The FHN Family Birthing Center

In accordance with Illinois Department of Public Health recommendations, FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport has put into action the visitor restrictions for the health and safety of our patients. Find out more.

Expecting a baby is a special time for you and your family and FHN is proud to be a part of your experience. At FHN, we believe that warmth and compassion are important components of superior healthcare, and we want you to feel comfortable in your surroundings.

FHN offers a birthing experience that respects a mother's choices, allowing her and her family, for example, to remain in one private room for labor, delivery, recovery and post-partum care. FHN Family Birthing Center's home-like birthing rooms are equipped with the latest equipment to help your delivery go smoothly. If you need a cesarean delivery, your partner may remain with you in the FHN Family Birthing Center Operating Room with your physician's permission.

Our Women's Health Hospitalist team means that no matter when your labor begins, there is a caring, experienced Ob/Gyn specialist at the Family Birthing Center to care for you and your baby. And because all of our Ob/Gyn hospitalists are part of FHN's Women's Health team, they're ready to work with your provider and you for the best, healthiest birth experience possible.

Our Family Birthing Center staff offers three classes to families expecting a baby:

• Prenatal classes are offered as an evening series or one-day Saturday class taken one-to-two months before the mother's due date. Taught by OB registered nurses, the classes provide information about pregnancy, labor, delivery, cesarean section and post-partum recovery. Find out more.
• Breastfeeding classes help parents make the decision of whether or not to breastfeed their child. One of the many decisions you will need to make as you prepare for the birth of your baby is whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed. If you have already decided to breastfeed your baby, or need to know more about breastfeeding in order to make a decision, the information provided in this class will be helpful to you. Find out more.
• FHN's Sibling class provides an opportunity for brothers and sisters awaiting a new baby in the family to learn about what to expect when the new baby arrives. The free class video presentation includes a tour of the FHN Family Birthing Center, viewing a real baby, learning how to hold a baby, and ways to help Mom. This class is designed for children ages 3-10; however, any child is welcome.