Labor and Delivery in Pocatello, Idaho
Choosing where to celebrate a child’s birth is one of the most important decisions expectant parents make. We know that parents-to-be have many questions and we understand the joy and excitement as well as the various anxieties that may accompany pregnancy and childbirth. At Portneuf Medical Center our expert teams are here to provide you with exceptional care whether you are a first-time parent or adding another little bundle of joy to your family. As the only dedicated women’s hospital in southeastern Idaho, our team is uniquely focused on providing personalized care for our birthing families so they can have a safe, memorable childbirth experience. Our full-service maternity care facility also provides NICU services and cesarean delivery rooms. Look no further than Portneuf for the advanced care you need for your growing family.
Features of our labor and delivery unit
Our team delivers 1,500 babies every year, so we know that every birthing experience is unique. Our labor and delivery specialists are here for your and your family throughout your pregnancy and labor and delivery journey. We offer comprehensive resources and support services to ensure you and your baby are safe and healthy. Features and amenities of our Labor and Delivery unit include:
- A dedicated labor nurse who helps ensure you receive consistent and personalized care during your time at our facility
- A 16-bed Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for infants who require extra care
- Electronic infant security systems
- Free labor and delivery unit tours
- In-suite bed for your partner or support person
- In-unit operating rooms for cesarean section (C-section) deliveries
- Newborn nursery access
- Private birthing suites with spectacular mountain views where you can labor, deliver and recover without needing to move rooms
- Spacious jacuzzi tubs
- State-of-the-art technologies, such as wireless fetal monitoring that help ensure safe outcomes for both you and your newborn(s)
We also provide exceptional care for mothers who have a high-risk pregnancy. Many factors can categorize you as a high-risk pregnancy. Some factors include having a family history that passes on an inheritable trait or disorder, an existing medical condition, a harmful lifestyle habit such as alcohol use, smoking or substance abuse, multiple births, pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, being over age 35, and obesity.
If you have a high risk pregnancy, you will need to have a conversation with you obstetrician or delivery provider about visiting the NICU. A neonatologist can help discuss any concerns you have as well as what to expect at the NICU.
We also offer free tours of our labor and delivery unit each month. To register for our next tour, click here.
Registration is required. Each registration accounts for the expectant mother and one adult support person. This event is not suitable for children. Please call 208-239-1400 for more information about the labor and delivery tour.
Our level III NICU
Our 16-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is staffed by board-certified neonatologists, neonatal nurses, respiratory therapists, dieticians, speech and occupational therapists, pharmacists, social workers and case managers. Together, our team provides comprehensive care for critically ill newborns. Our physicians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our neonatal flight team is also available 24 hours a day to transport babies to our unit by plane.
There are many reasons a baby may need admission in to our NICU, including:
- Feeding problems
- Infections
- Low birth weight
- Newborns with cord pH less than 7
- Preterm infants less than 35 weeks
- Respiratory distress
- Seizures
- Suspected sepsis
Please contact our NICU at 208-239-2255 to schedule an appointment, if needed.
Mother’s Milk Bank and donation site
Portneuf Medical Center is a human milk Donation and Outreach Center and part of the Mothers’ Milk Bank (MMB) network. MMB is a Colorado-based, nonprofit program benefiting women and babies nationwide. Portneuf Medical Center will safely transport the milk donations to the Denver facility where they will be pasteurized and distributed across the country to babies whose mothers cannot supply sufficient milk for their needs. Portneuf has used donor human milk for babies who need supplementation through this program.
Women interested in giving the gift of human milk may fill out the donation screening form on Mothers’ Milk Bank website, or call 303-869-1888. For more information on MMB and its efforts to provide milk to babies who need it nationwide, visit milkbankcolorado.org.
If you would like to donate your extra breast milk to the Mother’s Milk Bank, the Portneuf NICU is a collection site. To get started, you can visit milkbankcolorado.org, or call 303-869-1888 or toll free 833-234-0555. They provide free blood testing for you and give you a donor milk number for you to be able to bring your donated breast milk to us.
Once you have completed the screening process and received notification of eligibility, we can accept your donations. Unfortunately, you must be eligible to be a milk donor before we can receive your donation.
Donations accepted between 2pm and 6pm, Monday – Friday or by appointment.
Please bring the frozen breast milk between donation hours (above) and call the NICU at 208-239-2255. We will meet you at the door and collect your donation. Your breast milk will then be transported to Denver to the Mother’s Milk Bank.
Women’s health services
At Portneuf Medical Center, we offer a wide range of services for both women and children. Our team of specialty nurses, lactation consultants, and board-certified physicians provide a wide range of services, including childbirth education classes, ultrasound obstetrics, pain management services, and digital mammography. We also offer oncoplastic surgery for women with breast cancer.
Learn more about our Women’s Health Services.