Labor and delivery

Many of our locations offer specialized care for complex or high-risk pregnancies that require additional monitoring and support. Pregnancy may be considered high-risk for a number of reasons, including existing health conditions such as diabetes and hypertensive disorders, maternal age and conditions requiring a Cesarean section.

If you are identified as high-risk, our multidisciplinary teams are committed to helping you achieve the best outcomes. During childbirth, maternal-fetal medicine specialists may be present to assist with any complications for mom or baby.

Within our network, TriStar Centennial Women's Hospital offers leading comprehensive care in the Nashville area for high-risk pregnancies, and includes an OB/GYN emergency room, Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and a maternal special care unit dedicated to the prevention and treatment of pregnancy complications.

We're committed to helping our tiniest patients get the best possible start in life. Across our family of hospitals, we provide intermediate and advanced neonatal care for babies born prematurely or with serious conditions at our Level II and Level III NICUs, bringing care closer for communities like Dickson, Smyrna, Hendersonville and Hermitage.

Our Level III NICU at TriStar Centennial Women’s Hospital can care for babies born less than 32 weeks gestation. Neonatologists across our network work together to coordinate care and ensure every family has access to the high-quality care, compassion and expertise that each of these early beginnings need. In the case that your baby needs to be transferred to a higher-level NICU while in our care, SkyLife will provide neonatal air medical transport to get them there safely.

Prenatal care services are provided to ensure you and baby are healthy throughout your pregnancy. This includes ongoing appointments to manage existing conditions and prevent or address issues that can develop while you are pregnant. Our prenatal services also include childbirth and newborn care classes and guided tours of our birthing centers to help expecting parents and their families prepare for the arrival of their new addition.

Gone are the days of clinical-feeling labor and childbirth rooms. Our luxurious, private birthing suites are meant to feel like home. Moms can comfortably labor and recover in one location. Babies can stay in the suites, sometimes called "rooming-in," as much as possible to foster bonding with parents.

Birthing suites may vary by hospital location, but typically include:

• A private bathroom
• Comfortable sleeping cots
• Additional amenities to personalize this special time, such as a celebratory gourmet meal for the new parents

Whether you want a vaginal birth, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), or cesarean, we consider and accommodate your childbirth choices. In the event of a C-section, our OB/GYNs and surgical teams use a special surgical drape that allows for immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth.

Safety is our top priority, but we encourage moms to labor in whatever ways make them most comfortable. Many amenities, including birthing balls, aromatherapy, music therapy and wireless fetal/maternal monitoring are available to you. We also offer epidurals, nitrous oxide and other options for pain management.

Breastfeeding is an important part of the postpartum experience. Our breastfeeding support services are provided by nurses who are International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) to help moms learn proper positioning and latching techniques. We also provide breastfeeding support groups and classes that explain the equipment involved and how to use it.

Breast milk offers many benefits not found in formula. Mothers who may naturally have less milk supply can still get breast milk from a donor. We’re proud to receive breast milk from approved donors through Mothers' Milk Bank of Tennessee. Donor milk is pasteurized, tested and fortified before it's made available for our at-risk babies. Several of our locations also serve as milk bank depots, offering a convenient drop-off location for approved milk donations.