No experience is more special-or more memorable-than bringing a child into the world.  Whether it's that of the first-born child or the third or fourth, birth is accompanied by great expectations.

Those expectations are the foundation of The Family Center, Reston Hospital Center's maternal-child health unit located in the five-story West Wing Patient Tower.

Two entire floors of the wing are dedicated to The Family Center.  The first floor of the center, located on the second floor of the tower, is where mothers labor and babies are delivered.  It features 14 private LDR suites for labor, delivery and recovery, two operating rooms in the event of Cesarean Section, a two-bed recovery unit, and a three-bed triage area.

The third floor is dedicated to that postpartum time, after the delivery, when parents and baby spend time getting to know one another.  The floor features 30 private rooms and a 24-bassinet nursery, as well as a 12-isolette Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for babies who need extra care and technology.

A Private, Intimate Experience

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Reston Hospital Center's maternity unit embraced the LDR concept when both were relatively new.  Babies were born in a private LDR suite.  After childbirth, most mothers and infants moved to private postpartum rooms, where a registered nurse continued to provide "couplet" care. The ultimate benefit is continuity-one highly trained caregiver knows how mom and baby are doing, providing consistent communication with the obstetrician and pediatrician.

As the maternity center's reputation for excellence spread, one of the most popular questions from expecting couples focused on whether a private room could be arranged in advance. The Family Center puts that question to rest providing private postpartum rooms with sleeping accommodations for significant others.

A Reputation for Experience and Quality

Two things in particular draw families to Reston:  excellent nursing skills and quality care.

Some nurses have been with Reston Hospital Center since the unit opened in 1989. When delivering babies, experience counts.

"Everyone wants to have the confidence that their loved ones are in competent, caring hands," explains Cindy Glover, R.N., chief nursing officer for Reston Hospital Center.  To that end, continuing education and training distinguish The Family Center patient care staff.  For example:

·        All Family Center nursing staff members have completed a lactation program to provide support for mothers who wish to breastfeed.

·        One hundred percent of qualified registered nurses that care for labor patients have successfully completed the AWHONN Fetal Monitoring Practices and Principles Course.  AWHONN, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses, is a national association whose mission is to promote excellence in nursing practice to improve the health of women and newborns.

·        All nursing staff is Neonatal Resuscitation Program-certified, and labor nurses are trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

·        The Family Center staff has been active in a special perinatal quality initiative undertaken by HCA, Reston Hospital Center's parent company.  The initiative provides continuing education to manage complex deliveries ensuring a better outcome for high-risk patients.

·        Anesthesiologists are in-house around the clock to provide appropriate pain control.  A surgical team is at-the-ready in the event of an emergency Cesarean Section.

·        The Family Center staff also is fully engaged in the hospital's pursuit of Magnet status through the Magnet Recognition Program. The American Nurses Credentialing Center awards this national recognition for quality patient care and nursing excellence based on quality indicators and standards of practice defined by of the American Nurses Association.

The Family Center is designed to care for healthy newborns as well as infants who are born premature or critically ill. 12-isolette Neonatal Intensive Care Unit provides that extra support. Neonatologists and pediatricians cover the unit 24 hours a day, and the staff of registered nurses are experienced in providing Specialty Level II Nursery Care. Add it all up, and the sum equals healthcare excellence.

A Respect for Tradition

The needs of every patient and every family are unique, but there is a one common thread.

"It doesn't matter how many children you have. Every time, you want somebody to validate how special the birth of this child is for you," explains Sarah Baxter, R.N., Director for Labor and Delivery."

Family and cultural traditions also are respected and valued at The Family Center.  It's not unusual for grandparents, siblings, or extended family to be part of the birth experience.

Reflecting our multi-cultural community, some staff members and physicians are fluent in the languages or dialects of countries from around the world including Central and Latin America, India, Korea, and the Philippines.

It's comforting to have a caregiver who understands your traditions and speaks your language. For many patients, it is an important part of what makes The Family Center a special place.

Traditional Comforts

Yes, The Family Center is beautifully designed The two-story unit features warm, traditional décor, including cherry wood furnishings and classic upholstery and window treatments. Each room has a private bath Each floor features its own waiting area for family and friends who eagerly await the new addition