Stafford New Life Center
at Adirondack Medical Center
Phone: 518-897-2726
Visiting hours: Due to the increased prevalence of COVID-19 in the region, Adirondack Health has suspended most patient visitation in hospital and acute care settings. Check our COVID-19 pages for any temporary updates to our visitor policy due to the pandemic.
For the safety of newborns and their families, the maternity center is a secure unit.
There are few experiences more joyous than the birth of your child. Adirondack Health is dedicated to supporting your birth experience from early pregnancy through well-child follow-up visits.
At the Stafford New Life Center, you and your family will receive the personalized attention you deserve in a warm and caring environment. The birthing center features highly skilled and trained caregivers who are committed to providing a safe and memorable birthing experience as you welcome your baby into the world.
We offer private, spacious birthing suites and an experienced, compassionate team of obstetricians, nurse midwives and certified obstetrical nurses.
Our comfortable and nurturing Birthing Center provides you and your family with an ideal environment for welcoming your new baby.
Just like no two deliveries are alike, the degree of labor pain is different for every mother. The best approach to pain management will depend on your personal preferences and how your labor progresses. It is difficult to predict what each labor experience will be like, so it is a good idea to understand your pain management options ahead of time.
The caring and experienced staff at Adirondack Health will help you develop an effective pain management strategy so you can have more control over your labor and delivery experience. The anesthesiologist will work with you and your obstetrician to help decide which pain management strategy is right for you. The anesthesiologist is available to assist you 24/7.
A range of options for pain relief during labor and delivery at Adirondack Health include breathing and relaxation techniques taught in childbirth classes at Adirondack Medical Center, laboring in the Jacuzzi tubs offered in the delivery rooms, intravenous (IV) pain medication, and regional pain anesthesia through epidural and intrathecal anesthesia.
Epidurals are what most women think of when they consider pain medication during labor. Adirondack Health’s Anesthesia Department offers this regional anesthesia that provides continuous pain relief throughout labor and delivery. An epidural is administered by injection through a tiny catheter inserted into the lower back to numb pain receptors, so mothers are comfortable and fully awake during labor.
Another option is to administer a local anesthesia and medication through a small needle in to the Dural space of the lower back. This is referred to as an intrathecal anesthesia. Both epidurals and intrathecals provide mothers the ability to control pain they might experience during labor.
Each pain management strategy has its pros and cons, and some medications can affect your baby too. It is important to explore your options ahead of time so you can plan accordingly. However, you should plan for the unexpected. If the delivery doesn’t go as you may have hoped, it’s okay to change your pain management strategy at any time.
The healthcare team at Adirondack Health prides itself on providing one-on-one attention to every mother. In deciding a pain management strategy, ask your healthcare provider the following questions:
Talk to your labor partner before delivery about your plan for pain relief. Review your plan with your healthcare team when you arrive at the hospital to give birth. Remember, you're free to request pain relief at any point during labor and delivery. It's rarely too late to ask. Trust your healthcare team to provide you with information about your options as your labor progresses — and trust yourself to make your own choices when it comes to pain management.
The Stafford New Life Center provides a variety of additional support services designed to help you and your baby get off to a healthy and happy start.
For more information or to register for one or more of these services, call 518-897-2361.
If you are pregnant or thinking about starting a family, call 518-897-2726 to learn more about our maternity services for you and your growing family. We'll give you a tour of the Stafford New Life Center and share with you how Adirondack Health is guiding families to better health and better lives.
