Interest in natural childbirth options has continued to grow over the last decade due to a renewed focus on non-mainstream medical practices. Most low-intervention birthing programs are located within a dedicated “birthing center” facility, separate from an acute care hospital. This separation can lead to anxiety and concern for the birthing couple, especially if the delivery needs serious medical intervention.
Even within the few hospital-based low intervention programs, the trend has been to provide only a few of the amenities desired by the patient. For example, some programs combine their birthing tubs with a traditional bathtub in the restroom or provide a blow-up type birthing tub instead. Having the best of all worlds is rare: a dedicated low-intervention program with all of the desired amenities within an acute care setting. Creating this type of environment with a clean sheet of paper was the starting point for our project.
This project is truly a one-of-a-kind within the Houston area by providing a fully integrated delivery suite within a single-room setting. Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has created two new low-intervention suites within their acute care hospital in northwest Houston to assuage this anxiety. These suites are located within the existing women’s program on the second floor and are fully integrated within the LDR, Ante-Partum, and C-section areas of the service line. The rooms can accommodate the unique needs of a low-intervention birth and a traditional birth experience.
These new birthing suites are beautifully designed to create a comfortable setting for the mother and her family during this exciting time. The unique elements within these rooms include a queen bed, a large hydrotherapy bathtub, walk-in showers, mini-refrigerators, birthing balls, aromatherapy, and wireless music speakers. The rooms also include the full range of medical gasses, artfully hidden within cabinets on each side of the bed, in case they are needed.
