News
Moms of Multiples Help Create Unique Sutter Program
SACRAMENTO, Calif., November 10, 2008 - When Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento was researching whether there was a need to have a clinical program to educate, assist and empower women who were pregnant with multiple gestations, they went to the experts – mothers who recently gave birth to twins and triplets.
None, however, was more expert than Kristi Voiles of Citrus Heights. Her qualifications? Kristi has given birth to twins and triplets, as well as a “singleton.” All girls. And, at the time of the triplets’ birth, all ages 5 and under.
“Toward the end of my pregnancy with the triplets, I was so big. The pain was just excruciating. Truthfully, there were days I would be sitting at home just crying because I felt I couldn’t take the pain anymore,” she said. “What you need is that support, someone you trust who says, ‘Just hang in there one more day, and then another and another.’ You just need to take it one day at a time.”
And, when it comes to multiple gestations, every extra day the babies stay in the womb, the healthier they will be when they arrive. That’s the reason behind the MOMs Program, said Dr. Gilbert, medical director of Women’s Services for Sutter Health in the Sacramento region and a longtime Sacramento perinatologist who specializes in multiple births and high-risk pregnancies.
“When it comes to multiples, every day counts,” said Dr. Gilbert. “The Sutter Moms of Multiples Center is designed to improve perinatal outcomes and enhance the pregnancy and birthing experience for mothers.”
Sutter Women’s Services experts decided to perform their own research to develop a comprehensive program that will empower women with multiple gestations to carry their babies as long as possible. Kristi was one of a half-dozen recent mothers of twins and triplets who met with the Sutter experts and brainstormed services. Here is a list of the services that the MOMs Center provides:
- Weekly telephone call by the nurse coordinator
- Nutrition information on healthy eating for each trimester
- Lactation consultations
- Prenatal or postpartum exercise assessment with an exercise physiologist
- Prenatal or postpartum massage
- Social worker consultations
- Hospital tours, including neonatal intensive care unit
- Pre- and post-pregnancy support groups for mothers
- Early postpartum home or office visit
- Dad’s support groups
To register, participants must confirm their multiple gestations through a referral from their obstetrician and plan to deliver their babies at Sutter Memorial Hospital. Package fee is $300, and a sliding fee scale and scholarships are available. To learn more, visit www.sutterwomens.org or call (916) 733-1750.
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About Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, is affiliated with Sutter Health, a not-for-profit, community based health system located throughout Northern California. For more information on Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, visit www.suttermedicalcenter.org.
About Sutter Health
Serving patients and their families in more than 100 Northern California cities and towns, Sutter Health doctors, hospitals and other health care service providers join resources and share expertise to advance health care quality and access. The Sutter Medical Network includes many of California’s top-performing, highest quality physician organizations as measured annually by the Integrated Healthcare Organization. Sutter-affiliated hospitals are regional leaders in cardiac care, women’s and children’s services, cancer care, orthopedics and advanced patient safety technology. For more information about the not-for-profit Sutter Health family, please visit www.sutterhealth.org.
Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Contact
Gary Zavoral
(916) 454-6825 direct
(916) 869-4362 cell
zavorag@sutterhealth.org
Sutter Health Contact
Brian Hudson
(916) 286-6798 direct
(916) 286-6695 media line
cthudsb@sutterhealth.org