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

Learn how to keep your sleeping baby safe.