He is the best baby ever! The happiest baby. The chubbiest baby. The sweetest baby. The baby who loves to smile, laugh and snuggle.” That’s how Kayla Freeman, RN, BSN, fondly describes her second born, Ford.

It’s difficult to imagine now what life would be like without the newest member of the family. But at one point, Kayla and her husband, Danny, were unsure if they would be able to grow their family as they had hoped. While the couple’s first son, Asher, was a happy surprise, they were struggling to get pregnant for a second time after actively trying for some time using ovulation strips, apps, and more.

When Kayla asked Amy B. Turner, DO, of Advanced Women’s Care of Pittsburgh, if that was normal, the OB/GYN physician who specializes in fertility said they could start looking into things since Kayla has polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Following comprehensive lab work, hormone testing, and medical imaging to check all the boxes, Dr. Turner ultimately performed an exploratory procedure, where she found and removed scar tissue to open a blocked fallopian tube.

The successful outpatient procedure enabled Kayla to quickly become pregnant—approximately one year after she and her husband first began trying to conceive their second child. It was a full circle moment nine months later, when Dr. Turner delivered Ford at the St. Clair Hospital Family Birth Center after being with Kayla through every step of her journey.

“I’ve always said I would not deliver my baby where I worked if I didn’t trust the team. My nurse colleagues were really respectful of everything that I wanted,” Kayla says. “Plus, I see first-hand how the physicians care for and remember their patients as a nurse at the Family Birth Center. I know they’re invested in what happens with every patient.”

A commitment to that level of care is a hallmark of St. Clair Health—one that is shared by the physicians, nurses like Kayla, and everyone else at the Family Birth Center. In fact, one nurse is assigned to one patient upon admission, and they remain intimately involved before, during, and after your delivery.

Kayla explains, “Our Family Birth Center is one unit, so the nurse who cared for you during labor may also be your postpartum nurse. It’s very individualized care because I get to spend so much time with my patients and really get to know them.”

A board-certified Pediatric Hospitalist is in-house 24/7 to monitor babies in the Level II Special Care Nursery and provide other care as needed. Additionally, a certified lactation counselor from the onsite Lactation Center is available to help new mothers learn the ins and outs of breastfeeding. And a perinatal social worker will make sure mothers are prepared for discharge. Plus, a variety of educational programs and support groups are offered for new parents and their families.

All of these caring professionals—and more—work as a team to make decisions because they recognize no birth is routine, and no baby ordinary. The personalized care each mother and child receives makes the labor and delivery experience at St. Clair Hospital truly unique. As Kayla puts it, “You are a patient here, not a number.”

If you’re expecting, or expecting to be expecting, finding the right hospital and OB/GYN for your baby’s birth is your first step. Look no further than St. Clair Health and its dedicated team of physicians, who deliver everything you and your baby need during pregnancy and delivery in a safe and comfortable family-centered environment. Visit stclair.org/familycenteredcare to learn more.