Where are the Hospitals?

No matter your choice of hospital, I would encourage you to tour the hospital and attend a birth class there.  When I was pregnant I was told by friends that their experience with Lamaze classes really didn't help - the pain took over and they requested an epidural, so the classes were not necessary.  I took their advice and steered clear of any class.  I wish I had just attended the darn thing!  I didn't know that not breathing deeply and focusing would ultimately cause me to vomit - before the epidural.  *Some say that epidurals can cause vomiting.  Additionally, while you may not use the techniques because you intend to have an epidural, you will at least be familiar with what will and could happen during labor and delivery. 

If you are living in the Blackstone Valley you might be delivering at one of the local hospitals:

• Milford Regional Medical Center - http://www.milfordregional.org/site/slideshow/index.cfm           508-473-1190
• Landmark Medical Center - http://www.landmarkmedical.org/                                                    (401) 769-4100
• Metrowest Medical Center - http://www.mwmc.com/home.aspx                                                      508-650-7000
• Saint Vincent Hosptial - http://www.stvincenthospital.com/Home.aspx                                           508-363-5000
  
• UMASS Memorial Medical Center - http://www.umassmemorial.org/MedicalCenterIP.cfm?id=2790        508-334-1000

When choosing a hospital, you might want to find out their policy on birth attendants, that is, how many people you can have present at the birth.  I know that Milford Regional will allow 3.  Other hospitals do not limit the amount.  If you would like your mother, sister, partner and doula at the birth, you might have some thinking ahead of you.