Aurora Sinai Medical Center sought to provide a safer, highly comfortable birthing experience for expectant mothers and their families. To achieve this, the hospital envisioned a dedicated space that combines a relaxing, home-like environment with immediate access to expert medical staff. The resulting Aurora Sinai Water Birth Suite realizes this goal.
The initial plan involved converting a single existing labor and delivery room. However, the design team quickly determined that one standard room could not adequately accommodate both the patient’s family and the necessary medical staff. To effectively resolve this challenge, we renovated two adjacent rooms to create the 800-square-foot Aurora Sinai Water Birth Suite.
This ultra-modern, tranquil environment functions as a unique, soothing birthing destination. The suite features dimmable, color-changing LED lighting and artwork which provide a calming ambiance. The specialized birthing tub utilizes innovative Chroma-therapy LED light and warm ozonated water to increase physical comfort during labor. We carefully concealed functional details, such as medical gas outlets, out of the patient’s direct view at the headwall. This design choice minimizes the clinical feel and enhances the cozy, residential atmosphere.
While water births continue to increase in popularity, hospital-based options remain limited. Only 6 to 10 percent of hospitals across the United States currently offer water birth options for mothers-to-be. Recognizing this gap in maternal care, Aurora began thoroughly researching water births as a viable patient option in 2022.
The permanent addition of the Aurora Sinai Water Birth Suite now allows the hospital to offer this sought-after service to all expectant families. Prior to the completion of this new suite, the nearest hospital providing a similar birthing option was located in Madison, Wisconsin. Today, this state-of-the-art facility proudly stands as the only hospital in southeastern Wisconsin to provide a dedicated, permanent water birth option.
