Mercy Iowa City has received the Blue Distinction Center and Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care designation. Our facility has demonstrated expertise and a commitment to quality care during the delivery episode of care, which includes both vaginal and cesarean section delivery. Blue Distinction Centers+ are recognized for their expertise and cost-efficiency in delivering specialty care. Quality is key: only those facilities that first meet Blue Distinction Centers; nationally established, objective quality measures will be considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center+. Learn more Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care.
There is perhaps no more special time for a woman and her family than the birth of a child.
Mercy Iowa City recognizes how special this time is and offers attentive and highly skilled maternity care, shaped to the needs of each mother and family.
Good prenatal care is vital. There are a number of doctors in Iowa City and southeast Iowa-both family practice doctors and obstetricians-that provide prenatal care in their offices and deliver babies at Mercy. If you would like to make an appointment with a Mercy provider, call Mercy On Call at 358-2767 or 800-358-2767, or Click here to find a Mercy provider.
Childbirth Preparation This class meets for one 3-hour session. Content addresses a variety of comfort, relaxation, and breathing techniques for labor and delivery (vaginal and cesarean). Other topics include baby care, safety, parenting, and a tour of the Family Birth Care Unit. Recommended for women in their last trimester of pregnancy and their support person. A copy of the INJOY Understanding Birth-A Comprehensive Guide book is included in the class fee. Minimum of 6 couples per class needed to hold class. $50.
quality CPR on adults, children and infants. You will also learn how to respond to choking emergencies. $50 per person.
Breastfeeding Class A one-session class taught by a certified lactation consultant. Recommended prior to delivery. $15. No charge for support person.
Click here for information about these classes, or contact Mercy On Call by email or by phone at 358-2767 or 800-358-2767.
Financial planners are available to answer any questions you may have about insurance coverage, co-insurance, and payment arrangements. For qualified patients, Mercy offers a financial assistance program. To reach Mercy's financial planning office, call 339-3616 or toll-free 800-637-2942, ext. 3616.
Mercy provides a comfortable, home-like setting for baby's birth, the safety and comfort of modern medicine and technology, and a highly skilled, caring nursing staff.
Mother and baby are cared for together-as a new "couple" by the same team of nurses from admission through discharge.
Mercy's labor and delivery area provides Labor/Delivery/Recovery rooms (LDR) as well as one traditional cesarean delivery room.
Whenever a newborn arrives in Mercy’s maternity unit, an experienced pediatrician is close at hand. These doctors are members of Mercy’s newest service, the Pediatric Hospitalist Program. Pediatric hospitalists are pediatricians who work primarily in hospitals. At Mercy they care for babies and children in the newborn nursery and in the pediatrics unit. These pediatricians work closely with a family’s regular pediatrician or other health care providers.
A third-party vendor will visit new moms and offer to take newborn photos. There is no obligation to purchase.
Your safety and your baby's safety are very important. For this reason, Mercy has in place a number of security measures, including video cameras, special staff identification badges, and strict nursery policies. The maternity nurses will explain these measures after baby's birth.
Visitors are limited in labor and delivery.
In the postpartum area, children are welcome to visit, but must be supervised by an adult at all times and be considerate of other patients.
Whatever you choose for your baby, support and education will be available. The majority of Mercy moms breastfeed initially, with support available from lactation consultants and a knowledgeable staff. If you have questions, please call Mercy's lactation consultants at 339-3975, or toll-free 800-637-2942, ext. 3975.
Mercy's birth care classes offer tours of the maternity unit.
If you would like to schedule an individual tour, please call Mercy's maternity unit directly at 339-3576.
Mercy Iowa City is a member of Safe Kids Johnson County and supports the community child safety seat checks. Click here to find a free car seat safety check.