Preparing for your Baby

Personalized Birth Plans

 

To help ensure that your experience meets all your expectations, the Special Beginnings staff encourages expectant parents to create a Personalized Birth Plan. Your Birth Plan will identify your individual preferences and special requests. One of our Special Beginnings nurses will review the plan with you and your family, explain all your choices in detail, and help you select various options. The plan is not mandatory and you can change it anytime. It’s simply a way for you to make your wishes known to us so we will be able to anticipate and quickly respond to your needs throughout the birthing process, ensuring that you and your family receive the kind of personalized care you deserve.

Childbirth Education Classes

At Elkhart General, maternity care doesn’t start with the delivery of your baby. We offer services for expectant families months before they actually enter the hospital. Expectant parents may attend out special classes and receive instruction on such topics as breastfeeding, the labor/delivery process, infant CPR, and sibling preparation, as well as complete follow-up care for mother and baby.

Knowing what to expect and being prepared for your baby’s arrival will lead the way to a truly rewarding experience – for the entire family.

For information regarding program content, class times, location and registration, or to schedule a tour of the Special Beginnings Maternity Center, please call (574) 523-3444 as early in your pregnancy as possible.

Use our calendar of events to find upcoming classes.

Physician Referrals

If you're thinking about having a baby, you should select a physician who meets your needs as soon as possible. Call our toll-free referral line at 888-344-6773. We will provide you with a list of highly-qualified, board-certified obstetricians upon request. A physician’s guidance is very helpful in the preconception planning stage and absolutely essential throughout your entire pregnancy.

Information Packet

For a Special Beginnings information packet, please call Community Relations at (574) 523-3303.

• Pregnancy & Kegel Exercises
  Kegel is a simple exercise of the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) for the purpose of increasing muscle strength.