Nothing compares to the excitement of having a baby. Personalized care and a nurturing environment during labor, delivery and recovery are essential to the quality of your experience.

That's why The Family Birthplace at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen brings together a dedicated team of skilled professionals and leading-edge maternity suites to create a wonderful setting and support for your care.

The place where you give birth should be as warm and inviting as the family and friends that surround you. At The Family Birthplace, emphasis is placed on a family-centered environment of care, which truly enhances the birth experience. The spacious labor-delivery-recovery suites offer an attractive, peaceful setting designed to comfortably accommodate birthing families. In addition to a TV/VCR/DVD and CD player, free Internet access makes it easy for family members to stay connected. Each room houses an individual, full-size bathroom to provide privacy. The policy of open visiting hours means that you determine when guests are welcome. A sleeper chair easily converts to a bed for overnight guests. Siblings are welcome too, when accompanied by a parent.

Once your baby is delivered, the personalized care that you and your newborn receive together, in the same room, by the same nurse, is a concept that sets The Family Birthplace apart. Immediate newborn care can be performed at your bedside, which encourages better education and communication, facilitates mother-baby bonding and reduces interruptions. Special touches include a custom-designed sink contoured to the shape of an infant's body to make baby's first bath easier. Medical staff physicians, along with nursing and clinical support staff, are trained in maternity services and bring you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you and your baby are getting quality care. There is also a Special Care Nursery, offering Level II neonatal services.

Adjusting to life with your new baby will bring questions and concerns. Breastfeeding may be among early concerns, especially for a first-time mom or an infant who might benefit from extra help. A nurse lactation consultant is available to assist you through this process and address any concerns such as latch-on difficulties, refusal to nurse, multiple births, returning to work issues and more. She is available during your stay and on an outpatient basis.

You already have an OB-GYN, but did you know that you should choose a pediatrician before the birth? Bringing a new one into the world can be confusing and uncertain; you will feel more comfortable and confident with a doctor you have selected. Consider scheduling a new-mom consult with the pediatrician before the baby arrives to ensure continuity of care. New to this area and need to find a doctor? Or, do you just want to make a change in physician care? Access our free physician referral service online or at 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355).

Our support for expectant mothers begins as early as conception, continues through the last weeks of pregnancy to birth and the transition to life with a new baby at home. We offer a full complement of educational classes to expectant families for the childbearing year, including Early Pregnancy, Lamaze, Basics of Baby Care/CPR, Sibling and Baby Sign Language — a unique tool that babies can learn as a way to communicate. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355), or register online.

Presbyterian Hospital of Allen is pleased to offer a Web nursery photo service that allows you to share a first look at your baby with family and friends. Post your baby's official hospital photo, along with an online birth announcement on the password-protected Web page. Only those to whom you give the password can log on to the site.

You have a lot to think about in the last days of pregnancy. For ease and convenience, you may complete the hospital pre-registration process via the Internet. Information submitted online is encrypted to assure security.

In 2008, Texas Health Allen was designated a "Baby-Friendly Hospital" by the World Health Organization, recognizing its comprehensive approach to supporting breastfeeding of newborns. Texas Health Allen is the first hospital in Texas to receive this distinction and only the 68th in the nation.

We encourage you to come in and tour our facility. Ask questions, visit with the staff and get answers to many of those questions that expectant mothers have. See why labor and delivery at The Family Birthplace at Texas Health Allen is an experience as extraordinary as your new baby.