Continuation of Care Through Pregnancy

Meeker Memorial’s orthopedic clinic has one simple goal in mind … to get you moving again. With the help of Dr. Gordon Walker, our board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon, you’ll be on your way to a more active and pain free lifestyle. Dr. Walker’s philosophy is simple, “I am committed to spending quality time with my patients to provide the most excellent care.”

Meeker Memorial orthopedic team is available to treat a wide range of conditions including:

  • Arthritis
  • Arthroscopic Surgery
  • Foot and Ankle Surgery
  • Fractures and Dislocations
  • Joint Replacement Surgery for Knee, Hip and Shoulder
  • Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Sports Medicine

Golden Hour

Experience the “Golden Hour” with your newborn for optimal health benefits.

At MMHC, we understand the importance of the first few moments between a mother and her newborn. That’s why we encourage uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact during the “golden hour” – the first hour after birth – to give your baby the best start in life.

This period is crucial for a newborn who has spent the last nine months in a controlled environment. Skin-to-skin contact during the golden hour helps regulate your baby’s temperature, control their respiration, and lower the risk of low blood sugar.

Not only does skin-to-skin contact benefit your newborn’s health, but it also promotes strong bonds between mothers and babies. Research has shown that babies who have the benefit of skin-to-skin time actually breastfeed better and longer. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all mothers who want to breastfeed spend skin-to-skin time with their baby right after birth.

Breastfeeding early on can also speed up the delivery of the placenta, reducing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). So, if you’re planning to breastfeed your baby, experiencing the golden hour with your newborn is crucial.

At our hospital, we support and encourage skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding, giving you and your baby the best possible start.

Delayed Cord Clamping

At our hospital, we understand that you want the best start for your little one, and we are happy to offer the option of delayed cord clamping. Delayed cord clamping is a practice of waiting for a brief period after delivery to clamp and cut your newborn’s umbilical cord. This practice allows your baby to receive more blood from the placenta, which can have various health benefits.

In the past, it was standard practice to immediately clamp and cut the umbilical cord, but now, delayed cord clamping is widely practiced in hospitals around the world. The cord clamp helps to stop blood flow from the three blood vessels that travel from the placenta through the umbilical cord, and the cord is then cut close to the baby’s bellybutton. While the term “delayed cord clamping” might seem to indicate a long amount of time, clamping the umbilical cord only needs to be delayed for 30-60 seconds after birth in order to benefit your baby.

Delayed cord clamping is possible after any kind of birth, whether vaginal or C-section. Plus, the great news is that your little one can still be placed immediately on your chest for skin-to-skin contact before the cord is clamped and cut.

What Are the Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping?

Delayed cord clamping can have various benefits for both term and preterm newborns. By allowing more blood to transfer from the placenta to the baby, up to a third more iron stores can be transferred, which is vital for your little one’s brain development.

Benefits of delayed cord clamping in full-term infants include:

  • Decreased risk of anemia
  • Increased hemoglobin levels
  • Improved iron stores in the first few months of life


Benefits of delayed cord clamping in preterm infants include:

  • Improved transitional circulation
  • Better establishment of red blood cell volume
  • Decreased need for blood transfusions
  • Lower incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (a severe complication within the intestines in premature babies)
  • Lower incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (a bleed in baby’s brain)

Are There Any Risks to Delayed Cord Clamping?

The most common risk of delayed cord clamping is the potential for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice in your baby. However, this condition would be identified and treated right away since all babies at our hospital are tested for jaundice. Delayed cord clamping does not lead to a higher risk of postpartum hemorrhage or increased blood loss in the mother.

While delayed cord clamping is possible for many mothers and their babies, your provider may not perform delayed cord clamping in certain situations to ensure the immediate health of the mother and baby, including:

Pregnant people with abnormal placentas

  • Those experiencing postpartum hemorrhage
  • Babies born needing immediate medical care


If you have any questions about delayed cord clamping, we recommend speaking to your provider at your next appointment. They’ll be able to talk to you about the risks and benefits of DCC based on your pregnancy and health history and indicate whether it can be used after your baby is born. We are dedicated to providing you and your baby with the best possible care, and we are happy to offer delayed cord clamping as an option to enhance your newborn’s health.

Rooming In

When you choose to room-in at our hospital, your healthy newborn stays with you in your post-labor recovery room instead of being taken to the nursery. This allows you to spend more time with your baby and can also be beneficial for breastfeeding.

Your baby is already familiar with your heartbeat, voice, and smell, so rooming-in can help them feel more at ease in their new surroundings.

There are many benefits to rooming-in, including:

  • Developing confidence in caring for your baby and being able to read their cues, which will be helpful when you leave the hospital.
  • Improved breastfeeding experience, as studies have shown that rooming-in can be helpful for establishing breastfeeding.
  • Better sleep for both you and your baby, as having your baby in the room can help you get used to each other’s routines and your baby may develop a more regular sleep cycle.
  • Reduced risk of postpartum depression for mothers who room-in.
  • More skin-to-skin contact with your baby, which can provide protection against germs and help you bond.
  • The ability to ask healthcare providers questions about your baby’s unique behaviors while you are still in the hospital.
  • More stable body temperatures and blood sugars, and lower levels of stress hormones for babies who room-in.
  • Babies who room-in tend to be more content and cry less.


If you choose to room-in, you will have the opportunity to spend more time with your baby and get to know their needs and behaviors. Our healthcare providers are available to answer any questions you may have and help you feel confident in caring for your newborn.