WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital Maternity

3rd Floor, WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital
Phone: (717) 738-6424

Directions to Maternity from main entrance    Directions to Maternity from emergency department

Having a baby is truly a life-changing event! Here at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital, we want to make your pregnancy, birth and new life as a parent as special an experience as possible. We can answer your questions, offer support, and most importantly, provide the sophisticated care you and your baby need to get off to a healthy start.

Our unit offers six labor/delivery/recovery rooms designed with your comfort in mind. These spacious rooms offer comforts such as in-room showers, televisions, CD players and a nearby whirlpool tub.

We involve the mother and her family in the decisions about the birth experience. We want to know your wishes and expectations about such things as pain management or a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).

Our trained staff provides individualized attention for you, your baby and your family. You can expect all the comforts of home, with the peace of mind expert healthcare provides.

Taking Care of Both of You

Typically mothers stay a day or two after delivery, but even shorter-stay options are available. If you are interested in any of these options, talk with your physician and our staff for details before you are admitted.

One nurse will coordinate care for both you and your baby. Though you will only be in the hospital for a short time, our staff will try to prepare you and your family to take care of your baby and yourself. Instruction in baby care, safety, choking management, and breast and bottle-feeding are all part of the instructional services you'll receive during your stay.

Visitor Information

Sharing the experience of new life is very important to everyone who wants to see the new baby. Private time with your family and periods of rest are important to you following birth. While we welcome visitors, we urge you to limit the number of visitors and the length of visits. For visitor guidelines and hours, click here.

Going Home

It's comforting to know that you can call our 24-hour phone line with any questions you have. A nurse is always available 24-hours-a-day to answer your concerns. Call us any time at (717)738-MOMS for your postpartum and newborn concerns.

With the agreement of you and your physician, a maternity nurse from WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital will make a home visit to answer any questions and concerns you may have, monitor your recovery and the health of your baby, and reinforce the instruction given to you in the hospital. Arrangements for your home visit will be made before you leave the hospital.

Need More Information?

To register for Perinatal Education Classes, click here.

Call (717)738-MOMS for information on:

• A Family Maternity Unit Tour
• A Maternity Services Packet
• Perinatal Education Classes
• Postpartum and Newborn Concerns

Call (717)738-6308 for information on:

• Breastfeeding support and instruction

Call (717)738-6695 for information on:

• Free prenatal care through Healthy Beginnings Plus

NICU Information

3rd Floor, WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital
Phone: (717)738-6424

Everyone hopes for a normal, full-term birth. But some infants may need more help in their first, crucial moments of life. The Level III-A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital specializes in the care of premature or unstable full-term newborn infants.

Newborns who might need specialized care include those with:

• Low birth weights
• Respiratory problems
• Infections
• Prematurity
• Problems during the birth process

Staffed by specially trained nurses and physicians, the five-bed unit provides assurance of neonatologists available, 24-hours-aday. WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital works with Onsite Neonatal Partners, a firm that provides 24-hour neonatologist staffing. Neonatologists provide coverage, with one always available in the Family Maternity Unit to assess and care for newborns in distress.

Taking Care of Both of You

Our skilled staff is sensitive to your needs and committed to serving the entire family. Parents are encouraged to stay in our overnight accommodations the day before the baby is discharged. This allows our staff time to educate the parents on how to take care of the baby at home.

The NICU was architecturally designed to minimize excess sound. The staff talks as quietly as possible and keeps ambient noise to a minimum so your baby can concentrate all of his or her energy on healing and growing.

Our staff encourages massage, skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding and other therapies that studies show may help your baby heal and grow more quickly.

Lactation Support and Instruction

We strongly promote and support breastfeeding for the total well-being of both mother and baby. The NICU provides private, undisturbed areas for mothers to breastfeed or use a breast pump. Breastfeeding requires patience and practice. Our lactation consultants offer information and instruction while you’re in the hospital and once you’re home. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance.