Family Birthplace

Mishawaka Medical Center

Find a warm, welcoming environment with all the amenities you need to make your childbirth experience ascomfortable as possible at Mishawaka Medical Center Family Birthplace. From natural childbirth to childbirth classes and everything you need to know about delivering a baby, we’re here for you and your family. And it starts even before you learn you're expecting a child, with resources, support and expert care to make you feel right at home.

If a cesarean section is needed, whether planned or not, patients have access to one of our two Operating Rooms, located just down the hall. Post-Anesthesia Rooms are located on the floor as well. Your family or friends will never have to change floors while waiting to see you before and after your baby’s birth.

Even after you and your baby go home, we are here to help. Lactation consultants are available to assist new mothers from birth throughout the breastfeeding period. We also offer a mother’s support group. For more information, call 574.335.4127.

Our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is a 2021 Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award® winner. This accolade represents Saint Joseph Health System’s leadership in patient experience as our unit ranks in the 95th percentile amongst other healthcare facilities across the nation.

We were also awarded with the "Hospital of Distinction" recognition by the Indiana Hospital Association for excellence in infant and maternal health. This recognition is based on the implementation of best practices in six key areas, including infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, tobacco prevention and cessation, perinatal substance use, obstetric hemorrhage and maternal hypertension.

Mother-Baby Unit

Bond with your baby, just like at home, in our Mother-Baby Unit. Our Mother-Baby rooms are designed to provide the space and comfort you need to bond as a family, from the beginning. Learn to care for your baby in one of our private rooms, where your baby will sleep right by your side. And feel free to have friends and family stop by to visit and bond. There is plenty of room for everyone.

At the Family Birthplace, delivering babies is our calling and our staff is always available to address your questions and concerns. To help provide the best communication and coordination of care, the same nurse will care for both you and your baby.

In our Mother-Baby Unit, mom and newborn are together privately, just like at home. There is plenty of room in our private labor, delivery and recovery rooms for husbands and birth partners to spend the night, and siblings and grandparents to visit. Your newborn can sleep at your side. Wherever you are,  our state-of-the-art infant security system ensures your baby will be safe.

Families who have newborns with special needs receive extra care in our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which ranks in the 95th percentile in patient experience amongst healthcare facilities nationwide, just down the hall from Labor & Delivery.

Education is an important part of our care plan. Our staff is available to address your questions and concerns. To ensure the best communication and coordination of care, the same nurse will care for both mother and baby.

Our Mother-Baby Unit includes:

• 9 Labor, Delivery & Recovery Rooms
• 4 Antepartum (before birth) Rooms
• 4 Triage Rooms
• 3 Post Anesthesia Rooms
• 2 Cesarean Rooms
• 16 Mother & Baby Rooms

Level III NICU

We’re dedicated to the well-being of our smallest patients. If you have a newborn with special needs, they’ll receive the extra care they need in our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) just down the hall from Labor & Delivery. Our neonatologist is available, and our neonatal nurse practitioner is available on-site, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can find peace of mind when you need it most. We also make every effort for each family to bond with their infant with our individualized visitation.

Classes & resources

If you're pregnant or considering pregnancy, we'd be happy to tell you more about the Family Birthplace and our obstetrics services, as well as give you a tour. Saint Joseph Health System offers many classes and support groups for families expecting a child, starting a family or growing theirs, including:

• Childbirth education classes
• Breastfeeding education class
• Prenatal breastfeeding class
• Breastfeeding support group

Newborn portraits

The first moments are special. We have partnered with Love You Baby Photography to offer every family and newborn the opportunity for a mini photo shoot in the comfort of your own Recovery Room.

A photographer is on-site every day of the week and will work directly with you to find a time that works best for you and baby, while you're still at the hospital. Portraits are taken of each newborn and moms, dads and siblings are encouraged to participate. Photos are posted to Love You Baby's secure website immediately following your shoot, and are available for purchase for two weeks after.