Obstetrics (Maternity)

Delivering Great Beginnings: Maternity Care at Lake Forest Hospital

The birth of a child is a special time in a woman’s life. It is also a major medical event. At Lake Forest Hospital’s Hunter Family Center for Women’s Health, our Waud Family Maternity Center was designed to surround you with comfort and family — as well as take care of all your needs and those of your baby.

Our tradition of delivering personalized, compassionate care blends with modern diagnostics and treatment options to ensure you receive the best birthing experience possible. You and your family will be surrounded by the support of distinguished doctors, highly trained nurses and other care providers who are committed to your baby’s well-being and your family’s finest experience.

Set within 160 acres of rolling woods and featuring all-private, individually decorated birthing suites, our maternity center radiates warmth, caring and peace of mind. Each birthing suite offers a home-like setting, yet discreetly tucked away are the latest tools for pain management, fetal monitoring and maternal care.

More moms choose us first. They tell us they love the environment, the compassionate and skilled care and the many ways we enhance and personalize the birth experience. In fact, for the fifth year in a row, Lake Forest Hospital has earned the top Consumer Choice rating as the “most preferred hospital” in Lake and Kenosha counties.

Learn more about what your experience will be like at Lake Forest Hospital's Waud Family Maternity Center:

• Exceptional Resources during Pregnancy
• Superb Nursing Care
• Specialists & Experts During Delivery
• Your Baby's First Days, Weeks & Years
• Maternity Educational & Fitness Programs
• Amenities & Ongoing Support
• Educational Resources
• Insurance Information
• Contact Lake Forest Hospital Maternity Services

Exceptional Resources during Pregnancy

Lake Forest Hospital’s board-certified obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYNs) deliver the most current medical expertise with personalized attention. They provide optimal care with respect, compassion and responsiveness — listening to any concerns you have and taking time to answer your questions. Your obstetrician will partner with you to plan and achieve the birth experience you want.

We offer exceptional education on how to prepare for childbirth — both with hands-on classes and fitness courses. Learn more by visiting our Maternity Educational & Fitness Programs.

Lake Forest Hospital features state-of-the art resources for testing and treatment throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Our sophisticated diagnostic capabilities and advanced monitoring identify unexpected issues as early as possible. In fact, our board-certified radiologists specialize exclusively in the reading of pediatric images. This means that, whatever the situation, your newborn will get the best care available from experts in their field.

Additionally, Lake Forest was one of the first hospitals in Lake County with onsite maternal-fetal medicine specialists (obstetricians with advanced training for higher-risk pregnancies). These doctors provide expert care for maternal complications such as pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes.

Superb Nursing Care

Our nurses are passionate about their role. Their blend of competence and compassion can make a real difference in your childbirth experience and your first steps into motherhood. They’ll encourage you, hold your hand and ease you through the childbirth process.

Nearly all of our labor and delivery nurses have advanced certification in fetal heart monitoring — a vital asset during delivery — as well as advanced cardiac life support.

Our nurses are helpful long before your delivery. While you’re pregnant, they offer instruction on prenatal care and childbirth expectations to prepare you for a healthy and satisfying birth experience. Afterward, your nurse can provide personalized guidance on infant care right in your room, such as tips for holding, bathing and soothing your baby.

If you choose to breastfeed, she will also provide lactation support and education — and, should you need it, a private meeting with a lactation consultant that can be arranged with a doctor’s order.

Specialists & Experts During Delivery

When the time for delivery comes, it’s important to know that Lake Forest Hospital is prepared for every situation. Pediatric hospitalists from Children’s Memorial Hospital are onsite 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist obstetricians with high-risk births. If your newborn requires surgery, intensive care, diagnostic imaging or other special services, the pediatric hospitalist will coordinate services and assist as needed.

If complications arise, neonatologists (doctors who specialize in the treatment of premature infants) are also available to step in if we detect an issue during your baby’s prenatal development or for babies born prematurely.

Our Level II+ Special Care Nursery is certified for extended capabilities to address the needs of infants who require more specialized attention in their first few days, including infants born prematurely and/or stable ventilated babies.

Your Baby’s First Days, Weeks & Years

Even before giving birth, it is important to select a pediatrician or family practitioner. When you deliver your baby, we notify your newborn’s physician, as your infant’s first pediatric exam occurs during your hospital stay.

With more than 60 of the area’s finest pediatricians and 10 family practitioners on staff, Lake Forest Hospital can help refer you to the doctor who is right for your family.

Additionally, through a unique partnership with Children’s Memorial Hospital, we provide an even broader range of pediatric specialty services for children of all ages. Our pediatric hospitalists from Children’s Memorial are board-certified in pediatrics with extended training in the management of neonatal and pediatric inpatients. So if health concerns come up at any point in the future, you know that Lake Forest Hospital has every resource available to take excellent care of your child.

To find an OB/GYN or Pediatrician who is right for you or your family, visit our Online Physician Directory.

Maternity Educational & Fitness Programs

Lake Forest Hospital offers a full array of educational classes and supportive programs, to help you prepare for childbirth and welcome a new baby (or two) into your lives.

Because our program is comprehensive and in demand, classes often fill up in advance. We encourage you to take as many classes as you like, and also provide several different series of programs to support first-time and repeat moms.

Choose from pre-natal programs before birth, and take advantage of support programs after your baby arrives. We also offer fitness classes to support your physical development before and after birth.  Learn more by clicking on the name of each sequence:

• Choosing Your Maternity Center
• Pre-Natal Classes for First-time Parents
• Pre-Natal Classes for Second-time Parents
• Post-Natal Classes
• Sibling Preparation
• Support Groups & Hotlines
• Pre- & Post-Natal Fitness Classes

For more information, please email childbirthed@lfh.org or call the Childbirth Education Line at (847) 535-6182.

Amenities & Ongoing Support

Lake Forest Hospital’s amenities and resources for new parents are second to none. Starting with pampered treatment during your stay at the hospital — including fine dining, overnight guests and professional photography — we don’t stop there. For weeks and months after you give birth, we provide additional support through hotlines, groups and continuing education to give you all the resources you need to raise your healthy child, including:

• Breastfeeding Support
• Children's Memorial Hospital Outpatient Center
• Clergy Visits
• Fine Dining at Your Bedside
• Hearing Test
• Lullaby Welcome & Portrait Photography
• Maternity Educational & Fitness Programs
• Newborn & Lactation Hotlines
• Overnight Guests & Visiting Hours
• Postpartum Depression Support
• Support Groups

Educational Resources

Doing what’s best for you and your baby sometimes takes guidance from others who have experience. Lake Forest Hospital has gathered myriad resources to help you prepare for pregnancy, delivery and taking your baby home.

Please review the below resources, and talk to your physician about any additional questions you might have.

• Communicating Your Birth Plan
• Staying Fit During Your Pregnancy
• Labor Epidurals: What You Need to Know
• What to Pack for Your Hospital Stay
• Skin-to-Skin Cuddling
• Infant Car Seat Guidelines

Insurance Information

A complete list of Lake Forest Hospital's accepted insurances is posted on our website.  We recommend you verify your insurance benefits before returning your maternity admission form to us.  If you have insurance coverage, please send copies of your insurance identification cards, Medicaid or TRICARE Civilian Referral Form (nonavailability statement) when you return the form to us. Receipt of your insurance information will allow us to file your insurance claims promptly.

If you have limited insurance coverage or do not have maternity coverage, please note that a deposit is required prior to your hospital stay. If you are unable to pay the full deposit, financial arrangements should be made with a Lake Forest Hospital Patient Financial Counselor before admission. Please call (847) 535-6853 to discuss this with one of our Patient Financial Services professionals.

Contact Lake Forest Hospital Maternity Services

At Lake Forest Hospital, we are here to serve you, your baby and your family — before, during and after this momentous event in your lives. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance in any way.

To find an OB/GYN, Pediatrician or other physician, visit our Online Physician Directory.

To learn more about Maternity Education programs, call our Childbirth Education Line at (847) 535-6182 or email childbirthed@lfh.org.

Learn More about Obstetrics (Maternity)

• Delivering the Smallest Patients at Lake Forest Hospital’s High-Risk Nursery
• Hunter Family Center for Women's Health Celebrates 5th Anniversary