1 Kish Hospital Drive
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
Hours of Operation
Monday
Open 24 hours
Tuesday
Open 24 hours
Wednesday
Open 24 hours
Thursday
Open 24 hours
Friday
Open 24 hours
Saturday
Open 24 hours
Sunday
Open 24 hours
Phone Numbers
- Main Number: 815.756.1521
- TTY: 711
Labor and Delivery
At Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital, we know that pregnancy is a journey that begins before you’re even pregnant and continues after delivery. That’s why we offer comprehensive services, from family planning to postnatal classes, and everything in between.
The Kishwaukee Hospital Obstetrics Unit is staffed with experienced, compassionate nurses who are committed to providing exceptional care. Our goal is to help you have a safe, rewarding birth experience that aligns with your personal preferences.
Our clinical team of OB-GYN specialists, nurses and patient care technicians can also address your unique needs, from pain relief and delivery method options to postpartum counseling.
The maternity suites at Kishwaukee Hospital are specially designed and equipped to allow you to labor, deliver, recover and receive postpartum care in one spacious, comfortable room throughout your stay.
Take a video tour of the Obstetrics Unit at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital.
Patient and Visitor Information
Hours of Operation
Monday
Open 24 hours
Tuesday
Open 24 hours
Wednesday
Open 24 hours
Thursday
Open 24 hours
Friday
Open 24 hours
Saturday
Open 24 hours
Sunday
Open 24 hours
Please review our visitor policies.
Northwestern Medicine encourages you to spend time with your loved ones and friends during their hospital stay.
Following baby’s birth, visitors are encouraged to allow three to four hours of recovery time before visiting. Friends and family may wait in the family waiting area.
The first hour after birth is called the Sacred Hour. During this time, parents have uninterrupted time for bonding, skin-to-skin contact and initiating breastfeeding in a gentle and soothing environment. If you have questions or want more information about the Sacred Hour and our initiative to promote breastfeeding, please ask a Kishwaukee Hospital maternity suites nurse.
You, the patient, can tell us when you would or would not like to have visitors. State regulations do not allow visitors under age 12 unless they are the brother or sister of the newborn. An adult must accompany children at all times.
Individuals who have temperatures, colds, sore throats or any contagious diseases should not visit patients.
Visitor policies can change without notice. Be sure to review nm.org/visitors for current policies.
Services
To promote a healthy pregnancy and safe environment for you and your baby, a brief checklist is available to you. If you have concerns or questions about any of the resources, you can reach out to your physician or the Kishwaukee Hospital Obstetrics Department at 815.766.7467 (TTY: 711).
Northwestern Medicine also offers a variety of prenatal classes. Review options at classes.nm.org.
Delivery registration
Pre-registration saves you a step once you go into labor. Take this opportunity to fill out your pre-registration information online.
Obstetric and Neonatal services
Labor and Delivery services include:
- Anesthesia services available 24/7
- Obstetrician on-site 7 pm to 7 am (Kishwaukee Hospital only)
- Dedicated cesarean section operating room with Post-anesthesia Care Unit
- Specialty-trained registered nurses on-site 24/7
- Certified lactation counselors/consultants available
- Private neonatal procedure room in nursery
- Advanced fetal monitoring
- Social workers, registered dietitians and spiritual leaders, including postpartum counseling
- Breastfeeding support while you’re in the hospital
- No-cost access to the Kishwaukee Hospital Breastfeeding Center once you’re home
24-Hour Neonatologist Coverage
Neonatologists are pediatricians with special training to care for newborns who are premature or ill.
Every parent hopes for a normal, full-term birth for their child. Some infants, however, may need more help in their first moments to get off to a strong start. That’s when our neonatologists step in.
The first moments after birth can be critical for stabilizing an infant who is premature or fragile. At Northwestern Medicine, we are committed to having board-certified neonatologists in the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They perform the following critically important services:
- Attending births deemed high-risk or at the request of an obstetrician
- Caring for infants in the Level II intermediate care nursery
- Performing infant exams for healthy, full-term infants at the request of a pediatrician or hospital staff
Maternity Suites
Each room is staffed by highly trained, caring nurses, and offers many amenities, including:
- Rooming-in for baby
- Large private bathroom and closets
- Complimentary WiFi access for personal/mobile devices
- Birthing chair
- Birthing bar
- Birthing ball
- Wireless fetal monitoring
- Delivery of nitrous oxide, a noninvasive option to help manage anxiety and pain during labor, while allowing continued mobility
- Use of iPads to help keep remote loved ones present for the labor and birth experience
Every mother who gives birth at Kishwaukee Hospital will receive a care booklet upon discharge, and we provide medication information sheets when new medications are given.
Kishwaukee Hospital also offers an expansive menu for hotel-style room service in the maternity suites.
The Kishwaukee Hospital maternity suites follow the guidelines of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; American Academy of Pediatrics; and the World Health Organization to improve the health of women and infants through education, support and the promotion of breastfeeding.
Hospital Safety and Baby Tracking Services
In addition to your baby rooming in with you, he or she will wear a secure, computerized tag for identification and location purposes. The maternity suites remain locked for security, and Security staff is on-site 24/7.
Newborn Photography
Beautiful newborn photos done by Bella Baby photographers at Kishwaukee Hospital will be keepsakes you and your family will cherish forever. The photographer comes to your hospital room and sets up several poses. A slideshow is then available for two weeks for you to view and order from. With your permission, your baby’s pictures are then posted on the photographer’s online baby gallery so family and friends can view them.
Breastfeeding Center
We are here to help you address concerns and overcome breastfeeding obstacles through your baby’s first year. The Kishwaukee Hospital Breastfeeding Center is open to any new moms in Northern Illinois, no matter where you delivered.
Safe Sleep Education
Why Choose Us
Northwestern Medicine is proud to have five hospitals ranked among “America’s Best” by U.S. News & World Report for 2023-24. Anchored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the only Illinois hospital on the national Honor Roll for 12 straight years, our clinical and administrative staff and medical and science faculty come together every day with a shared commitment to superior quality, academic excellence, scientific discovery and patient safety.
With Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, we’re dedicated to consistently providing high-quality, cost-effective, patient-focused care. We seek to improve the health of the communities, individuals, family and friends we serve by delivering a broad range of services with leading medicine and compassion. Because what makes us better, makes you better.
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