The birth of a baby is an exciting time for a family. Expectant parents are often busy choosing baby names and nursery colors, stocking up on diapers and baby-proofing the house. But it’s also important to choose a birthing center where you and your family will feel comfortable and well cared for. The Methodist Family Birthing Center offers family-oriented birthing care in a cozy atmosphere.
Whether it’s your first child or a new addition to a growing family, at the Methodist Family Birthing Center, we know the birth of a new baby is a unique and special moment. We are privileged to be a part of your birthing experience and we are dedicated to providing excellent care for you and your family.
The “Suite” Life
Our birthing suites feature a private shower, Jacuzzi® and oversized rocking chair for maximum comfort. Beneath the homey appearance, the suites are high-tech delivery rooms with state-of-the-art monitoring and life support systems.
Board-certified obstetricians and the specially trained nursing staff in the Family Birthing Center focus on you and your baby’s specific labor, delivery and postpartum needs. Anesthesiologists are on call 24 hours a day and offer various options for pain relief. On-site pediatricians give routine and specialized care for newborns, and when needed, babies have fast access to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
The Family Birthing Center’s nurses are trained in mother-baby care and encourage you to begin that special bonding process, so your baby stays with you as much as possible.
Additionally, the Family Birthing Center offers a board-certified lactation consultant to help mothers have a happy and healthy breastfeeding experience. Cheryl Stallings, a registered nurse in the Family Birthing Center at Methodist, is credentialed by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners as a Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Stallings makes a point to meet with every breastfeeding mom to follow-up on any feeding issues. Additionally, she offers both day and evening breastfeeding classes prior to birth.
VIP Treatment
Are you planning to give birth at Methodist Medical Center? Schedule a VIP (Very Important Pregnancy) visit where you will meet with a registered nurse from the Family Birthing Center who can answer your questions, tell you more about Methodist’s excellent Family Education Program and discuss pediatric care. Call (865) 835-2268 to schedule your visit.
Before Baby to Birth & Beyond: Education and Support That Make a Difference
Methodist Medical Center and the Family Birthing Center offer a wealth of classes and activities created especially for expectant mothers and fathers, new brothers and sisters, and grandparents.
From pre-pregnancy classes, to maternity visits, breastfeeding education and childbirth classes, to infant CPR, basic baby care and programs that prepare big brothers and big sisters-to-be, Methodist’s Family Education Program ensures that you and your family are ready to welcome a new baby.
In addition to our selection of breastfeeding classes for new or expectant moms, Methodist provides consultation for breastfeeding moms while they are in the hospital. Our expert staff can help mom and baby begin breastfeeding and provide support for feeding problems during baby’s earliest days. To learn more about breastfeeding and get answers to common questions, Click Here. Once your baby has arrived, join our Mommy2Mommy program where you can meet other new moms and their babies as you develop friendships and bond through the challenges and joys of motherhood.
Safe Sleep
Methodist is a gold certified national safe sleep champion facility. This is the highest 
certification level available in infant safe sleep practices.
What is infant safe sleep?
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death among infants between 1 month and 1 year of age. This is what you can do to help your baby sleep safely and to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS.
To create a safe sleep environment:
- Always place a baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night, to reduce the risk of SIDS.
- Use a firm sleep surface, covered by a fitted sheet; a crib, bassinet, portable crib or play yard that conforms to the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is recommended.
- Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch or on a chair alone, with you, or with anyone else.
- Keep your baby’s sleep area in the same room where you sleep (for the infants first year). Room sharing, not bed sharing. Always place the baby in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, portable crib for sleep.
- Sitting devices like bouncy seats, swings, infant carriers or strollers should not be used for routine sleep.
- Keep soft objects such as pillows and blankets, toys and bumpers out of your baby’s sleep area.
- Wedges and positioners should not be used.
- Do not smoke during pregnancy or allow smoking around your baby.
- Do not let your baby get too hot during sleep.
- Breastfeeding your baby is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Give your baby a dry pacifier that is not attached to a string for naps and at night to reduce the risk of SIDS after breastfeeding is established.
- Supervised Skin to Skin is recommended to all mothers and infants immediately following birth regardless of feeding or delivery, and to continue for at least an hour.
- Follow health care provider guidance on your baby’s vaccines and regular health checkups.
For additional information and education on safe sleep please visit: http://www.cribsforkids.org/education
Share and Celebrate: A Star is Born and Net Nursery
A Star is Born and the Net Nursery are easy ways to announce the birth of your baby.
We invite you to add a star for your baby to the birthing center’s “Star is Born” Baby Wall of Fame. We will inscribe it with your child’s name and birth date for the wall and give you a second star to take home. For more information, click here to download a brochure, or call the Methodist Medical Center Foundation at (865) 835-5261.
The Net Nursery is a way to share your baby’s photo with loved ones around the world. It’s a special service of Covenant Health Online, and it’s free and simple. To start the process, talk to your nurse. After you leave the hospital, you and your family and friends can see your baby’s photo by going to the Net Nursery site. For your protection, the photos are protected by a password that you give out yourself.
For more information about the Family Birthing Center, please call (865) 835-2250.