Birth Designer Program Empowers Women to be Uniquely Involved in Their Care

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center (LWRMC) is the first in our community to offer a Birth Designer to help expectant mothers create the personalized birth plan of their choice. 

The goal of the Birth Designer program is to deliver the most patient-centered care possible and to help educate expectant mothers and their support team on the tools they will need to stay safe and healthy during the prenatal, delivery and postpartum periods. Creating customized birth plans is a key component of the program.

“My role as a Birth Designer is to help each expectant mother create an individualized birth plan and then facilitate that plan, making preparations with our staff prior to the delivery,” explains Chrissy Coney, RN, BSN, CLC, an experienced obstetrics nurse and now LWRMC’s new Birth Designer.

“Expectant mothers hear birthexperience stories from their friends and relatives, but they’re unfamiliar with the ‘behind-the-scenes’ process. We have a high standard of safety at LWRMC, says Chrissy. “If expectant mothers understand the entire labor and delivery picture prior to hospital admittance, they are better able to choose the best birth-experience pathway for them, based on their individualized desires and healthcare needs, and within the safety net of the hospital.”

Customized Birth Plan Wishes May Include:

• Private appointment with the Birth Designer for the expectant mother that desires an opportunity to partner in her birth experience by creating a personalized birth plan tailored to the patient’s unique healthcare needs
• Concierge approach to labor and delivery
• Coordination of services and education tailored to the patient’s needs, before the day of delivery
• Point of contact for the expectant mother and support person
• Post-delivery follow up to ensure resources are secured and expectant mother and support person are connected to LWRMC in any areas of need

New parents also receive educational information from the Birth Designer and at childbirth classes regarding preferences that may aid in relaxation during labor and delivery. These include massage, visualization, breathing, music, etc., and decisions regarding whether to have an epidural for pain relief. 

“Overall, the Birth Designer program helps to ensure that everyone--patients, staff and doctors--is on board with the birth plan constructed for each individual,” says Chrissy. “I never tire of delivering babies. I’m passionate about the delivery process, coaching, offering compassionate care and creating a bond with each and every patient. Expecting mothers should feel confident about their choice to deliver at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.”

Chrissy Coney, RN, BSN, CLC, is an experienced obstetrics nurse and now LWRMC’s new Birth Designer
The Women’s Center at LWRMC provides a dedicated nursery and neonatologist. For more information, call 941.782.2229. Visit lwrmc.com/birthdesigner or email: [email protected].