Maternity Care
We Deliver Joy!
When you're expecting, you expect the very best care—for yourself and your baby. Our OB providers at UnityPoint Health – Grinnell Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic specialize in maternal care and partner closely with our maternity services and primary care teams. Together, we support you through every step of your pregnancy and delivery experience.
Family Centered Care
At Grinnell Regional Medical Center, we offer a family-centered environment that recognizes the needs of the mother, infant and the entire family. Our maternity unit consist of three birthing suites, along with four additional hospital rooms.
We welcome expecting parents for tours of our wonderful facility, named after the Kintzinger family in honor of their donations to the maternity unit. Email us to schedule your in-person tour!
Choosing Your OB Provider
Our providers partner closely with our maternity services and primary care teams. Together, we support you through this important health journey. It's important to note if you use an OBGYN provider for your delivery, you will also need to select a primary care provider for your baby's care.
Tips to Help You Get Started:
- Make a list of candidates from people you trust - your relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers and your primary care/family medicine healthcare provider.
- Find a provider who is in your health insurance network to avoid unexpected costs.
- Consider the provider's personality
- Do they treat you as a partner in care decisions?
- Are they patient and willing to explain things carefully?
- Would they be supportive if you requested a second opinion?
- Are the provider's age and gender important factors to you?
- Are you comfortable asking questions and do you feel like you're being heard?
Lactation Services
The decision to breastfeed is a personal one. Breastfeeding provides numerous benefits for you and your baby - and is a beautiful and natural way to bond. Our qualified lactation services staff is here to provide extensive breastfeeding education and support.
We encourage you to learn more about classes that are available. If you're unsure which breastfeeding support service best fits your personal situation, we encourage you to start by calling our Public Health team at (641) 236-2385 for a guided recommendation.
Breastfeeding Support Services
During a postpartum home visit the nurse will come to your home to make sure you and your baby are doing well. At a typical visit, the nurse would discuss baby care, post-delivery care, parenting questions or concerns, breastfeeding support, available services and more.
Consultations can also take place at Public Health or via phone. This free service is available to families residing in Poweshiek, Marshall and Jasper counties. Call (641) 236-2385 to schedule an appointment. **Families residing in Iowa, Mahaska or Tama counties are still encouraged to call for referrals to care services in those counties.
If questions or concerns arise after you return home, our lactation specialists at UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Family Practice Clinic and Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic are here to help with breastfeeding challenges you may face, including positioning, latch concerns, engorgement or milk supply.
Call (641) 236-2323 to schedule your lactation support appointment or infant weight check.
Breastfeeding Benefits
- Provides essential nutrients and antibodies to help protect baby's immune system.
- Lowers risk of childhood obesity, asthma, SIDS, ear infections, respiratory issues, stomach viruses, allergies and diabetes.
- Easy for baby to digest.
- Improves baby's cognitive development.
- Benefits for Birthing Parent Special bonding time for you and your baby.
- Reduces stress and lowers risk for postpartum depression.
- Reduces risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes.
- Stimulates uterine healing, helping you to regain pre-pregnancy figure back more quickly.
- Saves money.
- Reduces frequency of preparing and cleaning bottles.
- Regardless if this is your first or fourth baby, understand that this process is new for both mother and baby. This means that frustrations may run high.
- Bring the baby to your partner and offer to help with positioning the baby for feedings.
- Try to help in other ways with your baby. Changing diapers may not be a fun task, but it allows you to interact with your baby one-on-one. Snuggling and changing clothes are some other ideas. Burping the baby may be helpful during and after feedings.
- Hold the baby before and after feedings. This way the baby is able to develop a relationship with you as well.
- Feed an occasional bottle of breast milk after the baby is 3 to 4 weeks old or if your partner pumps their breast milk.
Childbirth & Parenting Classes
UnityPoint Health – Grinnell Regional Medical Center is excited to offer in-person and virtual classes to assist moms/caregivers throughout their journey. Check out what opportunity works best for you!
- Childbirth and Prenatal Education Classes and Breastfeeding Classes are available in person and registration is required. If you have questions about our classes or would like more information, email the Kintzinger Women's Health Center at GRMC_Obstetrics_group@unitypoint.org or call (641) 236-2324.
WIC Clinics (Well Child)
For more information, please call Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) at (641) 752-7162 or (800) 390-5293.
| Location | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn - Brooklyn United Methodist Church | third Monday of every month | 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
| Grinnell - Light Center for Community Health |
third Tuesday of every month fourth Tuesday of every month |
6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
Life with Baby
Many changes occur throughout the newborn stage and beyond for both the parent/caregiver and baby. UnityPoint Health – Grinnell Regional Medical Center is here to support you throughout that journey. Life with Baby is a free opportunity for parents/caregivers to talk with a skilled obstetrics nurse in a low-pressure setting. Get your questions and concerns addressed in a supportive, come-and-go atmosphere with an opportunity for a baby weight check. Life with Baby is encouraged for newborns through six months of age.
Life with Baby is the second and fourth Monday of every month, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Tomasek Conference Room (northeast entrance on GRMC campus). Appointments are not required. Please call (641) 236-2324 upon arrival.
- Weigh your baby and track their growth.
- Talk safe sleep practices and swaddling techniques.
- Learn tips for baths, nail clipping, diaper rash, teething, umbilical cord and circumcision care and more.
- Discover holds and latch guidance for breastfeeding your baby as well as tips to increase production and safely store breast milk. Learn also how to start supplementing formula if applicable.
- Discuss what formula to purchase and how to prepare it.
- Discuss incision care, discharge, hemorrhoids, bleeding and other changes that may occur post-delivery.
- Discover tips for transition back to work and intimacy.
- Receive support for postpartum depression, anxiety and perinatal loss.
