Mother-Baby Unit

Women and Newborns
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Care for Your Newborn

Welcoming your baby is a special moment, and we’re here to support you and your little one every step of the way. From essential health screenings to breastfeeding guidance and safety measures, your healthcare team strives to make sure your baby gets the best possible start in life.

Routine Newborn Care and Health Screenings

Your baby’s first days are important for establishing a healthy foundation. That’s why we provide:

  • Complete physical exams
  • Newborn metabolic screening
  • Hearing tests
  • Jaundice monitoring
  • Immunizations based on current guidelines

Administrative Support

We make the paperwork process simple, so you can focus on your new family. Before discharge, the care team will assist you with:

  • Completing your baby’s birth certificate
  • Submitting a Social Security Number application

Breastfeeding Support

Whether you’re nursing for the first time or have prior experience, our lactation consultants offer hands-on guidance to help you feel confident and supported. We provide education on positioning, latching, milk supply and more. We also support you with resources for pumping and storage.

2827 Fort Missoula Rd.
Missoula, MT 59804
406.327.4219

Newborn Care

Newborns are cared for in the same room as their mothers. This practice, known as rooming-in, has been shown to offer many benefits for both moms and babies, including more opportunities for skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding, more stable temperature and blood sugar levels for babies, and improved maternal rest.

After you deliver, you’ll stay in the labor suite for a brief time before moving to our Mother & Baby Unit (postpartum unit). Our experienced Mother & Baby nurses and lactation specialists get to know each family, providing postpartum care, breastfeeding support, as well as newborn care and education. We work hard to make your time with us comfortable and safe.

  • Rooms are all private with individual bathrooms and fold-out couches for your support partner.
  • A Fireside Room is on the unit providing a living room experience, with comfortable couches and chairs, a fireplace and picture windows so you don't have to stay in your room the entire stay.
  • We offer a celebration dinner after the arrival of your newborn(s); our cafeteria will set-up and deliver a white cloth dinner for you and your partner.
  • Siblings can get a free flower to give to mom in the hospital gift shop.
  • During your stay, you and partner can order meals from room service between 7 am and 6:30 pm. These meals are delivered to your room, and mom’s meal is free of charge.
  • Our security system sounds an alarm should a baby get too close to an exit.

For babies who need extra care, our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) offers advanced monitoring and specialized support.

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Patient Safety

Your baby’s safety is our top priority. We follow strict identification and security protocols to ensure a safe environment for all families.

Childbirth Education

We've curated educational videos for each trimester of your pregnancy, labor and delivery and postpartum education. Please note, the postpartum education is required prior to discharge, so we encourage you to watch these videos prior to your arrival if possible.

Going Home

If there are no complications, moms and babies typically go home one or two days after a vaginal birth and within four days if they’ve had a c-section. We’ll give you advice to help things go well and to keep your baby safe and healthy as you settle in at home.

Car Seat Requirement

Before your newborn is discharged from the hospital, you'll need to have a car seat that is the right size and installed in your car correctly. Missoula Rural Fire offers car seat fitting sessions free of charge on Saturdays 10 am - 2 pm by appointment. Call 406.549.6172 to schedule an appointment. Get more car seat tips at www.safekids.org. If you cannot afford a car seat, please contact your local city-county health department so they can make a referral for a reduced cost or free car seat. This should be done a minimum of four to six weeks prior to your due date.