From maternity to menopause, Jefferson Regional is pleased to provide an extensive range of services for the many stages of women’s health. Jefferson Regional is fortunate to have a team of seven exceptional obstetrician-gynecologists on our medical staff. Most deliver babies, but a few are exclusively focused on women’s gynecological health. From childbirth to menopause to infertility, these Jefferson Regional specialists are prepared to meet the needs of all women in South Arkansas throughout a lifetime.
Obstetrics
Having a baby is the happiest reason for a hospital stay, and Jefferson Regional is honored to play a part in welcoming your newest family member into the world.
Our team of 17 L&D registered nurses and five ORT’s (Operating Room Technicians) are a family themselves, having worked together closely for many years. Several of our nurses are quick to show you pictures of the newest babies they have helped deliver…many of them children or grandchildren of their original patients!
Families preparing for the birth of a child are invited to take a free childbirth class, breastfeeding class, and baby center tour before delivery so they are familiar with each area of the hospital they will be utilizing during their stay.
All rooms in the unit are LDR—labor, delivery, and recovery—so Mom is able to settle into the same room she will stay in throughout the childbirth experience. If for some reason a caesarian section is necessary, the operating suite is inside Labor & Delivery and directly adjacent to the LDR’s, so the surgical team will be ready just as soon as Mom is ready. In addition, Jefferson Regional has 24/7 anesthesia coverage, which isn’t the case in all hospitals. So if your baby arrives after hours, there is no concern about the availability of anesthesia. Afterward, families can move to one of our more spacious suites, which is extra large and includes a couch with a fold-out bed and a full bath for the comfort of our patients and their families.
Jefferson Regional is a proud partner of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) Nursery Alliance. Through the Alliance, neonatologists at ACH are able to consult immediately with pediatricians at Jefferson Regional for the purpose of enhancing neonatal care and creating support as needed to help babies receive the best care possible. In addition, the Alliance provides educational support, quality data review, and implementation of best practices in pediatric medicine.
Gynecology
The physicians at Jefferson Regional are dedicated to providing care for women at all stages of life, from adolescence to menopause and beyond.
Routine medical checkups are important for everyone, but women have the added responsibility of maintaining their reproductive health before, during and after childbearing years. A “well woman” exam should be scheduled annually with your OB/GYN. An adolescent can schedule their first exam anywhere from 13 to 15 years of age. This visit allows for the gynecologist to establish a relationship with the teen while providing preventative healthcare services. An internal pelvic exam is not usually necessary during this visit unless there is particular concern. The gynecologist can also address concerns such as acne, sexually transmitted diseases and menstrual abnormalities. A wellness exam for a patient of any age can include preventative health screenings such as cervical cancer screening, an annual breast exam, and sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing. Your physician will suggest which exams are right for you in order to provide the highest level of preventative care. A “well woman” exam may be covered by your insurance at no out-of-pocket cost to you.
For women requiring gynecological surgery, Jefferson Regional offers a range of minimally invasive procedures to help you recover quicker and return to your life as soon as possible.
Lactation
Jefferson Regional supports the recommendations set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) of exclusive breastfeeding for the infant’s first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with the continuation of breastfeeding for one year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant. Breast milk contains all of the nutrients that an infant needs to grow and thrive in the first six months of life.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Baby:
- Easily digested, not constipating
- Made specifically for your child and his or her unique needs
- Less tummy trouble, fewer ear/lower respiratory infections and allergies than bottle fed infants
- Stimulates the sense of taste and smell
- Contains antibodies that help fight off and prevent infections
- Could reduce the risk of some chronic diseases and infections
- Creates a close bond with mom and baby through skin-to-skin contact paired with eye and voice contact
- Baby receive the perfect amount of food each feed through the supply and demand process of latching at the breast
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mother:
- Convenient and cost effective. Doesn’t require formula, sterile water, or bottles
- Helps the stomach (uterus) to return back to its normal size sooner
- Helps with weight loss after delivery
- Decreases the risk of developing certain cancers such as breast, uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancer
- May reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis
Your body will prepare itself for breastfeeding. It is natural to produce milk, but the act of breastfeeding is learned. It is important for you to prepare yourself through proper education and support. If you have chosen to breastfeed, a lactation consultant will spend time with you before you leave the hospital and will also be available for consultation after you go home. We also encourage you to attend one of our free breastfeeding classes offered at Jefferson Regional with one of our certified lactation consultants. Call 870-541-7333 for more information.
Infant Safe Sleep
Each year in the United States, thousands of babies die suddenly and unexpectedly. These deaths are called SUID (pronounced Soo-id), which stands for “Sudden Unexpected Infant Death.”
SUID includes all unexpected deaths: those without a clear cause, such as SIDS, and those from a known cause, such as suffocation. One-half of all SUID cases are SIDS. Many unexpected infant deaths are accidents, but a disease or something done on purpose can also cause a baby to die suddenly and unexpectedly.
“Sleep-related causes of infant death” are those linked to how or where a baby sleeps or slept. These deaths are due to accidental causes, such as suffocation, entrapment, or strangulation. Entrapment is when the baby gets trapped between two objects, such as a mattress and a wall, and can’t breathe. Strangulation is when something presses on or wraps around the baby’s neck, blocking the baby’s airway. These deaths are not SIDS.
What does an infant safe sleeping environment look like?
To create a safe sleep environment:
- Always place a baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night, to reduce the risk of SUID.
- Use a firm sleep surface, covered by a fitted sheet; a crib, bassinet, portable crib or play yard that conforms to the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is recommended.
- Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch or on a chair alone, with you, or with anyone else.
- Keep your baby’s sleep area in the same room where you sleep (for the infants first year). Room sharing not bed sharing. Always place the baby in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, portable crib for sleep.
- Sitting devices like bouncy seats, swings, infant carriers or strollers should not be used for routine sleep.
- Keep soft objects such as pillows and blankets, toys and bumpers out of your baby’s sleep area.
- Wedges and positioners should not be used.
- Do not smoke during pregnancy or allow smoking around your baby.
- Do not let your baby get too hot during sleep.
- Breastfeed your baby.
- Give your baby a dry pacifier that is not attached to a string for naps and at night to reduce the risk of SIDS after breastfeeding is established.
- Supervised Skin to Skin is recommended to all mothers and infants immediately following birth regardless of feeding or delivery, (as soon as mother is medically stable, awake and able to respond to her newborn) and to continue for at least an hour. Once mother starts to get sleepy, return baby to bassinet.
- Follow health care provider guidance on your baby’s vaccines and regular health checkups.
For additional information and education on safe sleep please visit: https://cribsforkids.org/.
Breast Cancer & Mammography
Early detection is key when it comes to breast health. We have learned in recent years that mammography is the best tool for early detection of breast cancer. A mammogram is basically an x-ray of the breast and is recommended on an annual basis for all women after age 40. As the technology has grown and progressed, Jefferson Regional has recently transitioned into 3D, digital mammography. 3D mammography provides images of the breast in “slices” from many different angles, making more precise pictures than ever before. At the same time, all Jefferson Regional mammograms are now digital, making the storage and transfer of records easier than ever before. If breast cancer is found, Jefferson Regional has three oncologists and six general surgeons on staff to help develop a plan of treatment.
At Jefferson Regional, cost is never a barrier for women who need mammograms. Our Reach Every Woman program, funded by a grant from the Komen Foundation, provides clinical breast exams, mammograms and biopsies for women who are uninsured, underinsured, or those who have insurance but have not yet met their deductible.
Learn more about General Surgery
Learn more about Imaging Services
Anesthesiology
Anesthesiology is the practice of medicine dedicated to the relief of pain and care of the patient before, during and after surgery. Jefferson Regional provides full 24-hour anesthesia coverage. For more information click the link below.
Learn more about Anesthesiology
Same Day Surgery
Same Day Surgery simply means that you come to the hospital the same day as your surgery or procedure. Jefferson Regional’s Same Day Surgery is located in the main hospital building at 1600 West 40th Avenue. We recommend that you and your family member or friends park in the parking garage, which is located on 40th Avenue near the front entrance. When you enter the hospital, go to the Admissions area and sign in. After you are registered you will be taken to a waiting room. Family and friends will wait there for you while you are having your surgery or procedure. If you haven’t been connected by 3:00 p.m. on the day before your surgery or procedure, please call us at (870)541-7126 or (870) 541-7129.
Learn more about Same Day Surgery
Pre-Admission Testing (PAT).
Routine tests are sometimes needed to evaluate your state of health. Our healthcare team will determine what your needs are. After your surgery or procedure is scheduled by your doctor, you are asked to come to our Pre-Admission Testing area. It is a good idea to call for an appointment as soon as you can. These tests need to be done 3-7 days before the surgery or procedure. Call +1 (870) 541-7447 to set up your appointment. This testing department is open Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may also come in without an appointment
Learn more about Pre-Admission Testing
Ambulatory Surgery Center
The Ambulatory Surgery Center at Jefferson Regional is for patients who are able to leave the hospital the same day they have surgery, without being admitted to the hospital. Jefferson Regional’s Ambulatory Surgery Center is located in Jefferson Professional Center 1, at 1609 West 40th.
Learn more about our Ambulatory Surgery Center
Jefferson Regional OB/GYN Associates
OB/GYN Associates, owned and operated by Jefferson Regional, has two locations in Jefferson Professional Building 1 located at 1609 West 40th Avenue, Suite 201 and Suite 402. The clinics are fully equipped and staffed with four obstetricians/gynecologists. Find out more about the clinics and specialists who work there by clicking the link below.
