Helping welcome babies like yours is what we do
If you grew up around here, there’s a great chance you were born at UM Health-Sparrow, gave birth at UM Health-Sparrow, know someone who was born at UM Health-Sparrow, or all of the above!
With over 3,000 baby deliveries a year — nearly a quarter of a million babies and counting — Lansing is Mid-Michigan’s premier birthing center and the go-to destination for the best quality care for babies and moms.
Our Women’s Services team members have earned the MI AIM Platinum designation for three consecutive years, recognizing our unwavering commitment to excellence in maternal and infant care. As a Level III Maternal Levels of Care facility, we’re equipped to provide comprehensive, high-risk obstetric services — and our outcomes reflect that expertise. We proudly deliver platinum-level care — every patient, every time.
Resources and support for every part of your journey
It takes work to welcome a new baby into the world. As your experienced partners in this process, we’re here to give you the help you need, not just during labor and delivery, but through pregnancy, breastfeeding and caring for your newborn.
At the heart of our high-risk obstetric care is a dedicated team of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists — physicians with advanced training in managing complex pregnancies. Whether it’s a medical complication, multiple gestation, or a baby diagnosed with a condition before birth, our MFM team provides expert guidance, compassionate care, and close collaboration with your general OB provider.
As a Level III Maternal Levels of Care facility, we offer:
- Comprehensive prenatal diagnostics and fetal imaging
- Ongoing monitoring for maternal and fetal complications
- Personalized care plans for high-risk conditions
- Coordination with neonatology, genetics, and pediatric specialists
With your safety and your baby’s health as our top priority, our MFM team is here to support every step of your pregnancy journey — from early diagnosis to delivery.
Breastfeeding is a journey — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Our program offers:
- On-staff lactation consultants available during your hospital stay for hands-on support
- An outpatient lactation clinic following discharge to assist with ongoing breastfeeding challenges
- Nurses with training to assist with the first latch and provide ongoing support during the hospital stay
Our lactation team includes International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) — the gold standard in breastfeeding care. These specialists are available when concerns are identified and offer:
- Expert support with latch, positioning, and milk supply
- Help with common concerns like nipple pain, engorgement, or low weight gain
- Guidance with pumping and returning to work
- Support for complex feeding needs, including prematurity or medical conditions
Whether you’re breastfeeding for the first time or need extra help along the way, our nurses and IBCLCs are here to empower and guide you — so you can feed your baby with confidence.
At UM Health-Sparrow, we believe that education is important for expectant parents. Understanding what to expect during labor, delivery, and the early postpartum period helps reduce fear, build confidence, and improve outcomes for both parents and babies. That’s why we strongly recommend participating in a childbirth education class as part of your birth preparation.
We proudly recommend these trusted options available in our community:
Willow Tree Family Center
Located in downtown Lansing, Willow Tree offers a two-part childbirth education series, led by experienced doulas and educators.
Class Highlights
- Part 1: Covers pregnancy support, birth mechanics, optimizing fetal position, nutrition, and hormone basics
- Part 2: Focuses on birth planning, postpartum success, newborn procedures, breastfeeding initiation, and self-care
Ideal for families seeking a supportive, community-driven experience with local birth experts.
Alliance OB/GYN – UM Health‑Sparrow Affiliated
Through Alliance OB/GYN (Sparrow Hospital affiliate in East Lansing), this one-session birthing class is led by an RN
Class Details
- When: 6:15–7:45 pm (arrive at 6:00 pm)
- Cost: $50 per couple (cash, card, or check)
- Topics Covered: Labor timeline, coping strategies, hospital admission, pain relief options, and birth-day preparation
- Great for busy families wanting a concise, practical overview in just one evening.
Health Beginnings Childbirth Education Classes
Pregnant people with Medicaid and their support person are invited to join us and prepare for the birth of their child.
- No cost to participate
- One-time class
- Free infant car seat upon completion of the class
Classes will meet on select Wednesdays, from Noon - 3 p.m. at the Ingham County Health Department
Call (517) 887-4322 for class dates and to register.
UM Health-Sparrow Tours
Tours of UM Health-Sparrow Lansing's Labor & Delivery and Mother Baby Center are offered through Women's Services.
You can also view a virtual tour of the Maternity Unit below.
Sign up today!
The region’s only Baby-Friendly designated hospital
UM Health-Sparrow Lansing earned the Baby-Friendly designation from Baby-Friendly USA, the national authority on the global initiative supported by WHO and UNICEF.
What does it mean to be Baby-Friendly? It means we empower parents like you with all the support they need to make the best decisions for your family, whether that includes breastfeeding or formula-feeding or both.
We follow evidence-based practices, like early skin-to-skin contact (sometimes called “kangaroo care”) to encourage bonding between you and your baby in the first moments after birth. Whenever possible, your baby will remain with you in your private room during your recovery and stay in the Mother Baby Center.
UM Health-Sparrow is family-friendly, too
We believe your birthing experience should be focused on you and your growing family.
At UM Health-Sparrow Lansing, you’ll find comfortable, private rooms for labor, baby delivery and recovery. It means you can count on our full participation in your birth plan — which we call our labor partnership.
Our 24/7 anesthesia department sets our birthing center apart. You can get quick pain relief from dedicated experts, who are always available, even during emergencies.
We take advantage of cutting-edge technology for better patient experiences. Labor and delivery staff are certified in electronic fetal monitoring. UM Health-Sparrow Lansing is also one of the few in the region to deploy artificial intelligence to monitor the health and safety of moms and babies during labor.
We are also home to Mid-Michigan’s only Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (RNICU), making UM Health-Sparrow the best-prepared place to deliver if your newborn needs some extra support.
Labor Partnership Booklet
Here at University of Michigan Health-Sparrow, your expectations and preferences are important to us. Our team of doctors, midwives, nurses, and technicians are all well trained to provide you the very best care before, during, and after birth. We believe in shared decision-making. While we cannot plan exactly how your birth will go, we hope that this information helps you talk with your provider during prenatal care visits.
Our goal is for every woman to have a safe and healthy birth. Some things to think about: What are your core values and goals for this birth? Do you have any fears or concerns? What is most important to you about your birth experience?
Birth Preferences Document
The University of Michigan Health-Sparrow "My Birth Preferences" document is a short guide that shares how you would like your labor and delivery to be handled. It helps your doctors and nurses understand your wishes for things like pain medicine, the room setting, and care after the baby is born. While it is not a legal agreement, it shows what’s most important to you and helps guide decisions during birth.
