Bamberg Community Hospital
509 North Street (North and McGee) Bamberg 29003
Main Phone#: 803-245-4321
Labor & Delivery Phone#: 803-245-4321
Bamberg Nurse Midwifery Service: Michael Watson Rural Health Clinic, 498 North Street, 803-245-5144. Leigh Wood, CNM, is the Program Director.

Directions from Charleston Area:
Take I-26 to Ridgeland exit, turn left, go about mile, then turn right only Highway 78. Stay on 78 until you get to Bamberg. At first traffic signal turn right onto Hwy 301/601 N. Follow until you reach the second flashing signal; turn right onto McGee. Follow McGee to the next traffic signal and turn L onto North Street. Hospital is on the right and Clinic is the last building on the left.

Alternate option from Charleston area: Take Hwy 61 until it merges with Hwy 78. Then follow above directions.

Parking Information:N/A
Labor and Delivery Location:

AMENITIES
What are the rooms like?
There are 2 rooms, very basic. Each room has a toilet with a curtain for privacy; there are no private bathrooms. The rooms are single labor/delivery/recovery rooms and you may stay until it's time to go home.
Cafeteria Hours:
Vending machines? Available; located near the ER.
On-floor snacks for moms and/or labor support team? Yes.
Is a microwave available? Yes.
TV/VCR Available? No.
Showers/Tubs/Jacuzzis in Rooms? There is one shower/tub room in the labor area that is shared by the two birthing rooms. The pressure is good and the water nice and hot. You can also bring in your own birthing pool with advance notice. Be sure to bring all necessary equipment for the pool.
Is Waterbirth Available? Yes.
Monitoring by Telemetry Available? No.
Are birth balls provided? Yes.
Are birthing stools available? Yes, a DeBy birth stool.
Squat bar? Yes.
Mirror? Yes.

POLICIES
What may moms eat or drink in labor? Whatever they like. Bring your own food if you wish. If situation arises where surgical birth may occur, then moms are restricted to liquids only.
Is a fetoscope or hand-held doppler available? All monitoring is done intermittently with a hand-held Doppler. They will use a fetascope if requested. No EFM on-site. Mobility during labor and birth is encouraged.
What are medical options for pain relief during labor? Only certain pain medications are available-no epidurals. (If a Cesarean birth, spinal or very rarely general anesthesia is administered.) Nubain, sometimes with Phenergan, are available. Intrathecal Fentanyl is another option if needed.
Routine Hep Lock/IV? No.
What is the policy about microwaving heat packs? Only food may be microwaved, however small heating pads are available.
Is breastfeeding promoted prior to newborn assessment? Yes.
Can all newborn assessments be performed in room with baby's parents? Yes; no nursery so baby stays with parents.
Is there any mandatory separation of mother and baby? No.
Can baby room-in? Yes. There is no nursery!
Is there a lactation consultant on staff? No, however the nurses and midwives fully support breastfeeding.
Does the facility staff Certified Nurse-Midwives? Yes. Bamberg Nurse-Midwifery Service 498 North Street 803-245-5144.

STATISTICS
Medicated birthing rate: Approx. 50% (Fall 2005)
Epidural Rate: Zero
Induction rate: 15-20%
C-section rate: 10%
Primary C-section rate: 80% of all C-section births are primary (8% overall rate for primary C-section births)
VBAC friendly?: Yes

National C-section Rates 2005:
South Carolina: 32.7%
National: 30.2%