Dr. Sam Gordon Berkow Maternity Pavilion
Special Deliveries
As a Major Clinical Affiliate of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Raritan Bay Medical Center delivers an integrated maternal/child health program addressing the prenatal, birthing and postpartum needs of mothers and their newborns. The hospital’s beautifully appointed Dr. Sam Gordon Berkow Maternity Pavilion offers the highest standards of care and comfort. The unit is operated by an experienced team of clinicians, including board certified obstetrician/gynecologists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, pediatricians and resident physicians along with nurses trained in maternal and pediatric specialties.
Whether this is your first baby or the next in your growing family, we understand that nine months of anticipation evoke a myriad of emotions, wonder and questions beyond “Pink or Blue?” Raritan Bay Medical Center’s full complement of services prepares expectant parents for the exciting journey to come while facilitating a healthy start.
Exceptional Standards of Care
Raritan Bay Medical Center’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health. A Major Clinical Affiliate of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the medical center is a teaching hospital and integral part of an established Obstetrics/Gynecology residency program. This educational status enhances the hospital’s maternal/child health services through on-site University faculty and residents.
Mothers with Special Needs
In partnership with UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Raritan Bay Medical Center offers perinatology care to women with high-risk pregnancies due to pre-existing medical conditions, multiple births or other complicating factors. Mothers have access to advanced diagnostic ultrasound, genetic counseling and other specialized consultations to help manage their prenatal needs. The hospital will soon expand this service so most appointments can be accommodated on the Raritan Bay Medical Center campus.
The medical center is also a member of the New Jersey Hospital Association Perinatal Collaborative, a forum for exchanging innovations and best practices in patient safety and care.
Maternity Pavilion
When that precious moment arrives, mothers and their families find comfort in the Dr. Sam. Gordon Berkow Maternity Pavilion. This completely renovated and refurbished facility provides the perfect setting for a memorable birthing experience. Enveloped within a warm, spacious, nurturing environment, the unit features 14 private and semi-private birthing suites that allow mothers to labor, deliver and recover in one place, as well as surgical suites, two newborn nurseries and a medically-equipped neonatal special care nursery.
The Maternity Pavilion has around-the-clock coverage by obstetricians, anesthesiologists, pediatricians and neonatologists along with 24-hour access to a full range of pain management options, including epidural, guided imagery and other techniques.
Importantly, state-of-the-art clinical capabilities and security are complemented by amenities that promote family bonding, such as sleeper beds for birthing partners and extended visiting hours. New mothers also rest easier with caring, personalized attention from the unit’s nursing staff as well as lactation specialists and consulting physicians involved in maternal or newborn care.
Integrative Medicine
The birthing experience is often enhanced through harmony of mind, body and spirit. Raritan Bay Medical Center’s Division of Integrative Medicine fosters this connection through a growing number of programs offered to maternity patients. Techniques such as massage therapy, Reiki, energy medicine, Tai Chi and Qigong may be explored before, during or after childbirth.
Upon admission to the Maternity Pavilion, laboring mothers are encouraged to discover the benefits of guided imagery. An audio system and meditation CDs, that may help alleviate stress and discomfort while inspiring confidence and relaxation, is available upon request in all birthing suites. For more information about the hospital’s Integrative Medicine programs, call 732.442.3700, ext. 5861.
Preparing for Childbirth
Raritan Bay Medical Center’s prenatal programs are designed to be a guide for the transition from pregnancy to parenthood. The hospital hosts a monthly Open House for expectant parents, featuring a tour of the Dr. Sam. Gordon Berkow Maternity Pavilion and Pediatric Unit, as well as a wealth of information regarding childbirth preparation classes, breastfeeding, car seat safety, mother/baby nutrition, integrative medicine, infant/child CPR and other aspects of family health.
Additionally, the hospital offers monthly childbirth preparation classes, which cover a range of birthing and pediatric topics. Participants learn about labor and delivery, including Lamaze and other pain management options, as well as issues related to postpartum and infant care, such as feeding, bathing, immunizations and common newborn conditions. Parents may also be interested in the hospital’s CPR awareness program for instruction in adult, child and infant CPR as well as emergency procedures for choking. For more information regarding upcoming tours and birthing classes, call 732.324.5300. Those interested in CPR may call 732.324.5393.
Finding a Doctor
Selecting the right physicians for mother and baby is the first step in ensuring a health pregnancy and the finest care for your newborn. Call Raritan Bay Medical Center’s free physician referral service. 1-800 DOCTORS to locate an obstetrician/gynecologist, pediatrician or other specialists in your community.
