Giving Birth at Clearwater’s Morton Plant Hospital
Tampa Bay is fortunate to have many different excellent birth options, including Morton Plant hospital in downtown Clearwater. Today we had a private tour and are pleased to share what we learned!
Before You Go into Labor
You’ll be able to pre-register and meet with a special “family admission nurse” to talk about your choices and preferences. You can also attend one or more of their classes. Class topics include laboring without pain medicine, with pain medicine, breastfeeding, big sister/big brother, Dad boot camp, waterbirth and more. Take a tour of the facilities yourself to get an idea of where you’ll be staying, where family members can wait and more.Â
In Labor
Once you’ve been admitted to the hospital, you have several great options for relaxed, comforted labor. For instance, you can choose to labor in a birth pool. As your provider about this option! You can also choose to use nitrous oxide. And of course, a full array of other medical pain management options are available.
Giving Birth
This hospital allows you to labor in a birth pool, if you like, which can make your labor experience a lot more comfortable. If your baby will be born via c-section, the operating team can also offer you a gentle c-section. Because Morton Plant has achieved the prestigious Baby-Friendly Hospital designation, every baby is placed skin-to-skin with her mother for at least one hour immediately. The hospital also has a level II NICU for babies who need additional medical care and offers donor breastmilk, too!
Postpartum Recovery
Enjoy a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico and intracoastal waterway from your recovery room in the mother/baby unit. Nurses have lactation training and a handful have received the Certified Lactation Counselor designations. This team conducts rounds in the mother/baby unit, ensuring every new mother gets the support she needs.
Arriving Home
Outpatient lactation visits are available for mothers who need additional assistance with breastfeeding. New mothers are also encouraged to call the unit if more help is needed.
In 2015, Morton Plant broke ground on a $200 million expansion. This includes the new four-story Doyle Tower, which will house all women’s services on one floor. In part because of its Baby-Friendly designation and waterbirth options, Morton Plant is one of the most popular birth locations in Tampa Bay, with more than 2000 babies born there last year.
Christie Rinder is the founder of Buddha Belly Doulas, Tampa Bay's original and largest doula agency. Supporting families since 2009, she's passionate about ensuring every family has the support they need during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She believes in helping women recognize their own inner wisdom, strength and power.
Having served as President of the Tampa Bay Birth Network for six years and 17 years serving families as a doula and agency owner, she has a reputation for leadership, dedication and compassion. A childbirth educator, certified lactation counselor as well as a certified doula, she makes a point of ensuring mothers and their partners understand all their birthing options and what to expect on their journey. > learn more about Christie
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