Jennie Edmundson Hosting 2 Free Events: Women and Newborns Open House, Car Seat Checkup

Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital is proud to be hosting a pair of free events aimed at supporting mothers, babies and families in western Iowa.

Visitors are welcome at Jennie Edmundson on Nov. 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. for a Women and Newborns open house and car seat checkup.

The open house will be held in the Anne Elizabeth Nelson Women and Newborns Center on the hospital’s fifth floor. The car seat checkup will be held in the 201 Building parking lot near the hospital’s west entrance. Channel 94.1 will be broadcasting from 201 Building lot and accepting donations for its annual diaper drive to benefit area families.

During the open house, guests will take a tour of the hospital’s state-of-the-art Women and Newborns Center, enjoy refreshments and visit with Methodist staff specializing in OB/GYN care, pediatrics, family medicine and labor and delivery.

The Women and Newborns Center is the result of a $10.75 million renovation project that was completed in 2020. The improved space features:

• Six private rooms for mothers in labor
• Three Jacuzzi tubs for pain control
• Portable fetal monitoring
• 12 postpartum rooms
• A C-section suite
• Four Level II NICU bays
• A new infant security system
• Expanded space for childbirth education classes and breastfeeding support
• A larger waiting room for family and friends
• The ability to deliver 1,000 babies a year – up from 600

“We know how special each birth is, and we’re honored to be a part of so many families’ stories,” said Ashley Nihsen, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, director of the Women and Newborns Center. “Jennie Edmundson is the area’s premier destination for care – including birth services and women’s health – and we’re excited to invite the community to see all we have to offer.”

The car seat checkup is a collaboration between Jennie Edmundson and Pottawattamie County Public Health. Nationally certified technicians will be available to show caregivers how to properly install car seats and check seats that are already installed.

“We’re passionate about caring for and supporting patients and families at all stages of life,” said David Burd, president and CEO of the hospital. “That support goes beyond the walls of Jennie Edmundson. These events are a great opportunity for members of the community to connect with us and see what The Meaning of Care is all about.”