Sisters Laura Smith and Marie Sartori grew up dreaming of being mothers. They’d often role-play with Barbies or baby dolls.
Just two years apart, the sisters now have three children each.
Marie welcomed her third child — a baby girl — at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Family Birth Place in March. Laura returned to the Family Birth Place in May for her third delivery.
“It feels surreal to go through this chapter of my life with my sister — my best friend,” Laura says. “We communicate daily about sleep schedules, mom hacks or best products.”
“We love each other’s kids like our own,” Marie says. “We lift each other up and enjoy motherhood together.”
But long before Laura and Marie chose St. Elizabeth for their pregnancy care, their mom, Beth, made the same decision.
Following in Their Mother’s Footsteps
Beth was working full-time as a registered dietitian at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in 1988 when she learned she was expecting. So, delivering at the Family Birth Place was a comfortable and natural choice. She chose St. Elizabeth two more times — delivering her second daughter in 1990 and her third in 1993.
“My birth experiences at St. Elizabeth were excellent and some of the best days of my life,” Beth says. “The staff were kind, efficient and supportive.”
She was happy to learn Marie and Laura chose St. Elizabeth like she did.
“I knew it would be so easy to be there at the time of my grand babies’ births, and I could visit often throughout their stays since it’s so close to our home,” Beth says.
Marie and Laura couldn’t be happier to follow in their mother’s footsteps.
Beyond the joy she feels at experiencing motherhood with her sister, Laura finds comfort in giving birth at the same place where her mother had her and her siblings.
“Many new mothers go into labor and delivery with a sense of uncertainty and fear,” Laura says. “I am able to go to the hospital with full confidence and comfort of receiving the best care and the best experience for labor, delivery and postpartum.”
And, says Laura, there’s sentimental value in delivering in a hospital that has been a part of her family’s happiest days.
Standing the Test of Time
The Family Birth Place, which opened in 1985, was just three years old when Beth delivered her first daughter there. There may have been a few differences between her first delivery and her last. For example, newborn nurseries gave way to babies remaining in the room with their mothers. But, says Beth, each experience was positive.
“When I reflect on my daughter’s and grandbabies’ births at St. Elizabeth, the most beautiful memories come to mind,” Beth says.
Care like Beth and her family received isn’t uncommon at St. Elizabeth, which has served generations of families in Greater Cincinnati for more than 160 years.
“Generational experiences like those of Beth and her daughters are what make the Family Birth Place so special,” says Ellee Adams, Director of Women’s and Children’s Services at the Family Birth Place. “But we also know everyone’s birth experience is unique. That’s why providing the most advanced and personalized care is a priority for our team.”
That personalized care includes:
- Private labor and delivery suites.
- Resources to accommodate individual birth plans, including labor tubs, aromatherapy and positioning aids.
- Breastfeeding support from certified lactation consultants.
- Dedicated quiet time for parent-baby bonding.
- Support and guidance after delivery.
Supportive Care Trusted by Generations
St. Elizabeth, founded in 1861, has a long history of providing comfort to families. The Family Birth Place offers high-performing maternity services — including a level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
“We have felt comfortable, informed and supported by amazing staff,” Laura says. “I will never forget Dr. Erin Tuemler delivering my first baby and the whole room shouting, ‘It’s a boy!’ Then, my husband ran down the hall to the waiting room to share the gender news with our family. My mom was jumping up and down!”
“Choosing St. Elizabeth for my deliveries was a no-brainer! It is more than a hospital; it is a community filled with reputable staff that has celebrated some of our families’ greatest moments — bringing new life into the world.”
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