Pregnancy is a time of excitement, questions and big decisions — and we’re here to support you through all of it. At Endeavor Health, our OB/GYNs, midwives, nurses and specialists offer care that’s tailored to your goals, your birth plan and your growing family. Whether you're planning your first baby or expanding your family, we’re with you from the first prenatal visit to postpartum recovery.
Preparing for pregnancy
If you’re thinking about growing your family, we’re here to help you feel confident and supported from the very beginning. Whether this is your first pregnancy or part of a growing family, our team will guide you through early decisions, help you choose your care model and ensure you feel prepared.
Before pregnancy, we can help you:
Choose between OB/GYN or midwife care, with both options backed by our full women’s health team. Your provider will give pre-pregnancy guidance to prepare your body and manage existing conditions before conception.
Screenings and diagnostic options with access to genetic counseling.
Find the right birthing location, complete with private rooms and NICU access.
Join a guided tour or explore virtually to get familiar with where you’ll give birth.
From your first prenatal visit to planning your delivery, our team supports your health and your baby’s development at every stage.
Your care may include:
- Routine prenatal visits: Track your baby’s growth, check vital signs and answer questions.
- Birth planning: Talk through your preferences for delivery, from provider type to setting and pain management.
- Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM): High-risk pregnancy care with advanced monitoring and specialty support.
- Specialized programs: Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) counseling and other birth planning support.
As you get ready for the big day, consider:
- Pre-registration: Complete your delivery paperwork ahead of time to save time when labor begins.
- Explore pre/postnatal classes and support groups: We offer many options to answer your questions and help you feel supported.
- Choosing a pediatrician: Use our find a doctor tool to connect with a family medicine or pediatric provider.
- Review our visitor guidelines
Labor & delivery
When it’s time to give birth, our team is here with expert care and comfort-focused options that fit your preferences. Whether you’re creating a birth plan or navigating an unexpected delivery, we support you with personalized guidance, advanced pain management and access to specialty care if needed.
Labor may begin with a number of changes. Here are common signs:
- Loss of mucous plug: Increase in vaginal discharge that is clear, pink, or slightly bloody.
- Water breaking: You may feel a trickle or gush of fluid as the amniotic sac ruptures.
- Diarrhea or frequent bowel movements
- True labor contractions: Stronger, closer together and wrap from your back to front. Unlike Braxton Hicks, they don’t stop with rest or position change.
If you experience vaginal bleeding, heavy discharge, increased pelvic pressure or significantly decreased fetal movement, contact your doctor immediately.
In general, go to the hospital when:
- Contractions are too painful to talk through
- They last 60 seconds or more
- They occur every 3–5 minutes for at least one hour
Call your doctor if you’re unsure. If you experience decreased fetal movement or if your water breaks or you notice signs of pre-term labor before 37 weeks, call your provider immediately.
Paperwork/general items
- ID and insurance card
- Contact list and pediatrician info
- Birth plan (if you have one)
For mom
- Nightgown, robe, nursing bra
- Socks, underwear, toiletries
- Comfortable going-home outfit
- Lip balm, lotion, hair ties
- Snacks, books, music, comfort items
- Massage tools, a focal point object
For partner/support person
- Change of clothes, snacks, toiletries
- Medications (Tylenol, etc.)
- Jacket, especially if the room is cool
For baby
- Going-home outfit, socks, hat
- Blanket or bunting for cold weather
- Car seat (properly installed)
- A few diapers and wipes
We encourage you to pre-register so you can settle into your private birthing suite quickly when you arrive.
You’ll labor and deliver in your own private birthing suite, designed for comfort and safety. Amenities may include:
- Whirlpool tub or walk-in shower
- Birthing ball and massage tools
- Couch for your support person
- Smart pumps for medication delivery
- Relaxation aids and nitrous oxide (at select locations)
Your comfort matters. Our nurses are trained in breathing techniques, massage, position changes and other pain management tools. Anesthesiologists are available 24/7 to provide epidurals or other options. Nitrous oxide is also available at some locations for pain and anxiety relief.
If a cesarean is needed, you’ll be cared for in a dedicated operating room within the maternity unit.
After your baby is born
Postpartum care is just as important as prenatal care. From physical recovery to emotional support, we’re here to help you adjust, heal and feel confident in your new role. We also make sure your baby is supported, with connections to pediatricians and specialists when needed.
What we offer:
Help with healing, pain management and "golden hour" bonding immediately after birth.
Our certified lactation consultants are committed to helping you breastfeed, if you desire. We provide support while in the hospital and when you go home with in-person and virtual options.
Our expert hospital team provides information on newborn care basics, including optional circumcision.
Connection to mental health providers
We offer state of the art newborn care from routine, essential newborn care to advanced neonatal services for newborns who need extra support due to prematurity, low birth weight, surgical needs or congenital conditions.
Referrals to pediatric subspecialists and NICU developmental programs when needed.
Where to give birth
Endeavor Health offers Labor & Delivery care at six hospitals across the region. Each location provides private birthing suites, advanced technology and expert teams of OB/GYNs, midwives, nurses and specialists — so you can choose the setting that fits your birth plan.
Need help scheduling a tour? We’re here to guide you
With our individualized approach, you guide your birthing plan your way. From innovative, specialized labor and delivery services, including midwifery, to private birthing suites, deluxe family amenities and highly-equipped nurseries, we combine state-of-the-art technology with personalized, expert medical care — all wrapped in the comforts of home.
- You’ll have access to ultra-innovative technology, enhanced birthing methods and specialized care for high-risk births and multiples.
- You’ll have your own private, deluxe, fully-equipped birthing suite and mother/baby room so you and your family feel at home.
- Your baby will have access to extended capabilities in the Level IIe Special Care Nursery.
Elmhurst Hospital received Blue Distinction® Centers for Maternity Care designation.
Elmhurst Hospital provides a Level IIe Special Care Nursery with extended capabilities to care for low birth weight and premature infants, as well as infants requiring respiratory support, born at 30+ week gestation or later.
With our individualized approach, you guide your birthing plan your way. From innovative, specialized labor and delivery services to private birthing suites, deluxe family amenities and highly-equipped nurseries, we combine state-of-the-art technology with personalized, expert medical care — all wrapped in the comforts of home.
- You’ll have access to ultra-innovative technology, enhanced birthing methods and specialized care for high-risk births and multiples.
- You’ll have your own private, deluxe, fully-equipped birthing suite and mother/baby room so you and your family feel at home.
- Your baby will have access to the highest level of care provided in the Level III Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Edward Hospital received Blue Distinction® Plus (+) Centers for Maternity Care designation.
Our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides advanced, around-the-clock care for premature and critically ill newborns of all gestational ages. Board-certified neonatologists are on-site 24/7 to deliver immediate, specialized care in a healing environment designed to keep families together. Parents and babies can stay together in private rooms while receiving expert, compassionate support.
At Evanston Hospital you can deliver in the warmth of one of our home-like Labor, Delivery and Recovery rooms, in the care of a nurse who has personal responsibility for you and your family.
Evanston Hospital serves as a Regional Perinatal Network hospital for northeastern Illinois. Both high-risk mothers and high-risk babies are transferred to Evanston Hospital so they have access to the latest technology and highly-trained staff.
Newborn Intensive Care Unit (level III care)
Our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides advanced, around-the-clock care for premature and critically ill newborns of all gestational ages. Board-certified neonatologists are on-site 24/7 to deliver immediate, specialized care in a healing environment designed to keep families together. Parents and babies can stay together in private rooms while receiving expert, compassionate support.
At Highland Park Hospital you can labor, deliver, recover in the same private suite. Each birthing suite is equipped with a TV, private bathroom with handheld shower and a bed for your spouse or partner. Your newborn stays with you, of course. We offer two surgical suites for planned and emergency Cesarean-section deliveries.
Highland Park Hospital provides a Level II Nursery with 24 hour pediatric care. Neonatologists (physicians who specialize in high-risk infant care) are available for consultations. We are prepared for any situation that may arise.
For laboring patients, we offer various comfort and support tools, including labor balls, peanut balls and a squatting bar. Anesthesia and neonatology services are available 24 hours a day. There is also a couch provided for a support partner to sleep on. After delivery, your baby will be placed on your chest for skin-to-skin contact following delayed cord clamping, unless immediate evaluation is needed.
During recovery, you can enjoy the comfort of a rocking chair and telemetry monitoring allows you to move around freely while your vital signs and those of your baby are closely monitored. You’ll also have skin-to-skin time, along with opportunities for weight/length measurements, photos and feeding initiation. After two hours, you’ll be transferred to the Women & Infant’s Unit, where mom and baby stay together to bond and learn feeding cues.
Our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides advanced, around-the-clock care for premature and critically ill newborns of all gestational ages. Board-certified neonatologists are on-site 24/7 to deliver immediate, specialized care in a healing environment designed to keep families together. Parents and babies can stay together in private rooms while receiving expert, compassionate support.
We combine expert medical care with a comfortable, home-like environment, ensuring families feel supported throughout labor and delivery. After birth, you may be transferred to the Mother Baby Unit for a relaxing space where loved ones can visit.
The birthing rooms are equipped with a pullout bed for support people. Birthing tools like stools, balls and squatting bars are available upon request to enhance your experience. A 24 hour patient refreshment room with water, juice and snacks is also available. We provide care to infants who are moderately ill with problems that are expected to resolve rapidly in our Intermediate Care Nursery (ICN). Care is limited to newborn infants who are more than 32 weeks gestational age and weigh more than 1,500 grams at birth. Newborns that are seriously ill may be transferred to a facility with a Level III NICU.
At Endeavor Health, we understand the importance of having the support of loved ones while in our care. We are committed to providing a safe, seamless and personal experience for our patients, families and team members.
Whether you’re preparing for delivery, recovering postpartum or looking for community-based support, we’re here to help you feel informed and empowered. Explore educational classes, lactation support, emotional wellness programs and more.
Ready to get started?
Whether you're planning for pregnancy, newly expecting or looking for a new OB/GYN or midwife, we’re here to help you take the next step.
