CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa County mothers-to-be hoping to cut a few weeks off their pregnancies for other than non-medical reasons better find another facility than Crestview’s hometown hospital for elective inducements and cesarean deliveries.
That’s because North Okaloosa Medical Center has embraced the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the March of Dimes “39 Weeks” initiative for reducing the number of elective early deliveries.
“We’re in the business of healthy babies and we want to make sure babies are not delivered before 39 weeks, which gives us healthy organs, healthy eyes, healthy everything and more weight,” NOMC Chief of Nursing Nina Perez said.
The program aims to reduce the number of “convenience” deliveries, March of Dimes Community Director Dannon Byrd said.
“Mothers say, ‘Oh, it’s so uncomfortable,’ or ‘My doctor’s going out of town, let’s schedule a C-section,’” Byrd said. “Thirty-nine is a magic number for babies. Anything less than that and they’re at greater risk for poor organ and eye development.”
March of Dimes Division Director Michele Redmond said the recognition is given very selectively. Fort Walton Beach Medical Center is the only other hospital in Okaloosa County to receive it.
“There are only several of these that have been given and we’re so excited because we want our area to be the best when it comes to healthy babies,” she said.
ACOG representative Dr. Julie DeCesare of Florida State University and Sacred Heart Hospital said the recognition will assure mothers-to-be that the community hospital is committed to their babies’ health.
“We know in terms of infant mortality we’ve been going in the wrong direction so we hope programs like this will get it going in the right direction,” DeCesare said.
“It’s a good thing for the community,” hospital Chief Executive Officer David Fuller said. “The biggest thing is making sure our youngest, tiniest citizens get a good start and stay inside of mama as long as possible to get a healthier start in life.”
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview hospital aims to reduce elective early deliveries (VIDEO)