Nurse Navigators
During pregnancy, there are many decisions to be made. Which physician should I see to deliver my baby? At which hospital should I deliver? Should I breastfeed my baby or use formula? What will my delivery be like? Which doctor should I pick as my baby’s pediatrician?
As any expectant parent knows, the anticipation of giving birth can be both exciting and overwhelming.
To help offset some of those apprehensions, some OSF HealthCare hospitals now offer an OB Nurse Navigator program.
This program helps parents-to-be feel confident and comfortable before delivery day arrives by adding an extra layer of one-on-one care for pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care.
How does the OB Nurse Navigator program work?
Your navigator is your personal guide for your pregnancy. Each patient can participate at the level she chooses.
Typically, the patient will meet in person with her navigator at 20 weeks and 36 weeks, with a phone call at 28 weeks to stay connected; however, patients are always welcome to call with questions or to schedule additional meetings with their navigators.
During your scheduled appointments, your navigator will help you understand what is going on during that point of your pregnancy – such as why certain lab tests are ordered and how your baby is growing – and will provide you with specific types of education during each visit.
In addition, your navigator will help you get registered for a prenatal class or take you on a tour of the birthing center so you can become more familiar with the unit.
Your navigator can also help you get pre-registered for your hospital stay and provide you with information to help you make decisions about your delivery, your feeding options and your care after birth and beyond.
All of our OB Nurse Navigators are registered nurses, so expectant parents can rest assured they are receiving expert advice and insights from someone who knows and understands what they are experiencing.