Brittany Richards was the first patient to deliver her son in a comfortable, inflatable tub of warm water in their room at Unity Hospital. Read full story.

Tour the Unity Birth Center

Expecting parents are invited to tour of the Unity Birth Center, Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Please call 763-236-4400 to let us know you're coming.

For more information, call the Birth Center at 763-236-4400.
To find a physician,
call 763-236-4484.

Unity Family Birth Center

A program of:

• Women's and children's services

If you're looking for a special place to have your baby, we're glad you found Unity Hospital Family Birth Center.

The Family Birth Center recently completed a $1.8 million renovation of the rooms and department where more than 1,200 babies are born each year.

The revamped surroundings better reflect the caliber of care we provide to our new moms, babies and their families.

If you are interested in delivering at Unity Hospital and do not yet have a physician, check out our comprehensive list of OB/GYN providers who care for patients at our Family Birth Center.

See a list of providers who deliver babies at Unity Hospital's Family Birth Center.

You are encouraged to preregister for your hospital stay before the 28th week of your pregnancy. We are pleased to offer online registration for your convenience.

Photo tour

Take a virtual tour of the Family Birth Center by clicking on the photos below.

Celebrate new life here

Deciding where to have your baby is an important decision for you and your family. As a family-centered hospital with specially trained staff, The Family Birth Center at Unity Hospital is dedicated to making your birth experience comfortable and memorable.

Our special features include:

• experienced, compassionate doctors and nurses who are experts in caring for new moms and babies
• spacious labor and delivery rooms with the latest technology and designed to support mothers throughout the birthing experience
• soaking tubs and showers in labor and delivery rooms
• healing postpartum rooms with private soaking tubs, TVs, wireless Internet access
• level II nursery for babies born prematurely or with special care needs
• lactation (breastfeeding) consultations with board-certified lactation nurses
• doulas who are available when requested (or you can arrange your own) for physical, emotional and informational support
• water birth
• two surgery suites on the unit for Cesarean births
• anesthesia services available every day, around the clock
• lounges for family and friends
• room service for food-made-to-order from our dietary department
• secured access for mom and baby safety
• beautiful nature-inspired artwork designed to promote a healing environment
• language translation services
• web cam available for you to share your good news.

Birth planning

We are committed to honoring your birth plan, however we ask you to remain open and flexible to changing plans if there are complications in your delivery.

Please review your wishes with your nurse when you are admitted to the hospital. We also encourage you to ask questions of your doctor during your prenatal visits about your ideal birth experience.

In addition to our dedicated and caring nursing staff, we are proud to offer a doula program for women who would like more physical, emotional and informational support during labor.

Before your arrival

If you wish, you can call us before you arrive at the Family Birth Center so that we can be ready to greet you: 763-236-4400.

There is no need to stop in admitting when you arrive at the hospital; go directly to 4E, our labor and delivery unit, to check-in.

When you arrive at the hospital

Getting to the Family Birth Center at Unity Hospital is easy. During the daytime hours, enter through the main entrance of Unity Hospital. Your driver can park at the front door circle drive and help you into the hospital.

Take the East Elevators to the Family Birth Center on the fourth floor. Your driver can move your car to a parking lot in front of the hospital once you are safely on the unit.

If you arrive at night (after 9 p.m.), you can enter through the emergency department entrance. The guard there will direct you to the East Elevator to access the Family Birth Center on the fourth floor. There is ample, convenient and free parking at Unity Hospital.

Your birth experience

The Family Birth Center at Unity Hospital labor and delivery suites have been redesigned and renovated with family comfort in mind. Each spacious suite has a private bathroom with a bathtub.

You will labor and deliver your baby in the same private room that has everything you need for comfort and medical care during your baby's delivery. Surgery suites are located on the birthing unit for easy transport in the rare event of an unanticipated Cesarean delivery.

Each room has a television and CD/DVD player, as well rocking chairs.

Family members and visitors are welcome to join you as you wish, or they may wait in our comfortable family lounge down the hall.

Our Family Birth Center unit is safe and secure with a locked entry; visitors must check-in before entering.

We offer many amenities and comfort measures to help you during your labor. These include a full bathtub in your room, birthing ball, mirror, and an iPod/CD player for you to play soft music. Walking is often helpful in labor and many mothers enjoy walking in our quiet skyway, enjoying the view.

For a loved one that cannot be present, but would like to be part of their child's birth, web cams are available. Please request this service in advance by calling us at 763-236-4400.

Your recovery

After some time to bond with your baby and begin your recovery, our staff will help you move to a private room in the Family Centered Care Unit (just down the hall) where we encourage you to rest and learn about your new baby. We encourage you to keep your baby with you as much as possible. The nursery is also available to care for your baby should you need it.

All patients and visitors are welcome to use free wireless Internet at Unity Hospital. We also have laptops available for guests to check out and use free of charge from the gift shop.

Families are encouraged to attend the Homeward Bound education class, held daily in the Family Birth Center. This helpful class reviews self and newborn care to help prepare families for the transition home.

Special care nursery - level II

For newborns requiring special care, physicians with Minnesota Neonatal Physicians at Children's Hospital-Minneapolis are available daily in the special care nursery at Unity Hospital. They collaborate with our neonatal nurse practitioners who are available 24 hours a day and provide care or consulting for many of the babies admitted to the special care nursery.

Breastfeeding

Related resources

• Breastfeeding
• Pregnancy care
• OB Homecare
• Beginnings: Pregnancy, birth and beyond

For more information, call the Birth Center at 763-236-4400.

Baby Cafe

Unity Hospital's Baby Cafe is a free, drop-in center for pregnant and breastfeeding moms to consult with an international board-certified lactation consultant.

The Cafe is every Monday, 10 a.m. to noon, Unity Hospital Education Center. For more information, call 763-236-3427.

Our staff would like to help make your breastfeeding experience a positive one. Several of our hospital nurses have received advanced lactation education, training and certification.

Our lactation consultants and educators are available to meet with you to answer questions and assist you with your breastfeeding needs.

If you need additional help with breastfeeding after going home, call us at 763-236-3427 and leave a message with your question. Calls to the breastfeeding line will be answered within 24 hours. You can also schedule outpatient breastfeeding appointments for a small fee.

The breastfeeding line is for feeding questions; if your baby is ill, please contact your baby's physician. If at any time you wish to speak directly to a nurse about breastfeeding, call the unit at 763-236-3400 and ask for a lactation educator.

Breastfeeding supplies are available at Unity through Allina Home Oxygen and Medical Equipment. Items available include breast pumps and accessories, nursing bras and slings. Gift certificates are also available. Ask about these services during your stay, or contact this department directly at 763-236-3225.

In addition to classes held on our unit, we also offer a broad range of classes to help your family prepare for birth and caring for your new family member.

Baby Cafe

Unity Hospital's Baby Cafe is a free, drop-in center for pregnant and breastfeeding moms to consult with an international board-certified lactation consultant.

The Cafe is every Monday, 10 a.m. to noon, Unity Hospital Education Center. For more information, call 763-236-3427.

All About Babies

This class provides expectant and adoptive parents with important information about infant care and development.

Baby Sign Language - Small Talk

Babies hear and understand language before they can speak. This a sign language class can help hearing parents and their hearing infants and toddlers communicate effectively.

Breastfeeding Preparation: Lactation Basics

This class includes an introduction to breastfeeding and resources for ongoing support. Whomever will support you after your baby is born is encouraged to attend.

Childbirth Preparation - Weekend Express

This weekend class focuses on preparation for labor, birth and newborn safety. It is recommended you complete this class no later than one month before your due date.

Childbirth Preparation - Weekly Series

This class focuses on preparation for labor, birth and newborn safety. You will also tour the birth center at your hospital. We recommend completing this class one month before your due date.

Coping with Labor

Become an active participant in your own labor. Topics include tools to help you cope with labor, including labor affirmations, massage, labor positions, imagery, music and aromatherapy. We recommend completing this class no later than one month before your due date.

Expectant Father

This class focuses on the needs, expectations and fears of expectant and new fathers. Examine the issues of childbearing and child raising from a male perspective.

Infant Massage

Infant massage is a form of nurturing touch that has physical and psychological benefits for infants and parents. This class is for parents with infants, ages three weeks to one year. Attend with your infant to receive individual help to address baby's needs.

New Brother New Sister

This class helps prepare children, ages 2 1/2 to 10, for a new baby's arrival and their roles as a brother or sister. This class is best taken during the last two months of pregnancy.

Refresher Birth and Parenting Preparation

Even if you've attended a birth preparation course with a previous pregnancy, you may still have questions about labor and birth. Topics include comfort measures, new options in maternity care, and adjusting to another child. Try to complete the class about a month before your due date.

Twins, Triplets or More

If you are expecting twins, triplets or more, you can learn about the unique joys and challenges of multiples. This class is designed to promote a safe and healthy pregnancy and to prepare you for labor, delivery and early parenting.

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean

This class is for the woman and her partner who previously had a Cesarean birth and are considering a vaginal birth with this pregnancy. It should be taken during the second trimester.