Family Birthplace: Labor & Delivery
Your Miracle. Our Mission.
Recognized as a Best Maternity Hospital by Newsweek for 2020 and 2023 and designated a Baby-Friendly Hospital by Baby-Friendly USA, Inc., SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital – St. Louis is the regional hub for maternal services and high-risk obstetrics. It is also home to the Saint Louis University School of Medicine's Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health residency program and supported by leading neonatologists from SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital.
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis, in partnership with SLUCare physicians is recognized for its standards for excellence in maternity care, including achieving low rates of C-section, episiotomy and early elective deliveries, and following crucial protocols to protect mothers and babies.
SSM Health supports many options for childbirth. We always keep your wishes and plans in mind first and will always work with your personal and family goals should the situation remain safe to do so.
To read about everything from conceiving to post-partum care, follow SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital and SLUCare physicians' Journey to Motherhood STL Facebook page.
Neonatal Care
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis is home to a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where our smallest patients get state-of-the-art care, when needed. A Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit offers newborns a higher level of care, including newborns with critical illnesses and those born as early as 28 weeks of age. To ensure your newborn receives the highest level of care, our NICU features:
- A team of neonatologists, NICU nurses, neonatal nurse practitioners and respiratory therapists who are fully prepared to provide advanced, intensive care and support to newborns 24/7
- Single-family rooms offer added privacy and feature soothing, nature-themed designs.
- Neonatal nurses who specialize in caring for women with high-risk pregnancies.
- Lactation specialists available seven days a week for breastfeeding support to help babies get off to a healthy start.
- NicView™ cameras allow mothers and families the ability to access a 24-hour video stream of their baby by using their smartphone or tablet.
- Our NICU provides moms and babies with everything they need to have a happy, healthy and successful birthing process.
Specialized Care & Offerings
- Maternal & Fetal Care Center that features maternal-fetal medicine SLUCare Physician Group specialists from Saint Louis University
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) supported by neonatologists from SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
- 17-bed Antepartum (before birth) Unit
- Maternal Transport Services
- Pediatricians and neonatologists from SSM Health Cardinal Glennon available 24/7 to assist your obstetrician
- Satellite location for the Cardinal Glennon St. Louis Fetal Care Institute
- An anesthesiologist dedicated to obstetrics is on-site at all times
- For non-medicated births, we offer many low intervention techniques to make you as comfortable as possible throughout the birth experience. Doulas are always welcome at St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis!
- Dedicated surgical suites on the same floor if a Cesarean section (C-section) or EXIT procedure is necessary
- For mothers with a previous C-section, we can perform Vaginal Births After Cesarean section (VBACs) if you and your doctor determine it is appropriate and safe.
- Continuous fetal monitoring
- Regular and advanced Level II ultrasound
- Amniocentesis
- External cephalic version (a procedure to try and turn the baby if it’s in breech or "feet first" position)
- We offer a welcome alternative to traditional hospital delivery. In our fresh, comfortable setting, we provide personal, one-on-one attention for Mother and Baby, which includes care and instruction from highly trained nurses.
- Our spacious suites you will be in for labor, delivery and recovery can easily accommodate a recliner for a special visitor. They were also carefully designed to promote safety and to be able to accommodate all the high-tech equipment necessary to safely deliver your baby.
- After your baby is born, you will continue care in a spa-like postpartum suite on our mother-baby unit. Each suite has a comfortable sleeper sofa for your spouse or loved one to spend the night as well as a flat screen TV, and private bathroom and shower.
- We also offer room service dining for our patients. You may order meals or snacks anytime between 6:30 am and 6:30 pm daily.
- This specialized prenatal care program, provided at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital, includes ten group visits and as many private visits you need during your pregnancy and is completely free as part of your prenatal care.
- During group visits you will meet with a SLUCare certified nurse midwife and eight to ten other women who are all due around the same time. Each Centering visit includes:
- a private check-up with your nurse midwife
- group conversation about self-care, pregnancy, childbirth, infant care and more
- friendship and support with other moms
- Centering helps moms-to-be: prepare for birth, get ready to care for their baby, participate actively in their healthcare, have more time with their chosen provider and focus on the benefits of self-care which is good for the baby and family.
- For more information about CenteringPregnancy® call 314-768-8797.
Virtual and guided tours* of our hospitals are available. These visits are a wonderful opportunity to learn about everything we offer moms and babies and ask any questions about labor and delivery and postpartum care. To sign up for a tour, call us toll-free at 866-SSM-DOCS (866-776-3627).
*COVID-19 restrictions may require us to only offer virtual tours for a period of time. Please call to learn more.
From birthing classes to sibling classes and everything in between, SSM Health has you covered on things you need to know to prepare for baby. Sign up for a class now.
Pregnancy Handbook
Answers to some of the biggest questions about your pregnancy journey.