Parents with small infants now have an additional option for bringing their
most precious cargo home from the hospital. The Macomb Fire Department
donated Angel Guard Infant Car Beds to the OB Department. Designed for
transporting small infants, particularly those weighing less than 5 pounds
or with special medical needs, the car beds are stored in OB, and parents
may rent them for up to one month.
Baby TALK
Baby TALK (Teaching Activities for Learning and Knowledge) is a community
effort designed to encourage parents in the nurturing of their infants
and small children. New parents whose babies are born at McDonough District
Hospital receive a hospital visit from a trained Baby TALK volunteer who
presents them with a parent manual Babies and Books: A Joyous Beginning;
a developmental newsletter, and a children’s board book of their choice.
Baby TALK is a collaborative effort with McDonough District Hospital, libraries,
service clubs, businesses, community individuals, and other parenting
programs in the hospital district. The program functions solely on donations
to furnish books and newsletters to the families
New parents are encouraged to begin immediately caring for their babies by:
Holding, touching and cuddling them
Talking to them
Singing to them
Reading to them
Two months after going home, the family receives a follow-up newsletter
with developmental information that encourages parents to continue reading
aloud to their children. At one year, our staff sends a birthday certificate
and a newsletter with further developmental information.
Since its inception at MDH in July 1997, Baby TALK relies strictly on volunteers.
We have dedicated volunteers who have been trained by the hospital and
Baby TALK; and are committed to this program and its mission. A volunteer
is scheduled to visit new moms and their babies every day, including weekends
and holidays.
Baby TALK is headquartered in Decatur, IL, and was begun in 1986. It was
designated a pilot for the Touchpoints project developed by T. Berry Brazelton
of Harvard Medical School.
Infant Security
Infant security is a top priority at MDH. The newborn unit is locked, and
visitors must be approved for entry by a staff member. We utilize a 4-band
identification system to identify your infant, yourself, and a person
designated by you. When taking the baby from the nursery or when the baby
is taken to your room the band numbers will be matched to ensure correct
identification. A small yellow box transducer (monitor) will be softly
attached to one of the baby’s ankles. An alarm will sound to alert
the staff if the infant is taken close to any entrance or exit or is taken
off the infant. A picture will be taken of your infant for identification
purposes. This will remain a permanent part of your child’s medical record.
Pain Control Options
MDH wants the birth of every newborn to be a positive experience.
Our staff wants the birth of every newborn to be a positive experience.
Our pain control options include breathing and relaxation, whirlpool, IV and/or IM pain medication,
and epidurals. For more information regarding pain relief options and
information, talk with your obstetric care provider.
Safe Haven Law
As a “hospital caring,” MDH is taking an active role in promoting
awareness of the “Safe Haven” law. Signage at both entrances
identifies the hospital as a location that allows a parent to relinquish
an unharmed newborn anonymously, safely, and legally without fear of prosecution.
Early Beginnings/ROE #26
Child development education through developmental, health, vision and hearing
screening, parenting education through personal visits and "Play
to Learn" groups, case management through an individual family support
plan, book/video lending library, linkage to community services, parent/child
activities and preschool transition services. Located at 339 S. Johnson
St., Macomb, IL 61455. To contact, please call
(309) 836-5775.
La Leche League (breastfeeding support group)
This breastfeeding support group offers 24-hour phone consultations, information,
encouragement, and support to new mothers who wish to nurse. It offers
a free lending library, access to medical advisory board, information
sheets on all aspects of breastfeeding, books for sale, monthly meeting,
and breast pump rentals. Meetings are held at 6:00 pm on the 3rd Tuesday
of the month, located at Early Beginnings at 339 S. Johnson St., Macomb,
IL 61455. To contact, please call
(309) 836-5775.
National Women's Health Information Center
This resource is available to free women’s health information. Call
(800) 994-9662 from Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Central time. Visit
www.4woman.org for further information.
Baby Corner
This is a website you can join or just visit for information on baby care,
behavior, work and family, development, parenting, nutrition, playtime,
safety, fatherhood, and so on. Visit
www.thebabycorner.com for further information.
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