The Women’s and Newborn Center

Delivering Your Baby at CHRISTUS Children’s in San Antonio

At CHRISTUS Children’s, we are excited to help you celebrate one of life’s special milestones: the birth of your baby. We created our birthing suites with you and your family in mind. Our friendly and experienced physicians, midwife, and nurses are ready to provide the care you need before your delivery, during your stay and after your baby is born.

• Level IV NICU (60 beds)
• Comprehensive team of pediatric specialists ready to care for your newborn
• Dedicated team of maternal-fetal specialists and certified nurse midwife
• Level III Maternal designation
• Dedicated OB Emergency Room
• C-section and VBAC delivery options
• Dedicated maternal and neonatal transport team

Before your delivery

• Classes for birthing and breastfeeding
• Tour the Birthing Suites (virtual and in person)

During your stay

CHRISTUS Children’s Baby Academy

At CHRISTUS Health, we’re committed to helping you feel confident and informed about your health care options. Our Baby Academy offers a complete series of childbirth education courses, taught by experienced and certified professionals, to help you prepare for a memorable birthing experience.

Classes are offered as a weekly series, held every Thursday. For a full updated schedule and to register for classes, please call 210-704-2054.

• Week 1: What to expect in the hospital
  During the first week of Baby Academy, a maternal-child educator discusses what to bring to the hospital and what to expect when you go into labor. Learn about the stages of labor, pain medications including epidurals and cesarean delivery.
• Week 2: Relaxation techniques - caring for a newborn
  Learn what to expect in the delivery room along with comfort measures including breathing and relaxation techniques. You will also learn the basics of taking care of yourself and a newborn. The class concludes with a tour of the Labor & Delivery suites.
• Week 3: Brain development - car safety seats
  Learn about your baby’s brain development and how play opportunities enhance your child’s learning. We will discuss current Texas child passenger safety seat laws, provide information about how to select a car seat for your baby and how to ensure a proper fit in your vehicle. This class is taught by a certified child passenger safety technician. If you’ve already purchased a car seat, bring it with you to the class to learn about proper installation.
• Week 4: Breastfeeding
  A certified lactation consultant discusses the benefits of breastfeeding. As a certified Baby-Friendly hospital, we want to help you give your baby the best nutrition. Our lactation consultants discuss rooming in, kangaroo (skin-to-skin) care, infant feeding cues (how to tell if your baby is hungry) and proper latch and positioning. We will explore resources you may need once you are home.  

Level III Maternal Care Designation

CHRISTUS Children’s is a Level III Maternal Care Center, the only children’s hospital in San Antonio offering this advanced level of care. This means that we:

• Provide care for pregnant and postpartum patients with significant complex medical, surgical and/or obstetrical conditions that present a high risk of maternal morbidity or mortality, as well provide care for patients at low risk
• Deliver access to a full range of medical and maternal subspecialists, surgical specialists, and behavioral health specialists
• Undertake major surgeries and other complex procedures on-site
• Ensure physicians with critical care training are consistently available to collaborate with maternal fetal medicine physicians and/or obstetrics and gynecology physicians with obstetrics training and privileges in maternal care
• Employ skilled personnel with documented training, competencies, and annual continuing education, specific for the population served
• Conduct outreach education to lower-level designated facilities, among other capabilities