Charleston Pregnancy & Postpartum Guide

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Pregnancy & Postpartum Guide

Finding out that you are pregnant can bring a rush of a million different feelings, thoughts, and plans. Once the initial shock and excitement starts to wear off, you may feel overwhelmed with the questions you have, and what comes next in this journey.

It is our hope that with this resource guide, we are able to answer some of those questions for Charleston moms. We hope that this will provide you with some guidance both during your pregnancy and after you give birth.

We want to thank our featured sponsors and businesses listed here.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored guide, presented by our valued local partners. While we love sharing these resources with our readers, we have not personally vetted each individual business represented here and encourage our readers to do their own research to find the best fit for their family. 

Premier Sponsors

From the earliest weeks of pregnancy through delivery, recovery, and those precious, but sometimes anxious postpartum days, Roper St. Francis is your trusted partner throughout the childbirth experience. We consider it a privilege to care for families during these tender, memorable moments, and we look forward to welcoming your child with care and compassion, in a birthing experience customized to your family’s wishes.

• All of our maternity patient rooms at Bon Secours St. Francis and Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospitals are private and furnished with special comforts such as birthing beds, private baths or showers, rocking chairs, TVs and sleeper chairs.
• We offer more than 14 comprehensive in-person childbirth education classes in addition to online classes and free eBooks to help educate you about what lies ahead with your newborn.
• We understand that being told your pregnancy is high risk can be frightening, that’s why we offer a Maternal Fetal Medicine center at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital designed exclusively to provide the highest level of care and comfort.
• Our lactation consultants are board certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBCLC) and offer additional help in the hospital as well as a breastfeeding support group at our Bon Secours St. Francis and Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital locations.

For more information and to find a doctor who delivers at our hospitals, visit http://www.rsfh.com/womens-health/pregnancy.

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital
2095 Henry Tecklenburg Drive
Charleston, SC 29414

Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital
3500 Highway 17 North
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

FIT4MOM Charleston

FIT4MOM is the country’s largest fitness program for moms offering pre- and post-natal fitness classes to moms throughout Charleston, and the Mt. Pleasant area for every stage of motherhood. FIT4MOM Charleston helps moms make strides in fitness, motherhood and life.®

Our Programs:
We offer several programs for every stage of motherhood.

Stroller Strides® is our popular total body workout designed for parents with little ones in tow. It includes power walking and intervals of strength and body toning exercises using exercise tubing, the stroller and the environment. Taught by certified and specially trained pre-and postnatal fitness instructors, it is a great workout for any level of exerciser at any stage of motherhood. Every class includes songs and activities to entertain and engage the little ones.

Stroller Barre® is our signature blend of ballet, Pilates, barre, yoga and stroller-based exercises designed to help improve strength, muscle tone and posture.

Body Back® is our HIIT series for those ready to take their fitness to the next level.

FIT4BABY® is our exclusive prenatal fitness and exercise program that helps moms improve their prenatal health through strength-training, stretching, balance and cardio exercises.

Our Commitment to the Charleston Community:
In addition to free weekly playgroups, monthly Moms’ Nights Out and family activities, we also hold quarterly “Moms on a Mission” activities to benefit the Charleston community. FIT4MOM has raised money for MUSC Children’s Hospital, The Breast Cancer Fund and March of Dimes.

Our Values:
• We help moms achieve their ultimate potential, both physically and emotionally.
• We offer support and education for moms.
• We inspire moms to reach optimal health and well-being.
• We inspire children to emulate their moms and make fitness a part of their lives.

Private Therapy Services

Private Therapy Services is proud to present Charleston’s only Pelvic Floor Center. This department has been developed by South Carolina’s only 2 CAPP Nationally Certified Physical Therapists. In the past, our Orthopedic department, like so many other physical therapy practices, offered the basic Kegels and pelvic floor treatments, but it became clear that this area demanded a higher level of service.

Therapy Providers in this field must be specialized and truly have the knowledge and skills to identify and treat the multiple complexities of each case. Trina Kiernan, PT, CAPP- Pelvic Specialist, and Caitlin McCurdy-Robinson, DPT CAPP- OB and Pelvic Specialist, are your #1 choice for pelvic floor therapy. They are working together to increase pelvic awareness and to provide the Lowcountry with the highest skilled, personal and professional pelvic floor therapy.

With the lack of specialized therapists in the past, these issues have been under-reported and gone untreated. Help us get the word out that patients now have a treatment center. Sessions are painless and the results can be life changing. We are working towards opening our new Pelvic Floor Building soon!
Physicians: Fax referrals to 843-766-8644, Patients: No referral is needed Call anytime 843-766-2121
Email specific questions to [email protected], [email protected]
Visit our website: www.askmypt.com

West Ashley:
445 Savannah Highway, Charleston 29407
843-766-2121

Mt. Pleasant:
1300 Hospital Drive, Mt. Pleasant 29466

Every story has a beginning.

Find your happy beginning at East Cooper.

When you’re pregnant, you learn a lot about what to expect. But no matter what, you know that having your baby is only the beginning of the story. And even though things rarely happen just how you imagined them, there’s no denying: bringing a new life into the world is one of the most beautiful things you’ll ever experience. With labor and delivery facilities designed just for you, plus an entire team of OB/GYNs, nurses, and birthing specialists dedicated to caring for mother and baby, everything we do is designed to make your beginning a happy one.

Private Labor & Delivery Rooms

Fourteen spacious, beautifully appointed Labor & Delivery rooms let you welcome your newest arrival in privacy and peace, along with many of the comforts of home. An additional 28 private postpartum rooms offer parents and baby a comfortable place to recover, plus families can rest assured of their baby’s safety with our infant security monitoring system.

During your time with us, you can enjoy:

  • Private bathroom and shower
  • Adjustable bed, and a couch or reclining chair for your labor partner
  • An encouraging and supportive team that focuses on the bonding of mom and baby

Lactation Support

Our IBCLC certified lactation nurse visits each mother and baby after delivery to answer questions and assist with newborn care and breastfeeding.

Our lactation nurse will also call you at home for a follow-up to make sure everything is going well.

Special Care Nursery (Level II)

In the event that your newest arrival needs extra attention, the devoted specialists of our Special Care Nursery (Level II) are here to deliver the utmost care for your baby. A Special Care Nursery (Level II) is capable of treating late-preterm infants, from gestation 32 weeks to 37 weeks. East Cooper Medical Center is proud to have an experienced team of board-certified MUSC-affiliated neonatologists, with a commitment to specialized care. Our neonatologists practice ongoing collaboration with obstetricians and the pediatricians of infants in need of advanced care, and our skilled team of pediatric caregivers offer the highest level of care available in Mt. Pleasant.

Other Features and Highlights

  • The Joint Commission Gold Seals of Approval™ for Health Care Quality: Disease-Specific Care for Perinatal Care
  • Pre-Delivery Observation: specialists can determine if a patient is in labor and perform other procedures pre-delivery
  • Special Delivery Options: our staff is skilled in a variety of special delivery methods to address the delivery options of our patients
  • Patient Navigators: staff members that can help guide you through the process from registration to post-partum questions

2000 Hospital Drive, Mt. Pleasant, 29464
843-881-0100

Hospitals & Birthing Centers

From the earliest weeks of pregnancy through delivery, recovery, and those precious, but sometimes anxious postpartum days, Roper St. Francis is your trusted partner throughout the childbirth experience. We consider it a privilege to care for families during these tender, memorable moments, and we look forward to welcoming your child with care and compassion, in a birthing experience customized to your family’s wishes.

• All of our maternity patient rooms at Bon Secours St. Francis and Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospitals are private and furnished with special comforts such as birthing beds, private baths or showers, rocking chairs, TVs and sleeper chairs.
• We offer more than 14 comprehensive in-person childbirth education classes in addition to online classes and free eBooks to help educate you about what lies ahead with your newborn.
• We understand that being told your pregnancy is high risk can be frightening, that’s why we offer a Maternal Fetal Medicine center at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital designed exclusively to provide the highest level of care and comfort.
• Our lactation consultants are board certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBCLC) and offer additional help in the hospital as well as a breastfeeding support group at our Bon Secours St. Francis and Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital locations.

For more information and to find a doctor who delivers at our hospitals, visit http://www.rsfh.com/womens-health/pregnancy.

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital
2095 Henry Tecklenburg Drive
Charleston, SC 29414

Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital
3500 Highway 17 North
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

Every story has a beginning.

Find your happy beginning at East Cooper.

When you’re pregnant, you learn a lot about what to expect. But no matter what, you know that having your baby is only the beginning of the story. And even though things rarely happen just how you imagined them, there’s no denying: bringing a new life into the world is one of the most beautiful things you’ll ever experience. With labor and delivery facilities designed just for you, plus an entire team of OB/GYNs, nurses, and birthing specialists dedicated to caring for mother and baby, everything we do is designed to make your beginning a happy one.

Private Labor & Delivery Rooms

Fourteen spacious, beautifully appointed Labor & Delivery rooms let you welcome your newest arrival in privacy and peace, along with many of the comforts of home. An additional 28 private postpartum rooms offer parents and baby a comfortable place to recover, plus families can rest assured of their baby’s safety with our infant security monitoring system.

During your time with us, you can enjoy:

  • Private bathroom and shower
  • Adjustable bed, and a couch or reclining chair for your labor partner
  • An encouraging and supportive team that focuses on the bonding of mom and baby

Lactation Support

Our IBCLC certified lactation nurse visits each mother and baby after delivery to answer questions and assist with newborn care and breastfeeding.

Our lactation nurse will also call you at home for a follow-up to make sure everything is going well.

Special Care Nursery (Level II)

In the event that your newest arrival needs extra attention, the devoted specialists of our Special Care Nursery (Level II) are here to deliver the utmost care for your baby. A Special Care Nursery (Level II) is capable of treating late-preterm infants, from gestation 32 weeks to 37 weeks. East Cooper Medical Center is proud to have an experienced team of board-certified MUSC-affiliated neonatologists, with a commitment to specialized care. Our neonatologists practice ongoing collaboration with obstetricians and the pediatricians of infants in need of advanced care, and our skilled team of pediatric caregivers offer the highest level of care available in Mt. Pleasant.

Other Features and Highlights

  • The Joint Commission Gold Seals of Approval™ for Health Care Quality: Disease-Specific Care for Perinatal Care
  • Pre-Delivery Observation: specialists can determine if a patient is in labor and perform other procedures pre-delivery
  • Special Delivery Options: our staff is skilled in a variety of special delivery methods to address the delivery options of our patients
  • Patient Navigators: staff members that can help guide you through the process from registration to post-partum questions

2000 Hospital Drive, Mt. Pleasant, 29464
843-881-0100

Pregnancy & Postpartum Guide MH CMB logo correction

Mother’s Helper has been providing prenatal and postnatal services to families across the lowcountry since 1988. Founder Lin Cook offers Bradley Method Birthing Classes, Labor Doula services, and lactation consultations to educate and assist expecting and new moms. Mother’s Helper also provides Infant Massage Classes and Postnatal services.

MUSC Women’s Health features comprehensive programs and services to meet the growing needs of women from the teen years through senior life. Nationally ranked as one of the top 20 hospitals for Gynecology by US News & World Report, we also offer pregnancy and delivery services and have maternal-fetal medicine physicians on staff to ensure the best outcome for you and your baby. Our mother-baby unit is also designated “Baby-Friendly,” offering an optimal level of care for infant feeding.

Online Scheduling:

Locations:

  • Daniel Island
  • Downtown
  • Mount Pleasant
  • North Charleston
  • Summerville

Additional Resources

Fertility, Adoption, & Surrogacy

The Fertility Center of Charleston

Pregnancy & Postpartum Guide: Fertility Center of Charleston Pic

At The Fertility Center of Charleston, Dr. Stephanie Singleton and her staff compassionately guide each patient to parenthood using the latest advanced reproductive technologies. Dr. Stephanie Singleton provides individualized care through personalized treatment plans. The Fertility Center of Charleston offers free second opinions. Some services include: in invitro fertilization therapy, polycystic ovarian syndrome, amenorrhea, IUI and male factor infertility. 

[email protected]

1280 Hospital Drive, Suite 300
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

843-881-7400

Additional Resources:

Postpartum Care, Infant Care, & Breastfeeding Support

AtoZ Lactation Pregnancy & Postpartum Guide

Breastfeeding and lactation support in the privacy of your own home while keeping you and your baby close.
Personal lactation consultation with your specific goals and needs in mind.
Information and guidance at any stage of your breastfeeding journey, from newborn to weaning and in between.

Pregnancy & Postpartum Guide New Hope

We are a family centered chiropractic office offering drug-free health care, with a focus on pregnancy and pediatrics. Our office is passionate about serving you and your family with highly sophisticated neurological scans and a personalized, hands on approach to care. We would love to serve you and your family!

[email protected]

843-203-3199

1483 Tobias Gadson Blvd, Ste 106
Charleston, SC 29407

We believe parents know best, but they need a little help. Our purpose is to help parents and babies achieve their best sleep, ease anxiety by providing education on the birthing process and infant care, and assist with nanny referrals. We take the time to listen. Your family is unique and we want to understand what has or hasn’t worked for you and your family. We provide gentle solutions founded in experience and education. Mandy Owens, Owner of Charleston Baby Consultant, is a registered nurse with over 18 years of experience. Mandy’s extensive background in nursing, maternity care, pregnancy, and postpartum care give her unique insights and expertise. She is also a mom of two rambunctious boys and understands the whoa’s of motherhood first hand. We want you to know you are not alone. We follow up on the routines and solutions we’ve suggested and help you continue to strategize as your baby develops and changes.

Additional Resources:

Maternity, Birth, & Newborn Photography

Pregnancy & Postpartum Guide JC Photography 2

I am a Maternity, Newborn and Family Photographer. I absolutely love what I do. I am honored to be trusted by my clients to capture such special moments in their lives.

Additional Resources:

Fitness & Wellness

FIT4MOM Charleston

FIT4MOM is the country’s largest fitness program for moms offering pre- and post-natal fitness classes to moms throughout Charleston, and the Mt. Pleasant area for every stage of motherhood. FIT4MOM Charleston helps moms make strides in fitness, motherhood and life.®

Our Programs:
We offer several programs for every stage of motherhood.

Stroller Strides® is our popular total body workout designed for parents with little ones in tow. It includes power walking and intervals of strength and body toning exercises using exercise tubing, the stroller and the environment. Taught by certified and specially trained pre-and postnatal fitness instructors, it is a great workout for any level of exerciser at any stage of motherhood. Every class includes songs and activities to entertain and engage the little ones.

Stroller Barre® is our signature blend of ballet, Pilates, barre, yoga and stroller-based exercises designed to help improve strength, muscle tone and posture.

Body Back® is our HIIT series for those ready to take their fitness to the next level.

FIT4BABY® is our exclusive prenatal fitness and exercise program that helps moms improve their prenatal health through strength-training, stretching, balance and cardio exercises.

Our Commitment to the Charleston Community:
In addition to free weekly playgroups, monthly Moms’ Nights Out and family activities, we also hold quarterly “Moms on a Mission” activities to benefit the Charleston community. FIT4MOM has raised money for MUSC Children’s Hospital, The Breast Cancer Fund and March of Dimes.

Our Values:
• We help moms achieve their ultimate potential, both physically and emotionally.
• We offer support and education for moms.
• We inspire moms to reach optimal health and well-being.
• We inspire children to emulate their moms and make fitness a part of their lives.

Private Therapy Services is proud to present Charleston’s only Pelvic Floor Center. This department has been developed by South Carolina’s only 2 CAPP Nationally Certified Physical Therapists. In the past, our Orthopedic department, like so many other physical therapy practices, offered the basic Kegels and pelvic floor treatments, but it became clear that this area demanded a higher level of service.

Therapy Providers in this field must be specialized and truly have the knowledge and skills to identify and treat the multiple complexities of each case. Trina Kiernan, PT, CAPP- Pelvic Specialist, and Caitlin McCurdy-Robinson, DPT CAPP- OB and Pelvic Specialist, are your #1 choice for pelvic floor therapy. They are working together to increase pelvic awareness and to provide the Lowcountry with the highest skilled, personal and professional pelvic floor therapy.

With the lack of specialized therapists in the past, these issues have been under-reported and gone untreated. Help us get the word out that patients now have a treatment center. Sessions are painless and the results can be life changing. We are working towards opening our new Pelvic Floor Building soon!
Physicians: Fax referrals to 843-766-8644, Patients: No referral is needed Call anytime 843-766-2121
Email specific questions to [email protected], [email protected]
Visit our website: www.askmypt.com

West Ashley:
445 Savannah Highway, Charleston 29407
843-766-2121

Mt. Pleasant:
1300 Hospital Drive, Mt. Pleasant 29466

Additional Resources:

More Resources

Want to be a part of our Pregnancy & Postpartum Guide?

New and expecting moms are always looking for recommendations from a trusted friend and we would love to hear why your business should be part of this Pregnancy & Postpartum Guide! Get the word out about why moms of the Charleston area need to know about you! Contact us below to get started.