Pregnancy & Birth

Effective January 28, 2023 at 7am, along with all other inpatient hospital services, the Obstetrics Unit at St. Margaret's Health - Peru has temporarily suspended service. 

To our expectant mothers and their families, we apologize for any added burden this announcement may have caused and wish you a healthy and safe pregnancy and delivery. 

For a list of other healthcare organizations that provide obstetrics services, click here

When it Comes to Comfort & Care During Birthing, We Deliver.

Starting or growing your family is an exciting time! It can also be a stressful, and sometimes a scary time as well.  Bringing a new life into this world is a special kind of miracle that requires special care. Our Obstetrics Department understands both the excitement and the fears involved with giving birth and are dedicated to providing expecting parents with the experience it’s meant to be—a beautiful, joyful and life-changing celebration of new life. 

About Our Obstetrics Unit

The Obstetrics Unit at St. Margaret’s Health – Peru is thoughtfully designed and fully equipped to provide comprehensive services in a family-centered environment.

The unit contains beautiful labor, delivery and postpartum suites. The suites are large, private and feature:

  • Fresh, updated decor
  • An oversized bathroom with a shower/tub
  • A mini refrigerator for your convenient, personal use
  • A telephone
  • A television with a built-in DVD player
  • And a couch that converts to a bed so your significant other or coach can stay comfortably overnight. 

Nursery:

The nursery is spacious, well-equipped and cheerfully decorated. A medical examination room is also part of the nursery so our physicians can perform on-the-spot exams, treatments and procedures. Additionally, our nursery also has an infant security system and closed-circuit cameras that allow for continuous monitoring to ensure safety and provide peace of mind. Furthermore, the entire unit is locked 24 hours a day, so only medical personnel, patients and invited family members and guests have access. 

Surgical Suite:

A large surgical suite is also integrated into the unit, which boasts state-of-the-art anesthesia and surgical equipment and technology, including a cutting-edge fetal monitoring system that communicates critical data to your labor and delivery team.

A Professional, Skilled Team to Ensure Your Comfort & Well-Being:

St. Margaret’s Health offers a highly-skilled, extensively-trained obstetrics team to assist and care for you throughout each step of your pregnancy and birthing process.

Our nursing staff is comprised of friendly, supportive individuals dedicated to attending to the unique needs of mothers-to-be. When paired with our advanced call-light system and the addition of two separate nurses’ stations—one near the LDR suites and one near the postpartum suites—you can be confident nursing care is always close at hand.

Personal Tours Available

Contact the nurses’ station to ask about taking a personal tour of our Obstetrics Unit by calling:

 (815) 780-3443

The St. Margaret’s Obstetrics Team Also Includes:

  • Neonatal resuscitation instructors
  • Certified childbirth educators
  • Certified lactation counselors (available to you if you choose to breastfeed)
  • CPR instructors
  • Certified car seat safety technicians

More Great Features to Enhance Your Birthing Experience

  • Our lactation office is conveniently located adjacent to the Obstetrics Unit.
  • Special touches help to welcome family and friends. A large family waiting area can be accessed by elevator from the Ground Floor, and patient rooms feature comfortable furniture for guests. PLEASE NOTE: Our current visitor policy we have in place due to COVID-19 prohibits any guests other than the significant other of the mother. 

Options for Customizing Your Labor & Delivery

These choices are available to you when you have your baby at St. Margaret’s Health:

  • Whirlpool tubs for relaxation during labor
  • Walking during labor
  • Epidural analgesia for labor
  • Spinal/epidural anesthesia for C-sections
  • Your coach present during labor or C-section
  • Minimized interruptions during “The Blessed Hour” after birth, so you may have time to future and bond with your baby

More About "The Blessed Hour"

St. Margaret’s promotes “The Blessed Hour.” By definition, this is the time immediately after birth when the new parents and baby spend time bonding and getting to know each other. The first few minutes of a baby’s life are filled with dramatic changes as he or she adjusts to life outside of their mother. Studies show the best place for these adjustments to take place is in their mother’s arms. We encourage the new mother to hold her baby “skin to skin,” which makes it easier for the baby to stabilize his or her body temperature, heart rate, breathing and breastfeeding is more successful. “The Blessed Hour” is a natural and gentle way for a baby to transition from birth into the world, and may actually last more than an hour.

During “The Blessed Hour,” friends and family will need to wait in the OB Waiting Room. The new parents and their newborn will welcome visitors after this uninterrupted time together. When directed by the OB Unit staff, someone will come to the waiting room and let the visitors know when the mother and newborn are ready.

Visiting Hours

Visiting hours for OB patients are normally from 11am to 8pm. However, due to COVID-19, we are currently prohibiting any visitors to the OB Unit other than the mother’s significant other. 

Visiting hours may be limited depending on the patient’s condition, hygiene needs and breastfeeding schedule. An adult must accompany siblings of the newborn while they are visiting the hospital, and visitors must wish their hands prior to having contact with the newborn. Family and visitors are expected to abide by conduct that is supportive to the hospital environment. No one under the age of 18 is allowed to visit the new baby except for siblings of the new baby. Please note – the above visitor policy is currently not in effect. Only the significant other of the mother will be allowed to visit until further notice. 

 

Location

If you’re planing to visit one of our new moms in the St. Margaret’s Health – Peru Obstetrics Unit, please park in the South Parking Lot. Enter the hospital through the Ground Level Entrance on the east side of the building. Once through the entrance, turn right and take the elevator to the Third Floor where the door will open to the Obstetrics Unit Waiting Room. However, due to COVID-19, we are currently prohibiting any visitors to the OB Unit other than the mother’s significant other. 

 

Our Obstetrics Providers

We have five board-certified OB/GYN’s and a certified nurse midwife on staff for you to choose from for your prenatal, childbirth and postpartum care. Choose what works for you and your family. Learn more about our providers below.

Newborn Care

St. Margaret’s Health has numerous pediatricians and family physicians who are ready to care for your newest family member. Both types of providers are an exceptional choice for your care. Learn about each and decide what’s right for you, your child and your family as a whole. 

Obstetrics Units:

Peru Hospital Obstetrics Unit:

925 West Street

Peru, 61354

Women's Health Clinic Locations:

Women’s Health Care Center:

920 West Street
Building B
Peru, 61354

Women’s Health Center:

920 West Street
Building B (Lower Level)
Peru, 61354

Effective March 14, 2022, Hazel Marie Boyle Women’s Health Center and its providers relocated to Peru from Spring Valley.

Other Resources

Our Board-Certified Obstetricians & Certified Nurse Midwives

Barbara Tieman

CNM, FNP, Midwife Women’s Health
Location St. Margaret’s Women’s Health Care Center 920 West Street Building B Peru Illinois 61354 Phone: (815) 223-2944
Photo of Barbara Tieman

About

EDUCATION

  • Family Nurse Practitioner at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois
  • Post-Master’s Nurse Midwifery at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois

OTHER CERTIFICATIONS

  • American Board of Family Nurse Practitioner
  • American Midwifery Certification

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SMH Peru And Spring Valley Will Be Closing All Current Operations As Of Friday, June 16, 2023 At 11:59 P.M.

This includes the Hospital, Clinics and other facilities at both locations.

All portals will be inaccessible after this time.

Patients needing emergency care should call 911.

To obtain a copy of your Medical Records please visit our Medical Records Request webpage and download and submit a request in writing.

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