Mercy Birthplace - Northwest Arkansas

• Amenities – Our comfortable, private rooms have birthing balls and other equipment for labor, Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, a refrigerator and microwave, and a spacious waiting area designed with families in mind.
• Doula-friendly birthplace – You're welcome to bring a doula (non-medical labor coach) to assist you before, during and after childbirth.
• Comfort measures – If you choose to have pain relief during labor, our certified nurse anesthetists are available 24/7 to provide epidural anesthesia. We also offer nitrous oxide pain relief as an alternative.
• Delivery options – We support all types of deliveries: vaginal birth, cesarean section and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). If you need labor induction or a c-section, we work directly with your obstetrician on scheduling.

Packing a hospital bag? Download Mercy’s hospital-stay checklist to make sure you bring the essentials.

After delivery, your new family will move to a private postpartum room where you can recover and get to know your baby. Healthy newborns “room in” with their mothers, as recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Studies show “rooming in” promotes breastfeeding, helps you learn your baby’s cues and reduces your risk of postpartum depression. Your Mercy care team will be there to answer questions and offer newborn care tips, such as how to bathe or swaddle your baby.

Mercy Birthplace offers comprehensive support for breastfeeding mothers. During your hospital stay, our certified lactation consultants visit regularly to discuss breastfeeding benefits, help you with positioning, explain how to use a breast pump and answer your questions. Our Northwest Arkansas lactation consultants have been widely recognized for excellence.
 

Did you know outpatient breastfeeding services are available before and after you deliver? Schedule a consult by calling 479-338-2072 or emailing MercyRogersLactation@mercy.net. Our services include:
 

• Prenatal breastfeeding preparation – Meet with a lactation consultant before your baby arrives to feel confident from the start. In a private, comfortable room, your consultant will:
  • Review your personal goals for feeding your baby
  • Assess your medical history related to lactation
  • Create a custom plan for breastfeeding success
  • Educate you on feeding techniques, breast pumps (including custom flange fitting), and hand expressing milk
  • Provide a free colostrum-collection kit and a breastfeeding book with educational videos
• Postnatal breastfeeding support – After you take your baby home, outpatient support can help you reach your breastfeeding goals. Our lactation experts will:
  • Evaluate breastfeeding issues in a private, comfortable room
  • Explain how to prevent and treat breast engorgement, mastitis, blocked ducts or sore nipples
  • Offer solutions for low milk supply and infant weight-gain issues
  • Educate you on feeding techniques, breast pumps (including custom flange fitting), and hand expressing milk
  • Provide return-to-work consultations and baby weight checks
• Milk depot – Donated breast milk is a lifesaving gift. Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas is a donation site for donors approved by The UAMS Milk Bank – visit their website to learn how to become a donor. Approved donors can schedule a milk drop-off by calling 479-338-2072.

Our Level III NICU in Rogers offers exceptional care for premature infants. The NICU has 19 beds and an experienced team that includes neonatologists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, therapists, case managers, pastoral caregivers and lactation consultants.

Your newborn will have a complete pediatric exam by a pediatric hospitalist (a pediatrician who primarily works in the hospital). Mercy also recommends that you choose your baby’s regular pediatrician or family doctor by your 30^th week of pregnancy. If you need help finding a doctor, ask a care team member to connect you with our prenatal nurse navigator. While in the hospital, you’ll also schedule your baby's first doctor appointment outside the hospital, which is usually two to five days after discharge.