It’s the little things that deliver big smiles
Having a baby is an exciting time in your life – and at the BirthPlace in our Niles and St. Joseph hospitals, we want to make it a healthy time. Our family of obstetric and pediatric physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners, midwives, and lactation consultant strive to continuously provide our moms, babies, and families a safe, nationally-recognized, and high-quality experience.
Some of the little things that make the BirthPlace a special space for you a baby:
- Access to pediatric specialists 24/7
- Experienced and loving health care professionals
- Intimate family-centered birthing suites
- Newly renovated rooms
- Online nursery for friends and family who can’t be present
- Daily serenity hours
- Continued support throughout your delivery until you depart home
- Ongoing new parent education
Your baby's safety is at the heart of what we do.
Spectrum Health Lakeland Niles Hospital proudly earned a platinum designation for maternal care from the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM). Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph also earned gold level designation, the second highest ranking.
MI AIM works with birthing hospitals to reduce and eliminate preventable maternal mortality and severe morbidity. Hospitals implement structured “safety bundle” plans to improve health outcomes for mothers to combat the leading causes of maternal mortality such as obstetric hemorrhage and severe hypertension. Safety bundle plans help hospitals by defining actionable protocols, education, equipment, and drills to prevent and treat serious maternal events. Learn more.
The Economic Alliance for Michigan (EAM), a nonprofit group comprised of Michigan’s largest employers and unions, has awarded Lakeland Hospitals with the 2022 Maternity Care Excellence Award for demonstrated excellence in maternity care and delivery outcome. The Niles Hospital received this award a third year in a row.
The awards are part of EAM’s Maternity Care Project. Created in 2018, the project goals are to decrease the state’s infant mortality rate, reduce the rate of unnecessary C-sections, and be an educational resource for new and expecting parents residing in Michigan.
May 6, 2019 Reporting from Niles, MI
Two Special Birthdays - Taleah Adams
https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/medical-services/womens-health-services/pregnancy-care/birthplace/Detail/two-special-birthdays/?utm_source=Two_Special_Birthdays&utm_medium=PatientStory_Landing&utm_campaign=InternalPages
May 6, 2019
May 6, 2019
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
Preparing to be a first-time mother of twins, 31-year-old, Taleah Adams had no idea what to expect at the time of delivery.
“The doctors told me from the beginning that with twins you really don’t know until it’s time how they will be delivered,” s
Two Special Birthdays - Taleah Adams
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/ResourcePackages/SpectrumHealth/assets/img/sh_white_logo.png
Two Special Birthdays - Taleah Adams
May, 2019
Physicians: Benjamin Wood, DO; Dustin Hall, DO
Preparing to be a first-time mother of twins, 31-year-old, Taleah Adams had no idea what to expect at the time of delivery.
“The doctors told me from the beginning that with twins you really don’t know until it’s time how they will be delivered,” said Taleah.
During her last prenatal visit at BellaNova Women’s Health, she sensed the babies would arrive soon. Due to complications with her blood pressure, she was sent to the BirthPlace at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph, to be monitored and carefully evaluated.
Once at the BirthPlace obstetrician and gynecologist, Benjamin Wood, DO, ruled out preeclampsia, a complication in pregnancy often characterized by high blood pressure, but explained that because Taleah’s blood pressure was still very high she would need to stay at the hospital and be monitored until the babies were born.
In the early morning hours of March 9, Taleah’s water broke, and labor began. Surrounded by a support system of her mother, auntie, grandmother, and great grandmother, they coached Taleah through it all.
“It was great to have my family by my side. The nurses and doctors were constantly checking on me to make sure I was ok,” said Taleah. “I felt so supported the entire time.”
After a long day of contractions, Taleah was prepped for the birth of the twins. Her daughter, Brooklyn, was delivered at 4:30 p.m.
“I remember holding her for a few seconds before she was taken away due to breathing complications,” said Taleah. “The wonderful staff at the BirthPlace stabilized her until she could be airlifted to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids.”
Since Taleah was still in labor with her son, her mother Richelle, stayed by Brooklyn’s side until the helicopter arrived.
“I felt so helpless at that point, because I was still waiting for my son to be born and couldn’t be by my daughter’s side as well.”
Since the babies were fraternal twins, they had developed two separate amniotic sacs, allowing Taleah to birth her son separately.
“I was assured that my son was fine, and I was too,” said Taleah. “He just wasn’t ready to come out yet.”
The hours continued to pass, and soon it was March 10 – the next day. As the time progressed, Taleah’s labor did not.
“I was at the hospital for so long and I had so many nurses and doctors coming and going,” said Taleah. “One nurse even came back after her shift to check on me.”
Taleah’s son, Bryson, finally made his arrival 23 hours after his sister, delivered by obstetrician and gynecologist, Dustin Hall, DO.
“This was a birth experience that I never imagined; having twins born, not minutes apart, but 23 hours apart on different days,” said Taleah.
Taleah is embracing every moment of motherhood and thankful for the fantastic support system she has.
“The staff at the BirthPlace was exceptional and made sure everything went as smoothly as possible,” said Taleah. “It has been a huge adjustment becoming a mother of two, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world!”