Maternity Care

Having a baby is an amazing experience you will remember for life. It is also a time full of decisions. Where will you welcome the new member of your family? Who will be involved in your care?

The maternity centers at St. Peter's Health Partners are warm, homelike settings. Our obstetricians and midwives are highly trained and have many years of experience. We have the necessary tools and skills to promote a safe birth that is tailored to your needs.

Maternity Care at St. Peter's Health Partners: Why Choose Us?

• Convenient care close to home: We provide communities in the Capital Region with excellent, comprehensive maternity services. We have a vast network of board-certified obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists and midwives throughout the area. With St. Peter's Hospital Women's and Children's Center in Albany, and Burdett Birth Center in Troy, we are convenient to families across the Capital Region.  
• Region's trusted maternity care provider: More families trust us for pregnancy care and delivery than any other health system in the area. We see hundreds of patients every day and deliver hundreds of babies every month. And we consistently receive high marks from families for our attentiveness and care. 
• Care of your choice: Expectant parents can choose the type of pregnancy care and delivery they want. Select a medical model of care with our obstetrics program or a more personal and natural experience with our midwifery model of care.
• A focus on family: We do everything we can to keep new families together to maximize bonding. Examples include couplet care, rooming-in and in-room breastfeeding support by specialized lactation staff. 
• Care for high-risk pregnancies and complications: Our team is prepared for anything that arises during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period. Our maternity-related departments work together to continuously assess and meet your needs and goals as they evolve throughout pregnancy. 
• National recognition: St. Peter's Hospital has earned national designations that demonstrate our commitment to high-quality care. We received Magnet Recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for excellence in nursing and were named a Blue Distinction Center (BDC) for Maternity Care by BlueShield of Northeastern New York. Additionally, UNICEF's Baby-Friendly designation recognizes our focus on bonding and breastfeeding.

Inclusive Care

At St. Peter's Health Partners, expectant parents from all backgrounds feel comfortable and supported. We make arrangements for people who need interpreters or wheelchair access. Our team also offers sensitive care for birthing parents who are incarcerated, older parents, teens, those with opiate use disorders, same-sex couples and adoptive families.

In-Network Specialists When You Need Them

Pregnancy is an ever-changing experience. For women and newborns that experience complications, our specialists are prepared to handle any challenges that arise.

• High-risk pregnancies: Our network is home to a maternal-fetal medicine department for parents and babies who are at high risk for complications. This may include parents expecting multiples, pregnant individuals with substance or alcohol use disorder, expectant parents with serious health conditions or babies diagnosed with a condition in utero. 
• Level III NICU: Our NICU cares for premature and critically ill newborns. Neonatologists, neonatal nurses, respiratory therapists and others work 24/7 to help your baby thrive and go home as soon as possible.

Education and Support When You're Having a Baby 

We offer many types of classes to help families learn everything there is to know about having a baby. Classes are led by nurses with master's degrees and special certifications. Learn about:

• Lamaze for first-time parents and refresher courses
• Childbirth 
• Breastfeeding
• Infant care 
• Parenting and grandparenting 

View our class schedule.

Building Bonds

Family bonding is essential to the health and well-being of parents and babies. Our maternity care team helps you bond immediately. We:

• Encourage you to keep your baby in the room with you
• Let your partner stay with you and the baby as long as you like
• Provide care for the baby in your room, eliminating the need for baby to go to the nursery 
• Teach and encourage breastfeeding during and after your stay