Labor and delivery

Family birthing center in Anchorage, Alaska

The team of expert labor and delivery nurses, physicians, and highly trained pregnancy specialists at Alaska Regional Hospital have you and your baby's best interests at heart. Providing high-quality, compassionate care and support when you go into labor, we offer the latest medical technology, spacious birthing rooms and mother-baby suites to ensure you have the best amenities for a successful birthing experience.

We also offer a selection of classes designed to prepare you for labor, delivery and early parenting. Both first-time and "experienced" expectant parents are welcome.

Learn about and register for our online classes here. If you do not already have an OB/GYN, you may call our physician referral line at (907) 264-1722.

Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. We want to provide you and your new baby with the best, safest environment possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Our maternity center

Alaska Regional's top-ranked physicians and nurses have the collective experience of thousands of deliveries, including high-risk and multiple births. From the very first second of a new life, Alaska Regional helps promote physical and emotional bonding. Women's care is our top priority, so we take a family-centered approach with moms to provide a comfortable and relaxing birthing atmosphere.

At the Family Birth Center, located on the third floor of the hospital, we offer the following services and support:

• Celebratory post-birth meals
• Epidural is available
• Doulas - your own certified doula is allowed
• Free Wi-Fi and cable TV
• Pain management options

Additionally, we also offer the following services to new and expecting mothers:

Hydrotherapy

Alaska Regional has a hydrotherapy tub, located in a private room, to help distract laboring mothers from contraction-related discomfort. Hydrotherapy in labor combines the therapeutic feeling of water and moving bubbles to provide sources of touch and visual distraction as you advance through labor.

Lactation services

If you choose to breastfeed your baby, we'll work closely with you to teach you the art of nursing. Breastfeeding a baby is a learned skill. Each of our on-site, board-certified lactation consultants are qualified to assist you with learning how to breastfeed your baby. Whether you choose breastfeeding or formula feeding, our knowledgeable staff will answer your questions about formula and teach you the safest methods to ensure that your baby is eating properly.

Neonatal abstinence evaluation support and treatment program (NEST)

The first-of-its-kind in Alaska, and one of only a handful in the United States, our NEST program takes a comprehensive, holistic approach to the prevention of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a condition that occurs when a pregnant woman has taken narcotics, addicting her baby as well. We focus on care for the whole family, creating an open, non-judgmental recovery environment where respect, honesty and diversity are highly valued. Additionally, a unique aspect of our program is that every baby that is admitted gets their own dedicated nurse.

Neonatal intensive care unit

Sometimes after birth, your baby may require additional assistance. We know this can be stressful, but for cases of premature births or other potential complications, we have the latest technology and access to neonatologists in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Whether your baby requires treatment for preexisting or newly developed conditions, our multidisciplinary team specializes in maternal-fetal and critical care, expertly treating babies and mothers as soon as they arrive. In the NICU, our specially trained obstetricians can also identify problems and plan for them before you go into labor.

Preventing problems during pregnancy

Problems during pregnancy can happen to anyone, but many can easily be prevented. Failing to avoid certain risk factors can potentially result in premature birth or issues that can lead to NAS. Some measures that can be taken to prevent problems during pregnancy include:

• Avoiding workplace hazards
• Ensuring you take medications prescribed by your doctor
• Informing your doctor about an HIV diagnosis
• Informing your doctor about any potential radiation exposure
• Keeping diabetes under control
• Making sure your vaccinations are up to date
• Mitigating high blood pressure
• Not drinking alcohol
• Preventing infections
• Taking folic acid

For more information about the Family Birth Center and the services we provide, we encourage you to ask questions and get to know our staff while you learn about the equipment, the facilities and allow us to help you.