Birth Center
Birth Care at Finley Hospital
Moms are Amazing
You're going to be a BFF, a personal chef, tutor, healer, cheerleader... and so much more.
You're going to be amazing. Choosing an amazing team to have your back in the doctor's office and at the hospital will help get you started.
Our comprehensive maternity services provide individualized care, support and education throughout your pregnancy, delivery, recovery and many other stages in life. This coordinated approach makes Finley Hospital the #1 choice in Dubuque for delivering your baby.
Our trusted team of professionals includes family practice physicians, obstetricians, neonatal nurse practitioners, nurses and support staff. We respect your individual needs and goals, promote family-centered care and offer the resources you need to prepare for your growing family.
A Welcoming Place
Enjoy all the comforts of home and exceptional, family-centered care from Finley's experienced staff. It all happens in the most advanced facilities for delivering babies. It's easy to see why more families choose Finley for this special occasion.
The Same Private Suite for your Entire Stay
When you choose Finley, you'll stay in a beautifully appointed private suite. Each suite was designed with everything you need for a safe and comfortable labor and delivery. To schedule your personal tour, call (563) 583-BABY.
Features to Help you Have a Happy Birth Day include:
- Snacks and beverages available 24/7
- Whirlpool tubs
- TV, CD and DVD players in every suite
- Wireless access
- Support person receives 1 meal pass from Food & Nutrition Services
Our specially designed Cesarean surgery suite is on the same floor as our birthing suites. You won't have to wait for an elevator in an emergency when every minute counts.
Gentle Cesarean Birth
We keep family at the heart of all we do. As part of your birth plan, you have the option to request a Family Centered Cesarean. If you would like to request this option, please notify the Family Birthing Suites nursing staff as part of your birth plan and additionally upon arrival for your birth. This way they can help ensure all staff members involved in your delivery are aware of your request. As long as mom and baby are doing well following the Cesarean surgery, you both can enjoy the benefits of skin-to-skin contact at birth.
Expert NICU Care
We understand it can be scary to find out that your newborn baby requires intensive care. That's why our Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) staff provides expert care for your baby, while helping you understand your baby's needs.
Our Level II Nursery has all the latest equipment and trained nurses to care for your baby. This lets your baby's provider give the best care possible within the Family Birthing Suites. Choosing to entrust your newborn's care with our compassionate and experienced team means your family gains access to:
- Nursing staff who are trained to closely monitor and care for infants from 34-weeks gestation or greater
- A NICU that is specialized in caring for a full range of intensive needs for infants, including infants who require oxygen, IV therapy, monitoring or other special medical needs
- An environment to best support baby's development
- Encouraged family involvement with baby's care and ongoing emotional support from care team
- Privacy for your family as you bond with your baby
Here for the Everyday, By Your Side for the Critical Stay
Finley Hospital has you covered no matter the level of care your baby needs. In addition to having the latest equipment and nurse expertise in our Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), we are pleased to have Neonatal Nurse Practitioners here in our Family Birthing Suites 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (NNPs) have advanced training in caring for newborns and are prepared for many different situations that may arise.
For the Everyday
Oftentimes, our Neonatal Nurse Practitioners are there throughout your journey into parenthood. They are available to attend any birth in our Family Birthing Suites and see many of the new babies in the newborn nursery for daily assessments. They provide you with updates of your baby's progress. When it is time for you to take baby home, they will do one more check-up before you leave. They work closely with your baby's doctor to provide the best care possible throughout your stay.
For the Critical Stay
In the chance that your baby is born prematurely or has special medical needs, the providers and staff of UnityPoint Health Finley hospital Level II NICU are there to provide the expert care they need. Our experienced and confident Neonatal Nurse Practitioners help physicians in situations where extra care is needed.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioners help your baby get settled into the NICU and monitor their care throughout their stay.
We understand that this can be a scary situation for you and that you may have many questions, so our NNPs help to explain your baby's needs. Having Neonatal Nurse Practitioners here at Finley Hospital means more babies can stay close to home even if they need critical care, allowing for the critical bonding time between baby and parents to go uninterrupted.
In addition to working closely with our doctors, our Neonatal Nurse Practitioners enjoy working closely with our nursing staff to share their knowledge. They also share expert information with you.
Preparing for Baby
Whatever life stage you're in – whether you're looking to start a family, are pregnant, are a new parent or an experienced parent, Finley Hospital offers pregnancy and maternity classes as well as support groups for your entire family.
Your stay at Finley Hospital's Family Birthing Suites is only part of our total maternity program. We have classes for every need before, during and after delivery.
The majority of our pregnancy and maternity classes are free and are held in the Delhi Medical Center 3rd Floor Conference Room.
Childbirth Education Classes
Parents-to-be who are anticipating a caesarean birth learn what to expect during pregnancy, the birth and postpartum. The class includes an audiovisual presentation and ample opportunity for you to ask questions.
Registration online not available. Please call to register: (563) 583-BABY
Learn guidelines regarding the probability of a vaginal birth after a previous Caesarean section. Benefits of choosing a VBAC delivery, fears and emotional hurdles in labor and designing your birth plan will be discussed. Husbands/support persons are also encouraged to attend.
Registration online not available. Please call to register: (563) 583-BABY
This class is currently on hold.
Will your child(ren) view the arrival of a new brother or sister with enthusiasm ... or suspicion? This class helps children accept the newborn - and become an active participant in the occasion - by explaining the care that the baby will require. Children will be taken on a tour of the Family Birthing Suites.
Next Steps
Pre-Register for Your Delivery
Please complete this form at 18-20 weeks in your pregnancy.
Birth Care Pre-RegistrationChildbirth Education Classes
Register for childbirth education classes or view the Classes & Events calendar.
Online Class RegistrationBreastfeeding
Our board-certified lactation consultants are committed to helping you have a positive breastfeeding experience. We offer a wide variety of services for before and after delivery including:
- Breastfeeding educational materials and aids
- Prenatal assessment for women with previous or anticipated breastfeeding problems
- In-hospital consultations for mothers and newborns
- Outpatient consultation for nursing mothers and babies
- Free telephone consultation with our lactation consultant, just call (563) 583-BABY (2229)
Other Resources
If your baby will be covered under Iowa Medicaid, has no insurance or is underinsured for vaccines, and his/ her doctor is located at an office that does not provide vaccines for your child, you will need to call the Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) to schedule an appointment for immunizations.
- Your child's first set of immunizations are due at two months of age
- Please call the VNA before your child is two weeks of age to have them scheduled for their first set of immunizations: (563) 556-6200.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk.
Completing a voluntary paternity affidavit establishes a legal father for your child, which can come with many financial benefits as well as positive impacts on the child's long-term emotional and developmental wellbeing. A voluntary paternity affidavit is free to complete and file. If one is needed at your birth, our staff will provide the appropriate documentation and ensure a notary is present, as needed. A form of legal ID is required to complete this process at the hospital. No forms need to be signed prior to delivery.