CHI St Vincent Hot Springs announced today that the Katherine C. Anthony Charitable Trust has made a $500,000 donation to the development of its Mother Baby Unit.
CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs’ Mother Baby Unit is creating a new model of care for mothers and their new babies. The new care model will keep babies in the room with their mothers from the moment they are born. This, along with a newly remodeled unit will position the hospital system as a leader in the market by improving care provided to patients, as well as enhancing the functional and esthetic appearance of this area.
Tony Houston, President of CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, said, “We’re so grateful for this generous donation by the Katherine C. Anthony Charitable Trust. As a long-time champion of the health ministry, Katherine generously supported the Hot Springs community through many healthcare initiatives, including funding the creation of the Cooper-Anthony Child Advocacy Center. This gift will allow our ministry to adjust our model of care for mothers and their children in a way that has a lasting effect.”
Dr. Clint Henson, Obstetrics/Gynecology Physician, said, “The benefits of this type of care model are numerous. Keeping moms and babies together is so important that many professional organizations have made recommendations promoting ‘rooming in’ and opposing routine separation of mothers and babies after birth.”
“Rooming in,” the main model of care in the new Mother Baby Unit, has numerous benefits including:
- Babies cry less and are easier to calm
- Moms get more rest
- Ability to respond to baby's feeding cues
- Promotes breastfeeding
- Ability to ensure the care the mother desires for baby is delivered (e.g. no pacifiers, bottles, tests, etc.)
- Increased bonding between mother and infant