Carol Jo Vecchie Women's Services





	UNDER 20

	20 - 29

	30 - 39

	40 - 49

	50 - 59

	60 - 69

	70 AND OVER

St. John's Hospital, Springfield, Illinois | Carol Jo Vecchie Women's Services | Women's Services

South-Central Illinois Perinatal Network/Springfield Co-Perinatal Center

The South-Central Illinois Perinatal Center, located at St. John's Hospital, cares for women experiencing high-risk pregnancies and their babies throughout a 34-county area in central Illinois. The Center provides patient services, education for healthcare professionals and early intervention agencies, and outcome evaluations for hospitals in the region.

The Perinatal Center includes a team of Southern Illinois University (SIU) Medical School physicians who specialize in maternal-fetal medicine and neonatology. Studies have shown that a woman who starts prenatal care in the first trimester has a four times greater chance of having a normal child than a woman who receives no prenatal care. Premature birth continues to be the leading cause of infant mortality.

The Center works closely with healthcare professionals who provide care in hospitals, physician offices, public health departments and early intervention agencies to share the latest information on prenatal and fetal care. For example, the Pre-term Labor Campaign educates women about the signs of premature labor. Outcome assessment includes annual or biannual hospital site visits by Center staff. These visits enable the Perinatal Center and regional healthcare professionals to evaluate patient outcomes and set goals for improvement.

The South-Central Illinois Perinatal Center serves patients with high-risk pregnancies including those with:

diabetes in pregnancy
risk of pre-term labor
hypertension in pregnancy
risk of having a child with a birth defect
cardiovascular disease in pregnancy
family history of genetic disease
multiple pregnancies
complications in previous pregnancies
Rh sensitization
and other high-risk pregnancy complications

Patient services include diabetes screenings and follow-up care, blood pressure screenings and follow-up care, genetic counseling and prenatal screenings for birth defects, ultrasound diagnosis, and pre-conception and pregnancy consultations.

Breastfeeding education is also imperative in order to provide a newborn with the best nutrients possible. The nursing staff of the Birth Center at St. John's Children's Hospital actively supports breastfeeding women. The Center educates their clients and the community regarding the importance of the promotion and encouragement of breastfeeding.

For further information about the South-Central Illinois Perinatal Center call 217-544-6464, ext. 30414.