Obstetrics care
Find a doctorSupporting you through every step of your pregnancy
Nearly 2,000 women a year choose us to bring their babies into the world at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. With Magnet® recognition from American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence, we’re ready for every family’s unique needs with high-quality maternity expertise, compassionate care and comfortable amenities. We’ve also been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Hospital for Maternity Care.
From free classes to prepare you for your baby to a maternal fetal medicine program that specializes in high-risk pregnancies, you can trust that we’ll provide everything you need for a safe and positive birthing experience. Other amenities and services we provide include:
- Private birthing and post-delivery suites: Large walk-in showers, comfortable beds, bedside cribs, soothing lighting with blackout shades, complimentary toiletries and newborn essentials like diapers and hats.
- Primary baby care at your bedside: Baths, testing and other primary care happens right in your room, with large sinks for newborn baths.
- Extra amenities for you and your support team: Flatscreen TV, couch, rocking chair and Wi-Fi for comfort, relaxation and entertainment.
- Level III NICU: Our board-certified neonatologists and expert care team provide advanced care for premature babies and newborns in our level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
- Breastfeeding resources: Our outpatient and in-patient lactation program ensures you receive the support you need before, during and after you begin breastfeeding.
Schedule your obstetrics appointment
From pregnancy to postpartum, our OB-GYNs are here for you. Schedule your appointment in LiveWell, online or by phone.
Expert, family-centered birthing center
At our birthing center, you can look forward to a warm and private environment, with a friendly team of obstetrics providers supporting you every step of the way. Our family-centered approach to care offers extensive services in a leading-edge birthing facility.
Birthing center tour: Register for an online tour.
Bringing comfort to postpartum care
We’re proud to offer the very best amenities for your birth center experience. We provide everything from donor milk and lactation programs to private rooms with large walk-in showers.
Comfortable postpartum rooms offer a bed, bedside crib, rocking chair and couch.
Comfortable postpartum rooms offer a couch, rocking chair and flatscreen TV to help you and your partner relax with your baby.
Our family care unit at Advocate Good Samaritan includes a level III NICU, private rooms and extra amenities to make new parents as comfortable as possible.
Large walk-in showers provide maximum comfort for new moms.
The visitor lounge at the Advocate Good Samaritan birthing center.
Hallway lounge for visitors at the Advocate Good Samaritan birthing center.
Our lactation rooms include everything parents need to nurse their new baby at the Advocate Good Samaritan birthing center.
Our birthing center includes maternal fetal medicine for high-risk pregnancies.
Support during and after your delivery
- Private birthing suites feature a bathroom, walk-in shower and a dedicated infant-care area equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology. Other amenities include a TV and Wi-Fi.
- Anesthesiologists are available 24/7 to provide labor epidurals.
- High-tech cesarean section suites can accommodate multiple births and surgical care.
- Private post-delivery suites feature a bathroom, shower, flatscreen TV, rocking chair, Wi-Fi and an area for visitors. We offer open visiting hours for family and friends ages 12 and older, plus sibling visits at hours convenient for you.
- Board-certified lactation consultants, who are registered nurses, provide personalized breastfeeding support at the bedside during the baby's crucial first days.
- Infant security systems offer peace of mind.
- Care for baby, including safe sleep practices, support for extended bonding and skin-to-skin contact, pediatrician care during daily rounds and baths in room.
- Optional baby photos by Bella Baby Photography, if desired.
- Lactation consultants are available for private consultations on an outpatient basis. We also offer breast pumps for sale or rent and breastfeeding accessories.
- Your newborn will have an exam with their pediatrician or one of our on-call pediatricians.
What is obstetrics?
Obstetricians are doctors who provide a full range of services you and your baby may need, from labor and delivery to advanced care for high-risk situations. They also offer fetal testing, preconception counseling and postpartum support.
What is the difference between obstetrics and gynecology?
Obstetricians specialize in caring for you before, during and after pregnancy, while gynecologists offer a broad range of women’s health services beyond reproductive health, including regular screenings and preventative care. Together, these fields form the OB-GYN women’s health specialty.
Can I choose where to deliver my baby?
Yes, choosing where to deliver your baby is an important part of planning your care, and it’s a decision you can make with your OB-GYN or care team. Many families consider factors like comfort, location, available services and support for potential complications when deciding where to give birth. Find a provider that delivers at Advocate Good Samaritan.
At Advocate Good Samaritan in Downers Grove, IL, our obstetrics and maternal fetal medicine teams partner with you to help you understand your options and what type of setting best fits your needs, preferences and pregnancy journey. Whether you’re expecting a routine labor and delivery or need more advanced care, having the right information can help you feel confident in your choice.
What’s the difference between a birthing center and a hospital?
The term birthing center can mean different things, depending on the setting. Some birthing centers are freestanding facilities for low-risk pregnancies, while others, like the birthing center at Advocate Good Samaritan, are located within a hospital and provide full-service labor and delivery care.
Our hospital-based birthing center combines a comfortable, family-centered environment and offers immediate access to medical specialists, anesthesiology and advanced newborn care, including a level III NICU on-site if needed. This approach allows you to experience a supportive, personalized birth setting while knowing a full care team is close by.
When should you go to the birthing center?
Your care team will guide you on when to come to the birthing center based on your pregnancy and individual circumstances. In general, you may be advised to go to the birthing center when:
- You’re in active labor
- Your water breaks
- You experience regular contractions that are increasing in intensity
- You notice vaginal bleeding, decreased fetal movement or other concerning symptoms
If you’re ever unsure, it’s always appropriate to call your OB-GYN or the labor and delivery team for guidance. They can help you decide when it’s time to come in and what to expect when you arrive.
Explore our comprehensive obstetric services
Breastfeeding support
We offer resources throughout pregnancy and beyond to make sure your breastfeeding experience is successful as it can be.
Breastfeeding resources
- Before delivery: We offer prenatal breastfeeding classes on a regular basis to help you prepare.
- During your stay: Our lactation consultants will help you get started with breastfeeding and answer any questions you may have once your baby is born.
- After birth: Our lactation consultants can meet with you at our outpatient clinic once you leave the hospital. To schedule an appointment, call 630-275-5907.
Donor milk program
When a mother is unable to provide her own breast milk, Advocate Good Samaritan offers the option of pasteurized human milk for both premature and full-term infants. The milk comes from generous nursing moms who have extra milk and choose to donate it to babies in need. These women must undergo rigorous medical tests and pass strict lifestyle criteria before their milk is accepted. Upon donation, the milk is pasteurized to destroy viruses and bacteria and tested to ensure safety.
Advanced care for complex issues
Advocate Good Samaritan's level III NICU designation allows us to care for critically ill or premature babies. Our level III services – one of the highest levels of care designated by the state of Illinois – also include a special care team of perinatologists, neonatologists, critical care nurses and, when necessary, pediatric subspecialists who work together with obstetricians and pediatricians.
Maternal fetal medicine specialists
Our Maternal Fetal Diagnostic Center, located inside Good Samaritan Hospital, focuses on caring for women who are facing high-risk pregnancies. It's made up of a specialized care team of dedicated physicians, nurses, obstetrical sonographers and counselors who are trained at identifying and addressing issues high-risk women may experience. Services include:
- Amniocentesis
- Diabetic management
- Fetal testing and therapy
- High-risk consultation
- Maternal transport and care
- Nonstress test
- Nuchal translucency
- Preconception counseling
- Ultrasound
Parenting and childbirth classes & resources
We work hard to make sure you have everything you need throughout your pregnancy, labor and birth. That’s why we offer a variety of classes, resources and videos for you and your family as you navigate this new chapter.
In addition to free in-person tours, we also provide the following classes and resources:
- Free breastfeeding parent support group
- Newborn basics
- Childbirth education
- Breastfeeding
- Infant safety
- Perinatal support navigator
- Community respectful care brunch
Are you showing signs of baby blues or postpartum depression? Getting early treatment for this condition is important. Talk to your doctor about what you’re feeling. They can help you overcome postpartum depression and develop a treatment plan that works best for you and your baby. If at any time you believe you're experiencing an emergency situation, call 911 right away.
For those who have experienced the devastating loss of an infant, Share is a local chapter of a nationwide pregnancy and infant loss support community that can help provide support. For more information, call 630-275-1520.
Advocate Health Care offers a range of resources for moms and babies, including baby pictures and hearing tests. View Advocate's resources.
Get care
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