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Home Again

You may stay with us for six to 24 hours after the birth of your baby. Before being discharged, your baby is examined by a family practice physician or pediatrician of your choice. Complete instructions are given to prepare you for your first days at home. These include instructions on observing your baby for respiratory (breathing) patterns, jaundice, adequate feeding problems, vomiting and general activity.

For your own well-being and condition of being accepted into the Alternative Birth Care Unit, you must provide for another adult to be in your home for the first 72 hours after discharge to help you. Your partner, of course, is a fine help-mate, but a grandparent, neighbor or friend is acceptable as well.

Once you are home, our nurses telephone you for the first two days to check on your progress and answer any questions you might have. You are free to call the unit 24 hours a day if you have any questions or concerns about either yourself or your baby.

"Thanks Mary, Diane and Bonnie (our doula)! We had a great birth experience at the ABC. With Mary's suggestion, we allowed Nathan to crawl his way to start nursing, with lots of kicking, army crawling and head bobbing he did it all by himself! Yeah! The ABC really helped our family to be able to have an enjoyable, natural birth compared to the medically assisted birth of our first child. Nathan was born 4/2 at 2:44am weighing 7lbs 14 oz and 20 in and we were home resting within 12 hours of his arrival - Thank you!"

- Kim Konieczny Detwiler