies can experience labor and birth in the comfortable, homelike bedroom suites in the Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center. Each room features a queen-size bed, a sleeper chair, bathroom with shower and a spa-size Jacuzzi tub where moms can relax during labor. Other center amenities include open space for walking, a dining table and lounge area for birth support partners.
The Birth Center, staffed by certified nurse-midwives, supports a natural birth without any pain medication. The Center is equipped to offer a variety of nonpharmaceutical pain management options including:
• Hydrotherapy
• Aromatherapy
• Nerve stimulation
• Sterile water papules
• Various massage techniques
To give birth in the Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center, mothers must complete a two-session class by week 36 of their pregnancy:
Introduction to the Birth Center – This session reviews the philosophy of the midwifery model of care and Birth Center criteria, support systems, comfort measures, use of birth tools and explanation of the mother’s birth plan
Early Discharge from the Birth Center – This session includes a tour of the Birth Center, along with a review of the immediate post-partum period for mom and baby, the importance of choosing a pediatrician, early discharge and follow-up care.
The two-session class is offered in one day, once a month, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and from 11:00 AM – to 1:00 PM. Partner attendance is strongly encouraged. Fee: $40 per couple.
To register online for our birth center classes, click here.
Saint Peter’s University Hospital’s Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center is New Jersey’s first Birth Center to be located on the grounds of a hospital and the first and only hospital-owned birth center in the state to be accredited by the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC).
