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Maternity & Newborn Health
Our nationally ranked children’s hospital offers a full spectrum of family-centered services. We look out for you from your first visit to checkups after your baby arrives. We aim to provide an exceptional experience by offering personalized maternal and newborn medicine and care in a comfortable environment.
Maternity Tower at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health
Maternity Tower at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health
As you prepare for the arrival of your baby, we design your care around your labor and delivery preferences and wishes. Our Maternity Tower at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health supports a wide variety of birthing options in a comfortable setting that feels like home and offers the full spectrum of care dedicated to mothers and babies.
What to Expect in the Maternity Tower
As you arrive at the Maternity Tower, you will have free Valet Parking right at the front entrance. Our guest relations team will escort you through the new Atrium to lead you to patient check-in. When you get settled in your room, you'll find we have some of the best maternity amenities in Indiana. Your private birthing suite includes overnight accommodations for your support person, new advanced medical technology equipment in each room, brand-new amenities and access to the new Ronald McDonald House Family Room. Your support partner and visitors can enjoy the brand-new dining space, Café 1924, as you enjoy room service in your private suite.
Our team designed the tower so all women and newborns have access to highly skilled care while keeping families together under one roof. You can rest assured that if you discover along your journey to delivery you require specialized treatment for a high-risk pregnancy or an infant with health concerns, we offer the most expert care available 24/7.
Maternal-fetal medicine specialists are available for high-risk deliveries or vulnerable babies.
Our obstetrical intensive care unit is one of only a handful in the nation dedicated to high-risk obstetrics, providing the best outcomes if complications arise
OB Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and OB Emergency (ED) are available to all mothers and newborns to help with any complex situation with our dedicated and trained intensivists.
Level IV Obstetrical and Neonatal Care is the highest level of care for both mother and baby. The Riley at IU Health Maternity Tower will be the only facility in Indiana with all services located in the same building.
Our Approach to Maternal & Newborn Care
Our Approach to Maternal & Newborn Care
Every birth is a unique experience. The Riley Maternity Tower has the accommodations to support traditional birth plans, and the experience of exceptionally and nationally ranked pediatric and adult specialists to care for high-risk pregnancies and babies with critical needs.
Our Approach
Your baby has immediate access to the nation’s leading specialists in every field of pediatric healthcare, including:
Along with our specialized care, we also provide expert support to moms desiring a more holistic approach to labor. IU Health has a long history of midwifery services, and we ensure you have a personalized partnership with your certified nurse-midwife, through pregnancy and delivery.
Riley Maternity & Newborn Health provides a variety of personalized care options that begin at your pregnancy and support you throughout postpartum care.
Class will meet virtually, anyone near or far is welcome to join our classes.
This class will give you the opportunity to explore, discuss and share your concerns and experiences in caring for a new...
This class meets virtually, so anyone near or far can join this free class offering.
Class will provide information about safe car seat use and installation, the importance of using car seats, and...
Divinity Crittendon thought she would have a routine delivery for her second child in April at the Riley Maternity Tower. But, her condition suddenly declined. Just hours after arriving at the...
We received this kind voice note from a grateful NICU parent!
Jordan Stephan cared for Bellamy Hayes during her stay in the NICU. Bellamy’s mom, Meghan, says she really noticed the way Jordan went...
Koehn babies were diagnosed in utero with a rare, life-threatening condition and underwent laser surgery in the womb before they were delivered prematurely.
Hayleigh and Rachel Koehn are tiny miracles who survived a rare complication called Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome, thanks to fetal intervention surgery at Riley.
An Indianapolis mother and nurse who suffered the loss of her first child one year ago creates treasured keepsakes for other grieving moms, even as she welcomes a baby boy after a high-risk pregnancy.
The latest Indiana Maternal Mortality Report found there were 92 pregnancy-associated deaths in 2020 happening during pregnancy or within one year of the end of pregnancy. The expert committee also found that 79 percent of these deaths were preventable. Dr. Carrie Rouse, medical director for Riley Maternity Services and member of the committee, joined us on this episode to delve into the findings of this report. She shared the most noticeable trends in these deaths and how additional support for maternity patients could make a positive impact in the future.
Riley Children's Health is changing the way moms and babies are cared for in Indiana. This podcast will give listeners a glimpse into the new Maternity and Newborn Health Tower as well as spotlight topics for expectant and new parents.
Newborns are routinely screened for high bilirubin levels, which allows the medical team to determine any risk of jaundice. This condition is accompanied by a yellowing of the skin. Left untreated, jaundice can cause some serious issues.
For the babies who do experience jaundice, there are effective treatments that are carried out either at the hospital or at home.
Riley neonatal nurse practitioner Katelyn Redman joined us for a discussion about what parents should know if their newborn falls into this category.
As you near the halfway point of your pregnancy, you will be scheduled for a 20-week ultrasound. This appointment allows your provider to get a clear view of the baby and check for any abnormalities. Some patients are referred to Riley's maternal fetal medicine team for additional consultation.
Dr. Anthony Shanks is one of the Riley maternal fetal medicine physicians. He provides insight into what happens during the 20-week anatomy scan and what parents can expect.
Physical and occupational therapy is available to pregnant patients in the Riley Maternity Tower. From high-risk pregnancy mothers who are hospitalized for weeks to the patients recovering from a C-section, these therapies can make a big difference in their recovery experience.
Lauren Broniarczyk, physical therapist, and Kelly Salter, occupational therapist, discuss the ways they interact with these patients each day.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and one IU Health patient hopes sharing her own story will help others.
Amanda Phillips noticed herself withdrawing from facets of her life and feeling high levels of anxiety after welcoming her identical twins in 2021. Her OB connected her with the perinatal mood disorders support group, facilitated by an IU Health team member. Amanda says this group of other moms allowed her to feel validated and supported.
"That first group meeting I just remember sitting in my car in tears because I knew I had found a release," Amanda said. "I had found people that got it."
She says she feels she has made a lot of progress over the last year thanks in, large part, to the support group. She still participates in the group.
For some parents, welcoming a baby into the world comes with the challenge of spending time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). As NICU families navigate this time, there are specific things their friends and family can keep in mind in order to offer the best support.
Rachel Scott, a Riley NICU Nest family support coordinator and former NICU mom, shared some advice for those hoping to help parents who may be spending a lot of time in the hospital in those first few weeks or months after their baby's birth.
The Riley Maternity Tower obstetrics emergency department is available to pregnant patients from the moment they get a positive pregnancy test all the way through the very end of their pregnancy. The specialized medical team can evaluate the patients who come in with a focus on their pregnancy concerns.
Dr. Amanda Underwood, OBGYN, chats about the benefits of having this type of dedicated emergency department.
The OB ED is staffed by obstetrics providers who are familiar with common complications and complaints across all spectrums of pregnancy, Underwood said. These providers have devoted their training to treating these issues.
Families in the Riley Maternity Tower have access to art therapy as a way to cope with the hospital experience. Trained art therapists are there to provide the various activities while also being a safe person to talk to about emotions surrounding hospitalization. From high-risk pregnancy patients to NICU parents, those in the Riley Maternity Tower can turn to the art therapists to help them create special items for their babies.
Some pregnant patients who are hospitalized for weeks leading up to delivery choose to focus on creating decorations for their baby's nursery. NICU parents might want to create baby footprint art to commemorate their child's time in the intensive care unit. An art therapist is there with them while they participate in art-making leading them through ways to process everything that's happening.
At Riley Hospital for Children, there is a new care model being used to care for babies at risk for withdrawal. The approach is called "Eat, Sleep, Console" and it focuses on meeting the needs of the baby and empowering parents to respond appropriately. To encourage all of this, babies "room in" with their caregiver. Evidence shows that rooming in can decrease the likelihood of a baby going to the NICU or requiring morphine therapy, which is an escalated treatment for babies with significant withdrawal.
We spoke to Dr. Pat Clements, the medical director for well newborn care, about how this family-centered care model is helping to lessen the stigma associated with opioid use disorder.
The Riley Maternity Tower has the state's only OB Intensive Care Unit. A comprehensive team is able to quickly respond to any issue one of these patients may face. The unit is just steps away from four operating rooms just in case there's a need for any kind of emergency procedure.
In the moments after a baby is born in critical condition, seconds matter. The Riley Maternity Tower Stork Team is at the ready to jump into action.
This team includes highly trained neonatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists and advanced practice providers like nurse practitioners and physician assistants. They're present for high-risk deliveries that may require a baby to be resuscitated or other critical care strategies.
NICU nurse Andrea Purdy is part of the team and shares more about their role in these types of deliveries.
For many families in the NICU, music is a creative outlet that allows them to escape the day to day stress of the unit.
Riley music therapists are there to guide them through sessions that help parents bond with their newborns. From writing personalized songs to creating meaningful playlists, there are many ways parents can use music to connect with their baby in the NICU.
Music therapist Lauren Servos focuses her work on these patients. She chatted with us about the way music therapy sessions allows families to create happy memories even during a difficult time period.
The CDC recently released new data showing pregnant women with symptomatic COVID-19 have a 70 percent increased risk of death. The virus also increases the risk of preterm birth and admission of the baby to the NICU. We chatted with Dr. Lana Dbeibo, medical director of infection prevention at Methodist Hospital, about what care teams are seeing at hospitals around our area. Plus, she shares her personal experience as a mom who had a baby in May of 2020. She discusses her decision to receive the COVID-19 vaccine while breastfeeding.
For many women, it's common to experience the 'baby blues' in the first couple of weeks after welcoming a new baby. But, there are those who actually experience a perinatal mood disorder such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder or PTSD.
Tracey McInnes, perinatal mood disorders program coordinator for IU Health, explains the signs a mom may need additional support and shares information about the resources available.
From mom support groups to professional therapy, Tracey emphasizes that new moms do not have to feel alone as they navigate their mental health journey.
So, you finally get to take your new baby home -- now what? Newborns do not come with instructions and first time parents may face a lot of uncertainty in those first few days.
Dr. Pat Clements, medical director of well newborn care for Riley Children's Health, offers some advice for families about what to monitor once you leave the hospital. He offers tips on how to ensure your newborn is safe and when to call the pediatrician.
Plus, he provides some advice on how to handle COVID-19 concerns.
The Milk Lab at Riley Hospital for Children handles all the milk for babies who are in the NICU or other units. The lab is equipped to safely handle breast milk and formula. The staff is also trained to create precise formulas that provide nutrition to the youngest patients, who often have complex medical conditions. Soon, a second milk lab will open in the Riley Maternity Tower.
This week, we hear from one of the NICU team members.
Beth Dehoff is part of the NICU Nest team and provides support to families in the unit. She explains the ways they are able to provide guidance to families when they first arrive in the NICU, how parents are encouraged to be involved in their baby's care and what NICU parents should keep in mind as they adjust to life in the hospital.
What does care with a midwife look like? Can you only use a midwife if you plan to have an unmedicated delivery?
Darla Berry, one of our Riley Children's Health midwives, debunks some myths and explains what midwifery is really all about.
In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, a Riley lactation consultant discusses the resources available to moms who decide to breastfeed. Jamie Kreuzman is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) who provides support in the hospital to families soon after they welcome their babies. She shares the top obstacles moms face with breastfeeding, options available to families whose babies must go to the NICU and how parents can get some guidance even once they leave the hospital.
Riley genetics counselors provide support to families before pregnancy and in the months leading up to delivery. Through different types of screenings, these counselors can help parents prepare for any obstacles their baby may have to overcome after birth.
The counselors are trained in genetics, biology, statistics and psychology. Their expertise allows them to guide parents as they learn information about their child.
This week, one of those counselors explains what it looks like when a parent opts for genetic testing and how the field has advanced in the last couple of decades.
This week, we hear from a LifeLine team member who is part of the crew that transports the sickest babies to Riley Hospital for Children.
Cathy Overley is a respiratory therapist with more than 25 years of experience. She opened up about her passion for this role and how the transport team is able to act as an intensive care unit for these babies until they arrive at Riley.
Many women are choosing to delay starting a family. And, there is a lot of information out there about what it means to become pregnant later on in life.
In this week's episode, we chat with Dr. Amanda Underwood about pregnancy at age 35 and over. Underwood will be the lead laborist for the Riley Maternity Tower. She discusses what steps to take before becoming pregnant, the types of screenings that may be offered and other helpful information.
What happens after you deliver your little one? Two Riley team members break down the process that occurs once mom, baby and support person move to Mother Baby unit.
Two Riley Children's Health labor and delivery team members share details about what laboring moms can expect once they arrive at the hospital. Can you eat while you're in labor? When do can you get an epidural? Are you able to give birth in a bathtub? They answer some of the frequently asked questions plus provide insight into what it' really like to work in this unit.
Riley Children's Health is changing the way mothers and babies are treated in Indiana. The new Riley Maternity and Newborn Health Tower will open this fall. For the first time, women will be delivering babies at Riley. Dr. Carrie Rouse, a maternal fetal medicine physician, chats about this new care model and what it will mean for families.
Maternal-fetal specialists welcome referrals from gynecologists, obstetricians, primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals throughout the state. To arrange care for patients who are at risk for a complicated pregnancy, contact us at 317.944.7010 or by fax at 317.968.1028.
Referring physicians can count on our specialists at Riley Children’s to treat the most complex cases. Within our Maternity & Newborn Health department, we have specialized programs, active clinical studies, multiple location options and more to accomplish compelling patient outcomes. View full details.
Refer A Patient
Contact Maternal Fetal Medicine at 317.944.7010 or by fax at 317.968.1028.
Research
Riley at IU Health maternal-fetal specialists use evidence-based techniques informed by research, including collaborative studies with the Indiana University School of Medicine. Our maternal-fetal medicine specialists study a wide range of health problems, including research to identify new methods for detecting and treating women at risk for premature birth, which can increase the rate of infant mortality. Premature birth also gives surviving children a higher risk of cardiovascular, lung and metabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Education
Riley at IU Health Maternity & Newborn Health works with the Indiana University School of Medicine to offer specialized training in maternal-fetal medicine, neonatology, prenatal diagnosis, labor and delivery, ultrasound imaging and high-risk or complicated pregnancies. All medical students, residents and fellows involved in training or care are fully supervised by experienced physicians at Riley at IU Health.
