Pregnancy Resources
The MetroHealth team delivers about 3,000 babies a year, providing individualized care for each mother and baby to start life with the healthiest possible outcome.
Questions: 216-778-4830 | Birthing Center | Choose an OB
Pregnancy Resources
The MetroHealth team delivers about 3,000 babies a year, providing individualized care for each mother and baby to start life with the healthiest possible outcome.
Questions: 216-778-4830 | Birthing Center | Choose an OB
Pregnancy Resources
Newly Pregnant
Congratulations! As you begin your pregnancy journey, there are several steps you should take in the first trimester to give your baby the healthiest start.
Step 1: See Your Provider
The first trimester of pregnancy is the most important to your baby’s development, so you should start care right away. Find a MetroHealth obstetrician or family medicine provider near you at 216-778-4444.
Choosing a MetroHealth Obstetrician
Step 2: Subscribe to our Pregnancy Care e-Newsletter
Get information about your pregnancy journey and what to expect when delivering at MetroHealth - all tailored to your due date.
Step 3: Consider Joining a Centering Pregnancy Group
CenteringPregnancy is a special group for pregnant women that includes more time and attention in a group setting. You’ll meet with your provider and other women, who are due near the same time as you, for 10 sessions during your pregnancy.
For more information or to learn the criteria for eligibility, call 216-210-4908.
Step 4: Sign Up for Childbirth Education Classes
MetroHealth offers a robust series of childbirth education classes, breastfeeding support, and classes for family members. It’s an added benefit of being a MetroHealth patient!
For more information, e-mail [email protected].
Step 5: Schedule a Tour
Sign up for a tour of the new Birthing Center at The MetroHealth Glick Center. With private patient rooms, spacious showers, natural light, comfortable furniture, and pull-out beds for overnight guests, you have everything you need to make this a positive and memorable experience.
Step 6: Practice Healthy Habits
Your health directly impacts your baby’s growth and development, so it’s important to:
- Stop smoking: Get help from MetroHealth’s Online Freedom From Smoking program
- Avoid alcohol
- Do routine low-impact exercise that includes stretching
- Limit caffeine intake
- Get 7-8 hours of sleep per day
- Take prenatal vitamins, available over-the-counter at MetroHealth pharmacies across Northeast Ohio
- Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of vegetables, foods high in fiber, calcium, and folate, and drink 8 glasses of water per day
- IMPORTANT: Avoid soft cheeses, lunch meat, seafood high in mercury (tuna, mackerel, swordfish), unpasteurized foods, and undercooked meat.
Plan Ahead: Order Your Breast Pump
Find out how to get your Breast Pump prior to delivery of your baby.
Pregnant with Your First Baby?
Let MetroHealth’s Nurse-Family Partnership Help You Get Ready
If you’re pregnant with your first baby, you likely have a lot of questions and concerns. The Nurse-Family Partnership at The MetroHealth System can help you have a healthy pregnancy and delivery – and offer support through baby’s 2nd birthday.
The Nurse-Family Partnership is a free program for women pregnant with their first baby. You will be paired with a registered nurse who will come to your home and provide support, advice and information to help you have a healthy pregnancy and be a great parent after baby arrives.
The program offers a range of services to help pregnant and new parents thrive, including:
- What to expect during labor and delivery
- Monitoring blood pressure and weight
- Help with breast feeding
- Connecting clients to housing, food and transportation resources
- Enrolling in insurance and other benefits
- Connecting clients with substance abuse programs
- Help with completing education, such as graduating from high school, earning a GED, and enrolling in college or technical education programs
- Educating parents about safe sleep practices
- Following baby’s health to make sure they are growing, getting vaccines and meeting milestones
You can enroll in the program if you are:
- pregnant with your first child
- 28 weeks pregnant or less
- low-income or enrolled in a program like WIC or Medicaid
- a resident of Cuyahoga County
You do not need to be a MetroHealth patient to enroll. To learn more about the program or to enroll, call our office at 440-592-3837 or the Cuyahoga County office of Help Me Grow at 216-930-3322.
Preparing for Delivery
The Birthing Center at The MetroHealth Glick Center
As you progress in your pregnancy, you’re starting to think more about your baby’s delivery. At MetroHealth, you’ll receive the highest-quality patient care, specially trained doctors, and a compassionate care team devoted to your health and well-being—all in a brand-new facility.
When to Come to The Birthing Center
- You are having painful, regular contractions that are coming every 4-5 minutes.
- You are having contractions and your due date is more than one month away.
- Your water breaks.
- You have bleeding from the vagina.
- Your baby is moving less than normal.
- Your doctor provides you with other instructions.
You should call 911 and ask to be taken to the nearest hospital if you have heavy vaginal bleeding, can see the baby when looking between your legs, or if you pass out or have a seizure.
Not sure what to do? Call MetroHealth’s Labor and Delivery unit at 216-778-4830.
Go Time: Arriving at the Hospital
- Bring your photo ID, insurance card, and select an emergency contact person.
- Do not drive yourself if you are in labor. You can use valet parking or the visitor parking garage on View Road, just east of Scranton Road.
- You will enter through the Emergency Department, visit the guest services desk, and ask for directions to The Birthing Center, or take the F elevators to the third floor.
Two adults are permitted to stay with you throughout your labor and delivery.
Doula Program
MetroHealth offers the birthing option of working with a doula. Doulas are trained to provide physical and emotional support for the laboring mother before, during, and just after the birth.
Talk with your childbirth educator for more information about doula services.
Note: Doula availability may be limited.
After Delivery
- After birth, assuming there are no complications, your baby will be placed skin to skin with you for the first hour of life. This helps with bonding and eases a baby’s transition to life.
- A nurse will regularly check the baby’s vital signs and assist you with feeding your baby. We encourage breastfeeding for new mothers. Colostrum (early milk) functions like your baby’s first immunization.
- For security and identification purposes, you, your baby, and your support person will receive a unique set of identification bands. These should not be removed until everyone is home.
- A typical stay is 24-48 hours for a vaginal birth and about 3-4 days for a Cesarean birth.
- Make sure to bring your baby’s car seat for the ride home. Find a location to get your car seat checked.
- MyChart helps you manage your family’s healthcare online. Ask your provider for an access code or request a code online at metrohealth.org/mychart.
Visiting Hours
Visiting hours are 9 a.m. - 7:45 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. on weekends. One support person (age 18 or older) is welcome to stay overnight. All visitors must be 16 years old and older, and we recommend limiting visitors to two per day, so you and baby get the rest you need before going home.
Birth Certificate FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about the birth certificate process.
Breastfeeding Clinic and Support Groups
MetroHealth has resources for nursing parents and children to receive high quality medical care for any issue related to breastfeeding.
Clinic appointments locations:
| MetroHealth Broadway Health Center To schedule an appointment, call 216-957-1500 |
MetroHealth Main Campus Pediatric Clinic To schedule an appointment, call 216-778-2222 |
The clinic is staffed by Dr Meaghan Combs MD, MPH, IBCLC.
Ten Steps To Successful Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Support Group
In Person support group meets Monday from 1:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m. at MetroHealth Main Campus, Outpatient Pavilion, Pediatric Clinic, 1st Floor, Lactation Clinic Room except on holiday Mondays. Registration is not required. Call 216-778-3337
Virtual support group meets every Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. and requires registration*.
Infant Safety Class
This one-time class is for expecting or new parents and will provide you with ways to increase safety in your child’s living spaces. Learn how to avoid injuries and keep your baby safe everywhere you go.
Find a Provider
Obstetricians for You
MetroHealth obstetricians work with our experienced nursing staff, providing the individualized care you need.
Find an Obstetrician
Pediatricians for Your Baby
MetroHealth is dedicated to providing your baby with care every step of the way.
Find a Pediatrician
Obstetricians for You
MetroHealth obstetricians work with our experienced nursing staff, providing the individualized care you need. Find an Obstetrician
Pediatricians for Your Baby
MetroHealth is dedicated to providing your baby with care every step of the way. Find a Pediatrician
Early Pregnancy Loss Support Group
Cornerstone of Hope: A safe and compassionate environment to express feelings, emotions and experiences related to grief.
First Wednesday of every month | 6:30 pm. to 7:30 pm
MetroHealth Main Campus | Rammelkamp Connor Auditorium (Room R170)
Register
Pregnancy Care Newsletter
Learn more about your pregnancy journey and what to expect when delivering at MetroHealth - all tailored to your due date.
Subscribe