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SMH-Venice Maternity Services Pregnancy & Maternity Services at SMH-Venice

From the most routine births to the most complex, Sarasota Memorial is equipped to help you deliver your baby (or babies) in the safest, most supported way possible. We provide a depth and breadth of care no other system in our region can offer - and a peace of mind that really does matter when you're bringing a new life into the world.

At Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice, board-certified OB hospitalists are available around-the-clock to examine patients, handle emergencies and provide a safe delivery for laboring women who do not have a physician. For mothers and infants needing advanced Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) services, SMH-Venice can quickly facilitate transfers to our SMH-Sarasota Campus.

All SMH-Venice, maternity and newborn services are housed on one dedicated unit: the second-floor Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Post-Partum Unit (LDRP).

The unit features 10 private Birthing Suites, our Obstetrical Emergency Care Center (OBECC) for specialized emergency care, and 2 advanced surgical suites designed for C-sections and other OB procedures.

Delivery Day:
Where to Go

From SMH-Venice's Pinebrook Road entrance, follow signs to the main Emergency Care Center (ECC/ER) entrance for 24/7 access to Registration and the Obstetrical Emergency Care Center (OB ECC). Free valet parking is always available.

Where you deliver your baby matters. At SMH-Venice, we'll be here for you at every step of your childbirth journey.

For more information, call 941-261-0455.

Preparing for Childbirth & Parenthood

To help families prepare for a new baby, Sarasota Memorial Hospital offers parenting, childbirth, breastfeeding and baby-care classes taught by certified childbirth educators and lactation counselors, as well as prenatal exercise classes at SMH’s HealthFit and specialized physical therapy for pregnant and postpartum women. To register for childbirth and parenting education classes, please visit our Childbirth Education calendar

Family-centered Birth Experience

The Birthing Suites at SMH-Venice are designed so that laboring women, their support people and baby can stay together in the same room throughout the birth experience — from labor and delivery through recovery and post-partum.

Each Birthing Suite features a couch that converts to a guest bed; an interactive, digital display board for patient information and education; and free Wi-Fi. Eight of the 10 suites are equipped with hydrotherapy tubs to ease discomfort during labor, and the others have spacious showers.

Important Policies
to Know

Visitors: Keeping you and baby safe is our priority. Visitors are given a badge with limited access, and all units have visitor checkpoints. The only children allowed to visit you during your stay are your children.

Security: Upon baby’s arrival, he/she will be given a Hugs Infant Protection System anklet tag for secure monitoring and enhanced security.

Photos / Videos: Video, audio recordings and livestreaming the birth are not permitted. Your care team will let you know when photography is allowed.

Labor & Delivery at SMH-Venice

  • Experienced Labor and Delivery nurses work seamlessly with your doctor, nurse midwife, doula or personal support person to coach you during childbirth. Click here for a sample birth plan.

  • Wireless fetal monitoring, so laboring moms can move about freely.

  • Birthing balls and squatting bars are available to ease labor pains naturally.

  • If you feel you need pain-control medication, discuss options with your care providers. Epidural pain management, nitrous oxide and obstetric anesthesia are available.

  • Skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery and rooming-in help promote bonding and breastfeeding success.

  • Each baby born at SMH-Venice will receive a Hugs Infant Protection System anklet tag for monitoring and enhanced security.

  • SMH-Venice offers newborn hearing screenings and screening for more than 52 rare metabolic, endocrine, enzymatic and other genetic disorders, as well as non-invasive Critical Congenital Heart Disease screening that measures oxygen in the blood.

Recovery & Taking Baby Home

  • Sarasota Memorial nurses, certified as lactation consultants, provide 1-on-1 breastfeeding help and guidance during your stay.

  • On your discharge day, your care team will review newborn and self-care basics, discuss feeding baby and create a lasting memento with baby’s footprints.

Breastfeeding Help & New Parent Support

Our support doesn’t end when you leave the hospital.

What to Bring to the Hospital

Pack your hospital-stay bag ahead of time, so you'll have everything you need when labor begins. Must-haves include:

  • Your photo ID and insurance card. (There's no need to pre-register.)
  • Your birth plan, so care providers know what’s most important to you.
  • Comforting items for labor (music, warm socks, aromatherapy, etc.).
  • Toiletries for you and warm clothing for your support person.
  • A “going home” outfit and blanket for baby.
  • An infant car seat (bring it on the morning of your discharge day).

Drop in to one of our casual Mother-Baby group meetings to connect with others on the parenting journey while baby socializes, or stop by one of our Latch Clinics for free breastfeeding help and support from an international board-certified lactation consultant. Look for upcoming dates and times on our calendar.

For any-time breastfeeding support, call SMH’s Breastfeeding Help Line at 941-917-7413.

Information & Resources

For more information about Pregnancy and Maternity Services at SMH-Venice, call 941-261-0455.

SMH Baby App

Pregnancy & Parenting Tips from SMH Experts 

Pregnancy & Postpartum Physical Therapy

Baby Portraits

HealthFit Moms In Motion Classes

Maternity Package for Self-Pay Patients

First Physician Group
OB/GYN physicians

Breastfeeding Help Line
941-917-7413