Edward maternity makeover welcomes moms, babies, families in style

It's extra TLC and convenience for the whole family when mom comes to Edward Hospital to have a baby, thanks to a renovation and expansion of the maternity unit.

Deborah Provenzano of Naperville, who’s given birth to all five of her children at Edward, experienced the new look and amenities of the Mother/Baby rooms when she had her youngest, William James, on May 1.

"It's kind of like staying in a hotel, very comfortable," she says.

According to Pat Bradley, Director of Obstetrics at Edward, "We wanted to create a space that was warm, welcoming and user-friendly.  The new layouts are efficient and provide a feeling of spaciousness.   And, the finishes in the rooms and private bathrooms are easier to maintain, as well as pretty."

To date, 26 of 30 Mother/Baby rooms have been remodeled, with the rest scheduled for completion by June 1.  In addition, eight rooms are being added to help accommodate delivery of 3,500 babies at Edward each year.

The renovation also took dads into account.  There's free wireless Internet service and a flat panel TV with DVD player and A/V hook-up for cameras and camcorders.

When mom and dad want to sleep, dad can use one of the comfortable new pull-out beds in mom's room.  Or, dad, relatives and guests can relax in the unit's Family Lounge, which features a TV and a computer, and is stocked with snacks and drinks.

The new baby hasn't been left out when it comes to amenities.  The "baby spa" is a special area of the nursery with a sloped Corian bathing sink used for the newborn's first bath.  An overhead heating lamp keeps baby warm, and a heating rack does the same for the little one's towel and blanket.  Siblings and grandparents can look on through a nearby viewing window.

The maternity makeover is part of an overall Women & Children's department renovation at Edward that will include:

-- Expansion/renovation of Edward’s NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit), which will result in 22 private rooms with sleeping space for parents to provide the privacy and comfort needed for treatment, consultation with doctors and nurses, and time alone for mom, dad and newborn.  Scheduled for completion late summer/early fall 2011.

-- Renovation of Edward’s pediatric patient rooms, PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) and Pediatric Special Procedure Area which is used for diagnostic imaging, infant hearing, hematology/oncology and other testing and treatment.  All pediatric patient rooms undergoing renovation will be outfitted with high-tech equipment that will allow them to function as an intensive care room when necessary, meaning a sick child won’t have to be moved from one room and unit to another room and unit.  Scheduled for completion early 2012.

-- The first Ronald McDonald Family Room in Illinois.  The nearly 2,000-square foot Ronald McDonald Family Room will be a short walk from the NICU and PICU and offer parents a place to rest and regroup at the hospital.  It will open in early 2012 and provide a large living room with relaxation areas, a kitchen and an educational resource area with Internet access.  A playroom for patients and siblings, sleeping rooms and showers will also be available.

For more information, visit www.edward.org/maternity.