Bon Secours-St. Francis Xavier Hospital
2095 Henry Tecklenburg Drive, West Ashley
Main Phone#: 402-2000
Labor & Delivery Phone#: 402-1033

Directions from I-26 and Parking Information:
Take I-26 to 526 towards Savannah. Take Route 61 West. Turn left onto Magwood Road. At the stop sign turn right on Henry Tecklenburg Road, then left into the Women's and Children's center parking lot. There are a few spaces reserved for expectant and new mothers near the door. Parking is always free.

Labor and Delivery Location:
Enter the Women's and Children's doors; turn right. The waiting area for other family members is in front of you. Turn right again and pass through 2 sets of double doors. Turn left and go all the way to the end of the hall to the nurse's station.

AMENITIES
What are the rooms like?
The rooms are designed to be Labor-Delivery-Recovery-Postpartum. Most of the rooms are the same, but Rooms 5 and 6 have larger bathrooms. If the hospital is busy a few moms must move to other rooms, located in either the Birth Suite Extension or the GYN unit. The Birth Suite Extension is at the end of the hallway from the labor unit. There are 4 nice rooms here, with comfy beds. It is staffed by the L&D nurses. A great, quiet place for a postpartum mom! Sometimes, moms are also moved to the GYN unit, First Maria. Comfy beds, not quite as nice rooms, not quite as quiet, and staffed by the GYN nurses. The move to a different room may occur anytime from a couple of hours after birth to the day before discharge.
Cafeteria Hours: 7 am - 10 am, 11 am - 1 pm, 5 pm - 7 pm, 1 am - 2 am
Vending machines? Located on the other side of the "mall" area in the center of the hospital, away from the cafeteria.
Snacks for labor support team? Sugary juice-type drinks and crackers are usually available. It depends on your nurse as to whether or not these can be supplied to anyone but the birthing mother.
Is a microwave available? Yes (no popcorn allowed).
TV/VCR Available? TV's in each room. One VCR is available.
Showers/Tubs/Jacuzzis in Rooms? Showers only.
Is Waterbirth Available? No.
Monitoring by Telemetry Available? No.
Are birth balls provided? No.
Are birthing stools available? No; but foot stools may be used.
Squat bar? Yes.
Mirror? Yes.

POLICIES
What may moms eat or drink in labor? Each MD has his/her own orders that state whether mom may have clear liquids (water, juices, Popsicles, ginger ale, etc), ice chips only, or nothing by mouth.
What is the policy about monitoring of low-risk mothers? Intermittent? Continuous?
Again, each MD has individual orders. Most expect continuous external fetal monitoring, but it's good to ask a nurse what the doctor's routine admission orders state. Usually they have standing orders for a 20-minute initial strip then intermittent monitoring. Most nurses want their patients continuously monitored. We suggest speaking with your care provider in advance regarding these concerns.
Is a fetoscope or hand-held doppler available? There is a Doppler available.
Routine Hep Lock/IV? This is usually done but it is not unit policy, so it can be negotiated.
What is the policy about microwaving heat packs? No official policy exists.
Is breastfeeding promoted prior to newborn assessment? If this is part of your birth plan, the staff is quite supportive. If you show no preference, after the birth, your baby will be placed on mom's tummy for only a moment or two before being removed to the warmer in the room (to get "cleaned up"). Then they are brought all wrapped up back to mom and encouraged to breastfeed.
Can all newborn assessments be performed in room with baby's parents? Yes, but you must INSIST on it. They will try to persuade you that your baby can't stay in your room because they have all the other babies to attend to. Anything routine (non-emergency) can be done in the mom's room.
Is there any mandatory separation of mother and baby? Not unless medically indicated.
Can baby room-in? Yes (see above).
Is there a lactation consultant on staff? Yes.
Does the facility staff Certified Nurse-Midwives? No.

STATISTICS (2003)
Medicated birth rate: approx. 93% of vaginal births.
Induction/augmentation rate: 72%
Cesarean Section rate: 25.8%

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