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Maternal Child Care Flight welcomes moms and babies

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Gaither
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  More than 40 tiny bundles of joy are delivered every month in the Maternal Child Care Flight, located within the Wright-Patterson Medical Center. 

The MCCF, formally known as the Family Birthing Center, is dedicated to aiding mothers and babies in the best possible delivery. It is the hospitals labor and delivery floor that delivers babies that are at least 36 weeks in gestational age.  Pregnancies younger than 36 weeks are usually referred to a local high-risk medical center.

"The MCCF is highly equipped to deliver twins and care for Obstetrical emergencies. Mothers delivering triplets or premature infants, would be admitted to a local high-risk facility," said Major Tina Bradford, flight commander of Maternal Child Care Flight.

MCCF encourages family centered care which welcomes the husband and other support persons into the room of the mother and baby during delivery.  Siblings are also welcome upon request of the mother.  Although it may resemble a birthing center, the MCCF is a full-functioning hospital facility consisting of physicians, midwives, anesthesia staff, surgical staff, labor nurses and technicians, as well as a hands-on lactation consultant.

"It's your birthing experience.  We're on the same team as the patient and have the same goal of a healthy mom and a healthy baby," said Bradford.

MCCF has four labor and delivery rooms, four post-partum rooms, and one triage room. The unit also houses two full-functioning operating rooms for mothers requiring a cesarean delivery. Each labor and post-partum room is equip with a private bathroom, shower, rocking chair and foldout bed for anyone who would like to stay overnight.  Rooming-in is implemented with our babies, where the baby stays in the room all night with the mother after delivery. 

The flight offers Lamaze classes and other child birth education courses.  A lactation consultant is available to talk with mothers about feeding their baby and to inform them of the availability of breast pumps.   They also take time to give expecting parents tours of the unit to help give them a feel of the floor and to help lower anxiety.  

"Our staff is what makes this Maternal Child Care Flight special.  We have phenomenal nurses and technicians, who focus on what is best for mom and baby," said Bradford.