Medical ServicesWomen's Services (OB/GYN)Obstetrics & BirthFamily Birth Center
Lake Charles Family Birth Center
Southwest Louisiana's Birthing Leader
At Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women, we believe it is important for expectant mothers to have choices and to be in control of their pregnancy and birth experiences, which is why we provide family-centered maternity care.
Memorial's Family Birth Center is the total package with specialized medical experience in a beautiful, home-like setting. We offer the most progressive maternity care in Lake Charles with our Mother/Baby Couplet Model of Care.
Click here for a virtual tour of our women's hospital
Labor, Delivery, Recovery & Postpartum Suites
For the duration of your delivery and hospital stay, your birthing experience takes place in an updated spacious, private labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum suite. The LDRP suite is designed to provide a nurturing, supportive, and home-like environment for you, your baby, and your family, yet is equipped to handle your personal and medical needs.
The Family Birth Center offers 24 suites specially designed to accommodate women through every phase of the delivery process. Staffed with registered nurses who are skilled in high-risk deliveries, the Family Birth Center has three surgical suites for cesarean section deliveries. A portable bassinet, equipped with oxygen and warming lights, is located in each suite. Except when medically necessary, the baby never has to leave the mother.
Our Early Labor department has been newly remodeled and expanded. The area has grown from three beds to six and has also added two chair stations to monitor and assess women who are experiencing early labor symptoms.
39-Week Initiative Recognition
As further commitment to healthy pregnancies and deliveries, Memorial for Women is recognized by the March of Dimes and Louisiana Hospital Association for the work it has done in eliminating unnecessary early deliveries. The hospital has eliminated all early elective deliveries before the 39th week of pregnancy for the past three years.
We are one of only 18 hospitals in the state and the only one in southwest Louisiana to meet the criteria for recognition. March of Dimes created the hospital recognition banner program to recognize hospitals that have achieved optimal success in the elimination of non-medically indicated elective deliveries before 39 weeks gestational age.
Individualized Labor Support
Activity, positioning, walking and special techniques, such as the birth ball, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, and massage, can shorten labor, reduce stress and decrease the need for pain medication. No one knows you like YOU. Whether you choose natural childbirth, pain medication or an epidural, the Family Birth Center supports your decision.
The GIFT Breastfeeding Designation
Should you decide to breastfeed, our nurses are specially trained to enhance the breastfeeding experience while promoting the healthiest beginning for each baby. Memorial for Women has achieved Louisiana's highest breastfeeding quality designation: The GIFT. This designation is awarded to birthing facilities in Louisiana that comply with the internationally recognized Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding of the WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.
National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification
Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women has been designated a Gold Safe Sleep Champion by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program. It is the highest designation offered by the program. Memorial for Women is the first infant safe sleep certified hospital in Louisiana, and includes amazing community cooperation with the Calcasieu Parish Coroner's Office.
Memorial for Women has demonstrated a commitment to community leadership for best practices and education on infant safe sleep through the development of a hospital policy, staff training, parent education, implementing a wearable blanket program, providing a safe sleep space to at risk families and a pledge to participate in ongoing audits and community outreach programs.
The Entire Birth Experience
From a Prepared Childbirth Class to a Breastfeeding Class to Infant CPR, expectant parents have a variety of classes to choose from, making the journey to parenthood more rewarding. Browse our calendar for available class dates. Tours are also offered after each Prenatal Class. You can also take the virtual tour here.
Highest Level of Care
Should complications arise, physicians who specialize in high-risk pregnancies and premature babies are on staff, and Memorial for Women's facilities are equipped for high-risk and cesarean births. In addition, you have the assurance of a full team of specialists and specialties backed by the largest healthcare system in southwest Louisiana, Lake Charles Memorial Health System.
If you are in labor or for an OB-related emergency, go to Memorial for Women, 1900 W. Gauthier Road, and report to the early labor & delivery area.
If you have a non-OB related emergency, go to Memorial Hospital's Emergency Department, 1701 Oak Park Boulevard.
1900 W. Gauthier Rd.
Obstetrics & Birth
Family Birth Center
Mother-Baby Care
Perinatology
Childbirth & Parenting Classes
2020 Prenatal Classes
OB Care Program
Norman Stewart, MD
David C. McAlpine, MD
Matthew G. Scroggs, MD
Bradley K. Forsyth, MD
Gisele McKinney, MD
Joseph Semien, MD
Armand C. Grimshaw, MD, FACOG
David P. Darbonne, MD
William Groves, MD, FACOG