WomenCare WNY » Services » Pregnancy » Delivering at Mercy Hospital
The staff at Mercy Hospital is dedicated to making the birth of your baby an experience that you and your loved ones will always cherish.
With an expert medical team on your side, in addition to our advanced technology, you can be confident that you and your baby will receive the best care possible in a comfortable and compassionate setting.
Mercy Hospital of Buffalo has been ranked among the top 10% of hospitals in the country for maternity care by HealthGrades (Mercy Hospital Awards). Click here for more information about this award.
Watch the video below for an overview of the amenities available at the Mercy Hospital Family BirthPlace.
At Mercy Hospital, nine birthing rooms – equipped for labor, delivery and recovery – provide for the health and comfort of our patients. Several offer a Jacuzzi whirlpool tub, giving mom a higher level of relaxation before delivery.
After delivery, moms rest comfortably in one of our private rooms featuring private showers and other amenities.
The Mercy Hospital maternity ward was really nice!
It was comfy and clean. The staff was amazing; they helped as much as they could. They have a really great hospital – best I've ever been to.
– Jessica
Seated (left to right): Marti Weislo, Kristine Sabatino, Sharon Nisengard, Kelly Vargo, Standing: Kim Mecca, Jennifer Field, Amy Lombardo, Linda Lillis
Our midwives are certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. They are present nearly 24/7 to assist with the labor and birth process.
The Certified Nurse Midwife undergoes rigorous training and education in regards to women's healthcare. They are experts in the care of women during the childbearing years, with a focus on labor, birth and the postpartum period.
At its core, the word midwife means "with woman." The midwife respects the uniqueness of each woman, her belief system, her family structure, and her individual desires for the birth experience.
Midwives believe that:
Women and their families deserve a trust-filled atmosphere in which to birth their babies to their fullest potential. We hope that you find that atmosphere within Catholic Health.
To learn more about midwives, visit the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
The midwife, along with our experienced nursing staff, is the initial and primary contact throughout your labor experience. The midwife manages your care independently or in conjunction with the plan of care set forth by your provider. In most instances, your provider will not be called to be present within the hospital setting until the birth of your child is imminent.
If you have a scheduled cesarean section, the midwife will admit you to the hospital and often times assist your physician in this surgical procedure.
Along with caring for labor and birth needs, the nurse midwife evaluates patients with pregnancy-related complications and manages patient needs.
Affiliated CNMs see patients in their office and deliver at Mercy Hospital:
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My doctor didn't arrive on time, and I was having a natural birth. The women who delivered my daughter helped me through my contractions, and they delivered my baby.
it was a good experience for me. The nurses in recovery were so helpful and kind. They gave me things to help with the pain and helped me into bed. They helped with everything! It was a great time for me and my family.
I wanted a home birth, but my husband wanted to go to the hospital, and I'm glad we did – best hospital I've ever been to.
Even after I was discharged, they sent me home with a nurse who was caring and made sure I was feeling okay and that my daughter was okay.
I could go on and on about how great my stay was there and how helpful and friendly the nurses were, but I'd end up sitting here for hours writing! Just amazing.
I will be coming to Mercy Hospital for any of my hospital needs, and I live an hour away. There's a hospital down the street from me, but they couldn't top mercy if they tried. I'd drive 5 hours to go to Mercy, it's that good!
Thank you so much for your hospitality, caring, help, and everything else. The people here really do care about the paitents!
Thank you again so much. It couldn't have been any better!
– Jessica Fulmer
During labor and delivery, a nurse may care for only two or three patients in order to provide individualized attention to each mom.
Moms may deliver in a variety of positions (side-lying, traditional, and more), depending on the preference of their physician and if an epidural is used, which decreases sensation in the lower half of the body and prevents certain positions from being achieved.
We will work with our patients to meet their goals while ensuring that their delivery is as safe and as comfortable as possible.
To reduce pain during labor, moms may choose to have an epidural, which reduces sensation in the abdominal and genital and pelvic areas.
Patients who do not have an epidural may use one of four jacuzzis to provide pain relief and promote relaxation during labor. This technique, known as hydrotherapy, relaxes the muscles and decreases the pain of contractions. To be eligible for hydrotherapy, patients must meet certain medical criteria and both mom and baby must be medically stable.
Our four jacuzzi rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If the jacuzzi rooms are occupied, each of our birthing rooms has a shower, which makes hydrotherapy possible.
Squat bars and birthing balls may be used in any of our birthing rooms. If you are interested in using these items to assist with your labor, please notify your nurse.
We generally allow two visitors/coaches in the birthing room to support mom. However, the number of coaches depends on the preference of the patient's physician.
If the father of your baby will be overseas during your delivery, you may bring a laptop equipped with a webcam so that he may share in the birthing experience. For patients without access to a computer, arrangements can be made to borrow a laptop. Please make arrangements two weeks before your due date by contacting Mary Ann Murphy at (716) 828-2895.
I had a wonderful experiance at Mercy Hospital.
I gave birth to my first son on February 17th 2012, and now, looking back on that memoriable day, I smile. I was treated so well, and I recommend Mercy to everyone I know. I had to drive 50 minutes to get there, but it was worth it. Thank you to the Maternity/Labor staff and all the girls in the nursery.
– Alisha
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The Family BirthPlace completed a major renovation in August 2009 that converted all patient rooms to private status and created luxurious Celebration Suites and a new family waiting area. Click here to view our photo gallery.
At Mercy Hospital, patient rooms feature exclusive amenities such as a private shower and bath. A sleeper sofa enables loved ones to visit in comfort while they offer their support and encouragement during this memorable occasion.
The Celebration suites, available at an additional charge of $100 per night, offer patients and their families all the comfort and amenities of upscale "hotel-like" accommodations to celebrate the arrival of their newborn. These rooms include:
The Celebration Suites are available on a first come, first serve basis to our patients. When you arrive in Labor and Delivery, let your nurse know of your preference.
After you deliver, we will let you know if a Celebration Suite is available and your husband or a family member will be asked to pay the suite charge at the business office.
If a suite is not available, you will have the option of being added to a waiting list and transferred should one become available during your hospital stay.
Celebration Suite
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Standard Room
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Two nurses' stations are located near patient rooms, placing your healthcare team closer to you and your baby.
A registered nurse dedicated to caring for you and your baby will help your new family embark on what will be a memorable life-long journey. Because this nurse coordinates your care as well as your baby’s, she can explain infant care techniques and point out different aspects of infant behavior right from the start. More importantly, she is there to address your healthcare needs, alleviate your concerns, and offer valuable encouragement and support.
Babies are encouraged to room with their parent, although they may be returned to the nursery, where they will receive care from the same registered nurse who cares for mom.
The Family BirthPlace is a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit equipped with state-of-the-art technology to provide exceptional care for your baby.
Our NICU sets us apart from other hospitals who cannot provide this level of care and who must transport actutely ill or premature babies to a different facility, separating mom and baby. At Mercy Hospital, both mother and child receive care at the same place and in a matter of minutes, resulting in the best outcomes possible.
The hospital also maintains a specialized perinatal testing unit and the latest in security technology.
In 2006, my son was born on his actual birth date but was having issues with his temperature regulating.
The nurses in Mercy Hospital's NICU were wonderful. They let me come in and sit with him and helped me to walk around with him.
When my daughter was born in 2010, the care was wonderful again. I was scared because she was born a month early, but the nurses on the floor really supported me through the process.
– Erin
Tours of the Family BirthPlace at Mercy Hospital should be arranged several weeks in advance of your due date. Please call HealthConnection at (716) 706-2112 to schedule your tour of the Family BirthPlace at Mercy Hospital.
If you are attending one of our Prepared Childbirth classes, you do not need to arrange a tour of the maternity department, as it is included as part of the program.
To find a doctor who delivers at Mercy Hospital, click here to search our physician directory or contact our HealthConnection representatives at (716) 706-2112 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday - Friday.
