INspire, funded by the Indiana Department of Health’s Safety PIN grant program, was developed to implement best practices in care for Indiana moms and babies and recognize hospitals for excellence in addressing key drivers of infant and maternal health. Norton Clark Hospital earned an INspire Category of Excellence recognition based on implementing best practices in key areas, including infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, perinatal substance use, social drivers of health, obstetric hemorrhage and maternal hypertension.

“Providing high-quality care for the mothers and infants of our community, close to home, is of utmost importance,” said Kathleen S. Exline, DNP, R.N., chief administrative officer, Norton Clark Hospital. “Our neonatal intensive care unit has been providing lifesaving care to our tiny patients for seven years. We are proud of our women’s services team and happy to be recognized by the Indiana Hospital Association.”

 “The Indiana Department of Health remains focused on working with health care providers to improve outcomes for Hoosier moms and babies,” Weaver said. “We are grateful to have hospitals across the state support initiatives, such as the Indiana Perinatal Levels of Care and obstetrical emergencies training, that have contributed to improvements in both maternal and infant health.”

“We are proud to celebrate the Hoosier facilities that have successfully demonstrated these best practices and how far our state has come in the five years since the launch of INspire. Together, we are truly making a difference,” said Scott B. Tittle, president, IHA.  

IHA serves as the professional trade association for more than 170 acute care, critical access, behavioral health and other specialized hospitals in Indiana.

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In the United States, 1% to 2% of pregnant women have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes — an increase of 37% between 2000 and 2010. Gestational diabetes, which develops during pregnancy, affects between 5% and 9% of women, which is an increase of 56%. In Kentucky, nearly 10% of pregnancies are complicated by diabetes.

The Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute Perinatal Program will be integrated within the Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine Perinatal Center, leveraging expertise in managing complex pregnancies.

“Diabetes poses many risks to both the expectant mother as well as the baby,” said Kristine Y. Lain, M.D., maternal-fetal medicine specialist and medical director of Norton Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine. “Our program will provide services for family planning, pregnancy care and postpartum care to give families the resources they need for the healthiest pregnancies and beyond.”

The Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute Perinatal Program is made possible thanks to $623,000 in funding through the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation. It will build on services already offered to patients with diabetes, adding a focus on health living, including pre-pregnancy counseling, pregnancy monitoring and education, care planning, and coordination of care with maternal-fetal medicine specialists, primary care providers, endocrinologists and Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute educators. It also will prioritize health equity, health care provider education and research related to the care of patients with diabetes who are pregnant.

“Adding special resources to help pregnant patients manage their disease — whether they are living with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes or developed gestational diabetes — is key to helping patients have healthy pregnancies and live long, active, healthy lives,” said Kupper A. Wintergerst, M.D., Wendy L. Novak Endowed Chair of Pediatric Diabetes Care and Clinical Research, and pediatric endocrinologist with Norton Children’s Endocrinology.

“Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute is quickly working to become the premier national location for the treatment, education and research of diabetes,” said Lynnie Meyer, R.N., Ed.D., FAHP, CFRE, senior vice president and chief development officer, Norton Healthcare. “This new program will bring yet another level of care that patients need. It’s part of our plans to continue expanding diabetes services. We appreciate the Novak family and the community for getting behind this institute.”

Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute services are offered in both adult and pediatric inpatient and outpatient settings. Norton Children’s Hospital is recognized as having one of the nation’s top diabetes and endocrinology programs. The hospital is listed 14th in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-2025 rankings for pediatric diabetes and endocrinology, fueled by funding from the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation.

The Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation was established in 1999 through a charitable trust by David and Wendy Novak. It funds innovative, high-impact projects that are led by passionate leaders committed to outstanding execution. It first gave $5 million to the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation in March 2013 to establish Wendy Novak Diabetes Center as part of a $12 million initiative to create a comprehensive diabetes care center offering education and treatment for Type 1 diabetes to thousands of children and young adults. A gift of $15 million in 2022 elevated the program to Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute with a goal to become a national center of excellence by expanding diabetes care services across the region, while helping children and adults with diabetes manage their condition. This includes a program that facilitates the transition from pediatric to adult care.

Patients needing care by specialists who are part of the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute Perinatal Program should speak with their obstetrician/gynecologist provider for a referral.

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With the new mannequin, named Newborn Tory, Norton Clark Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit nurses and women’s services staff can elevate their newborn education through monthly drills, neonatal resuscitation program checkoffs, newborn assessments for all new hires and annual staff competencies.

“The newborn training mannequin is life-like and reacts physiologically as if it were alive,” said Michelle England, MSN, R.N., NE-BC, vice president, patient care services, and chief nursing officer, Norton Clark Hospital. “We have the capability to recreate real-life situations and provide our team with opportunities to practice and refine hands-on clinical skills without the risk of harm to our smallest patients.”

Norton Healthcare has provided newborn training mannequins to Norton Clark Hospital in the past. This is the first to be dedicated solely to Norton Clark Hospital.

As part of the not-for-profit Norton Healthcare system, Norton Clark Hospital relies on the generosity of donors to help fund medical care, groundbreaking research, new technology and better health for the entire community. Learn more at JustImagineCampaign.com.

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The two rooms offer a more home-like setting and will be ideal for a natural or midwife-assisted delivery, as well as for those who may be expecting the loss of their infant.

The $266,000 project was funded through the Norton Healthcare Foundation with support from donors including the Merrilee Kullman Living Trust.

“We know that many patients would like a more holistic experience for childbirth — but with the safety net of a hospital,” said Gigi L. Girard, M.D.,  OB/GYN and executive medical director of women’s services for Norton Medical Group. “Helping make childbirth more of an experience as opposed to a hospital stay is very important to us.”

These new rooms offer additional space for a family as well as more natural light, enhancing that experience. They are available to anyone coming to deliver at the hospital on a first-come, first-served basis.

All 19 labor and delivery rooms offer natural childbirth options and other services that patients have requested over the years. These include availability of a labor tub, birthing balls, birthing stools, nitrous oxide for pain management, showers and wireless monitors that allow a patient to move around more freely during labor. The hospital has board-certified lactation consultants, including one dedicated to labor and delivery to help patients begin breastfeeding within one hour after birth. This practice has been shown to increase breastfeeding success.

“We’re excited to bring this new option to patients and are grateful to the donors who have made it possible,” said Lynnie Meyer, R.N., Ed.D., FAHP, CFRE, senior vice president and chief development officer, Norton Healthcare. “Just imagine the number of new families who will be touched by these spaces and how it will help them welcome their new little ones into the world.”

Norton Women’s Care, which has locations at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital and Norton Hospital, has been recognized as High Performing in Adult Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) by U.S. News & World Report for three consecutive years. It is the only provider in Kentucky to receive the award all three years, and the only in Louisville to receive it for 2023-2024. The designation is the highest award a hospital system can earn in the U.S. News list of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.

In 2023, Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital set a new record of delivering 6,446 babies, beating 2022’s count of 6,325. More babies are born at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital than any other hospital in Kentucky.

Caregivers at Norton Healthcare’s two Norton Women’s Care birthing locations deliver more than 8,600 babies a year. While many of those deliveries are uncomplicated, Norton Women’s Care also specializes in high-risk pregnancies and deliveries, with a specialty maternal-fetal medicine program and connection to specialists in two neonatal intensive care units. A Level IV NICU at Norton Children’s Hospital offers the highest level of care to critically ill and premature infants. A Level III NICU is at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital.

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“Our midwives are very good. Alison immediately recognized the symptoms of PCOS and did the right thing by recommending testing and reassigning care to me. PCOS is frequently underdiagnosed due to the variety of symptoms that present,” Dr. Grady said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women with PCOS are insulin-resistant and prone to Type 2 diabetes. It is one of the most common causes of infertility. Women with PCOS can develop serious health issues, especially if they are overweight. These issues include diabetes, gestational diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and stroke.

“Having PCOS places an expectant mother and her baby at high risk for complications during pregnancy and delivery similar to having gestational diabetes,” Dr. Grady said.

“Dr. Grady was honest and caring. He listened and knew all about PCOS to prevent me from developing more issues,” Taylor said. “He explained everything clearly, and I was confident we were in the right place.”

Taylor’s pregnancy was going well. At 34 weeks, she had started undergoing twice-weekly fetal non-stress tests. During the second week, it showed an increase in amniotic fluid. Taylor learned from Ronald Wright, M.D., another OB/GYN at the same practice as Dr. Grady, that the condition could cause early labor.

The next day, Taylor’s family held a baby shower. Everyone was excitedly anticipating the birth of a grandchild and great-grandchild. The following day, as Taylor was bending over to start the bath, her water broke.

Taylor called Dr. Grady’s office and was told to come to Norton Clark Hospital make sure everything was OK. The concern was that she could develop an infection. Dawn Moravec, R.N., was Taylor’s nurse and monitored her nearly the entire time she was in the labor and delivery unit. Neonatal nurse practitioner Christine Cooper, APRN, MSN, NNP-BC spoke with Taylor frequently.

“My birth team, especially my nurse Dawn, made me feel calm; they were capable and gave it to me straight without scaring me,” Taylor said. “I appreciated that.”

“My little Graham was already big at a little over 6 pounds and nearly 35 weeks along, and they wanted to go ahead and deliver him to avoid potential infection.”

Taylor knew that the hospital had a Level II neonatal intensive care unit affiliated with Norton Children’s Hospital and that the baby would receive excellent care once he arrived. Hospitals with a Level II NICU can care for babies born at 32 to 35 weeks who may have moderate medical issues and are expected to recover relatively quickly.

After Graham Thomas Spears entered the world, he did not take that first, big breath. The NICU team took over and helped him do just that.

“After they helped him breathe and cleaned him up, they brought him to me. When he opened his eyes and looked at me, I knew he was OK,” Taylor said.

With Taylor’s hormones in high gear, her nurse Dawn made sure to move her into a room right across from the NICU so she could see baby Graham often.

“The entire team of NICU nurses were all so caring and accommodating,” Taylor said.

“Baby Graham had trouble eating and stayed in the NICU 17 days until he was able to maintain his weight,” Dr. Grady said.

“The lactation consultants helped me try to breastfeed but were not pushy.

They conveyed sensitivity showing me how to hold Graham to feed,” Taylor said. “I had to pump to feed him at first, but because of their help, I was able to start exclusively breastfeeding when he was around 2 months old.

“While no one wants a NICU stay, ours was a bit of a blessing in disguise as we learned so much from the nurses. We brought him home with a sense of relief and the comfort of feeling prepared to take care of him.”

Taylor’s family had recently experienced dark times with severe illness and had family members pass away.

“This precious boy has breathed new life into our families,” Taylor said. “Graham has become their new light.”

“I tell anyone who is trying to get pregnant or looking for a place to have their baby, there is an incredible place with a stellar staff in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Our birth experience at Norton Clark Hospital was one we will never forget, and the staff hold a special place in our hearts.”

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INspire, funded by the Indiana Department of Health’s Safety PIN (Protecting Indiana’s Newborns) grant, was developed to implement best practices for care of Hoosier moms and babies, and to recognize hospitals for excellence in addressing key drivers of infant and maternal health.

Norton Clark Hospital earned a Hospital of Distinction recognition based on implementing best practices in seven key areas: infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, tobacco use prevention and cessation, perinatal substance use, obstetric hemorrhage, maternal hypertension and social determinants of health.

 “We are honored to be recognized again by the Indiana Hospital Association for our work in infant and maternal health,” said Judy Stewart, director, women’s health services and neonatal intensive care unit, Norton Clark Hospital. “Norton Clark Hospital celebrated its Level II NICU five-year anniversary this year. We are proud to offer education in newborn safe sleep and our NEST (Nurture. Encourage. Stabilize. Treat.) program that helps support mothers and babies affected by substance use disorder. We celebrate our team and are happy to receive recognition from the state of Indiana. At Norton Clark Hospital, we believe there is no limit to what our care can do.”

“The daily work of our delivering hospitals makes a monumental impact on the lives of so many Hoosier moms and infants in every corner of our state,” Gov. Holcomb said. “These caregivers are much needed and appreciated, and we will continue to partner with them to support our shared goal of a healthy Hoosier tomorrow.”

“Our birthing hospitals work tremendously hard to make sure all babies born in Indiana have the best start at life, while caring for the mothers who delivered them,” Dr. Weaver said. “Reducing infant and maternal mortality requires a continued multipronged approach over the course of many years to see impactful change. It is heartening to see the progress we’ve made, but we must continue to adopt best practices so that we can celebrate more first birthdays in Indiana.”

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Doulas are not the same as a nurse midwife. They do not deliver babies. Instead, they offer emotional, physical and educational support to you and your family. The goal of a doula is to help you have a safe and empowering birthing experience.

During childbirth, a doula is at your side, a constant presence giving you emotional support to coach and comfort you.  A doula serves as your advocate with the medical team and can help you relieve pain through breathing or relaxation techniques and massage. A doula also can offer encouragement and reassurance to your partner.

“The help of a doula can have an enormous impact on the well-being of mother and baby,” said Lyndsey D. Neese, M.D., obstetrician/gynecologist, Norton Women’s Care and medical director of quality for women’s services at Norton Healthcare. “Even though doulas are not involved in delivering the baby, their support before, during and after childbirth can have a big impact on the mom’s experience and the baby’s health.”

If you are receiving pregnancy care from a provider at Norton OB/GYN Associates or Norton Women’s Specialists, you qualify for a doula at no charge through Norton Women’s Doula Program, thanks to support from the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation.

As part of the program, a doula will make several home visits throughout your pregnancy. With Norton Women’s Doula Program, doulas are able to assist you in a wide range of areas, including access to healthy food, transportation to and from provider visits, housing and legal issues. After delivery, the doula can teach about bonding with your baby, breastfeeding and milk production.

The best time to start with a doula is early in your pregnancy to get the most benefits, but it’s never too late to have help from a doula. Doula services typically end at the six-week postpartum checkup.

Having a doula can shorten labor time, reduce the need for a cesarean section and make the birth experience more positive, and may also contribute to having a healthier baby. One study found that women who have a doula are four times less likely to have low birth weight babies and two times less likely to have complications during childbirth that affect either their health or the baby’s.

The positive impacts of having a doula present have been found to be greater in women who are having their first child, or are socially disadvantaged, low-income, unmarried, giving birth without a companion, or facing language or cultural barriers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are two to three times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than white mothers.

“We know Black women can experience barriers to accessing and receiving quality care,” Dr. Neese said. “We’re hopeful the doula program will help address these disparities.”

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The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodology is based on objective measures of quality around outcomes, process and structure. To be ranked as high performing, hospitals and health systems need to score significantly higher than average on eight quality measures. These are low number of avoidable cesarean sections, rare newborn complications, rare/never scheduled early deliveries, episiotomy rates less than 5%, tracking and reporting race- and ethnicity-specific performance measures, strong breastfeeding rate and high support of vaginal birth after cesarean delivery. The survey also looked at whether a hospital meets federal criteria for “birthing-friendly” practices.

Of the 680 hospitals in the country that submitted information for evaluation by U.S. News & World Report, only 311 were ranked high performing.

“The goal of our Norton Women’s Care team is to provide all patients with a safe place for childbirth,” said Mary L. Schubert, DNP, MSN, NEA-BC, FAWHONN, system vice president, women’s services, Norton Healthcare. “This means looking at physical needs during pregnancy, childbirth and beyond, while also treating everyone with dignity and providing compassionate care.”

“Hospitals that receive a High Performing designation as part of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care meet a high standard in caring for parents with uncomplicated pregnancies,” said Jennifer Winston, health data scientist, U.S. News. “These hospitals have C-section rates that are 26% lower and newborn complication rates that are 37% lower than unrecognized hospitals that participated in the survey. Parents-to-be can research their local hospitals’ performance metrics for free at health.usnews.com to help them choose where to have their baby.”

“Receiving this High Performing award for the third time shows that our care matches our high standards,” Schubert said.

Caregivers at Norton Healthcare’s two Norton Women’s Care birthing locations deliver more than 8,000 babies a year. While many of those deliveries are uncomplicated, Norton Women’s Care also specializes in high-risk deliveries, with a specialty maternal-fetal medicine program and connection to specialists in two neonatal intensive care units. A Level IV NICU at Norton Children’s Hospital offers the highest level of care to critically ill and premature infants. A Level III NICU is at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital.

Norton Healthcare ranks as High Performing for eight other procedures and conditions: heart attack, heart failure, aortic valve surgery, heart bypass surgery, stroke, prostate cancer surgery, hip replacement and knee replacement.

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“High blood pressure during pregnancy, or gestational hypertension, is when a blood pressure reading is greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg,” said Whitney E. Jamie, M.D., maternal-fetal medicine specialist with Norton Children’s Maternal Fetal-Medicine, part of Norton Women’s Care. “This condition can lead to preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication that usually occurs after the 20^th week of pregnancy and can be harmful to a pregnant person and their baby.”

Causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy

There are several causes and risk factors for high blood pressure during pregnancy, including preexisting conditions and a family history of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Other causes may include:

• Obesity or overweight
• Sedentary or inactive lifestyle
• First-time pregnancy
• Carrying multiples
• Age 35 and older
• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Personal or family history of high blood pressure during pregnancy
• Preexisting conditions, including diabetes and autoimmune disorders

How to lower blood pressure during pregnancy

Making healthy choices for yourself and your baby could help lower your blood pressure during pregnancy, which can help avoid serious health conditions and complications. Here are a few ideas.

Healthy diet. Eat foods that are rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, legumes, fish and vegetable oils. Avoid salty foods, including canned goods and processed foods that are high in sodium.

Hydrate. Drinking water throughout the day can be a piece of the puzzle when it comes to managing blood pressure. Aim for at least six to eight glasses of water per day. Do not drink alcohol.

Stay active. Check in with your provider about how much movement and exercise you should be getting during pregnancy. Exercise can help manage stress, which can lower blood pressure.

Follow the doctor’s orders. This includes attending every checkup that is scheduled with your provider and taking any medications if you are prescribed them. Stay on top of checking your blood pressure at home and check in with your provider to help manage your readings. If you want to lower your blood pressure during pregnancy, you must make conscious and proactive choices that prioritize your health — and your baby’s — every single day.

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The diet focuses on whole grains, beans, seeds, fruits, vegetables and unprocessed foods. It is low in meats and dairy.

Another recent study illustrated the importance of adequate fiber intake during pregnancy. Patients who did not consume enough fiber during pregnancy were more likely to have children with neurodevelopmental delays.

Both studies highlight the importance of diet during pregnancy.

“It’s critically important for pregnant patients to eat properly, as the body is growing an entirely new human being,” said R. Paige Walker, M.D., an OB/GYN with Norton Women’s Specialists who delivers babies at Norton Hospital. “In addition to helping the baby, diet can play a part in the health of the woman.”

Other studies have shown that following a menu similar to that of the Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of preeclampsia, eclampsia, diabetes, stillbirth, premature birth and low birth weight.

“Even if you are just thinking about becoming pregnant, it’s a good idea to start thinking about your diet and ways in which you can make improvements to safeguard your health and that of a baby,” Dr. Walker said. “Pregnancy is hard work for the body, and setting it up for success is one of the best things you can do.”

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