Northwest Health hosting baby fairs
Northwest Health is hosting three baby fairs, designed to inform and empower new and soon-tobe parents. The exclusive events, which are free of charge, are being held at Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville, Siloam Springs Regional Hospital and Willow Creek Women’s Hospital from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
In addition to handpicked exhibitors and vendors, local experts will provide classroom-style mini-seminars. Guests can meet and interview OB/ GYNs, neonatologists, pediatricians and certified nurse midwives in addition to touring the hospitals’ labor and delivery departments and low-intervention labor and delivering suites at two of the hospitals.
“During pregnancy, we understand there are a lot of decisions to make, such as choosing a name, how to decorate the baby’s nursery and also choosing the right provider and where to deliver,” said Juli McWhorter, chief administrative officer at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital and leader of Northwest Health’s women’s services. “The Baby Fair is an opportunity for mothers-tobe and their families to see what Northwest Health offers, meet the physicians and providers as well as our staff — including our OB nurse navigators at each hospital and to receive education on childbirth, safety, health and wellness during and after pregnancy for both Mom and baby.”
Already, there are more than 30 vendors scheduled to participate and several speakers and topics lined up.
“In addition to our guest speakers, there will be vendors from the community and also exhibits from our hospitals providing information on breastfeeding, nutrition, options to manage pain and anxiety during natural childbirth and so much more,” McWhorter said. “Attendees will also get to speak with our nurses and local providers and get to know them a little better, ask questions and see what our labor and delivery rooms look like, as well as the low-intervention birth suites at The Family Birthplace at Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville and at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital.”
Low intervention birth is an option for women who want a non-medicated natural childbirth experience. With minimal intervention and technology, the Low Intervention Birth Program allows staff to support patients and families in their labor and birthing goals.
The suites offer a queensized bed, specialized labor tub, shower, birthing stool, labor balls, and waterproof wireless monitoring. The hospitals also provide a variety of options for comfort during un-medicated labor, including nitrous oxide for pain relief and anxiety, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy and a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit to reduce pain.
Information also will be available on all of the classes and education the hospitals provide to the community, including yoga and dancing classes, childbirth classes, baby boot camps, breastfeeding support groups, a workout studio on Willow Creek’s campus and a lot more. For a complete list of classes, visit NorthwestHealth.com. Another exciting option that’s newly available is the supportive pregnancy care group at Willow Creek Women’s Clinic in Johnson.
Those interested in registering for the baby fair or who would like more information may call 479757-LIFE (5433) or email CommunityRelations@nwhealth.com. They may also visit http://bit.ly/SummerBabyFairs to register.
About Northwest Health
Northwest Health is one of the largest health networks in Northwest Arkansas with five hospitals: Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville, Northwest Medical Center – Springdale, Northwest Medical Center – Willow Creek Women’s Hospital, Siloam Springs Regional Hospital and Northwest Health Physicians’ Specialty Hospital. The system has 487 beds, a combined active medical staff of more than 540 physicians and 2,200 employees working together to provide quality healthcare for the region. Northwest Health is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a select group of independent health systems that work closely with Mayo Clinic to improve the delivery of health care and better serve their patients and their communities. Northwest Health Physicians’ Specialty Hospital is owned in part by physicians.