Labor and delivery | HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital

Birth center in Fort Walton Beach, Florida

At HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, your comfort and care throughout your birthing experience is always our priority.

Our private, spacious labor and recovery suites prioritize your comfort, and our highly skilled labor and delivery team offer family-centered care before, during and after pregnancy. We also offer couplet care, so you’ll receive support from the same nurse throughout your time with us, which provides better communication, more family bonding, and a smoother adjustment when taking your little one home.

Related specialties

Learn more about our related specialties.

Women's care

Breast health

Labor and delivery birthing services

In addition to our experienced obstetricians, anesthesiologists and neonatologists, our maternity unit provides various features for your comfort and safety.

These features include:

24-hour anesthesia coverage
Breastfeeding classes
Centralized fetal monitoring system
Couplet care
Four labor rooms and 12 recovery suites (all private)
Infant security program
Postpartum nurses to care for you and your baby after delivery

To schedule a childbirth tour or to learn more about our maternity services, please call (850) 863-7661

Our maternity center

In addition to our many services, we also offer support for breastfeeding, prenatal classes and an advanced security system.

Breastfeeding support

Our lactation consultants provide breastfeeding guidance and support to new mothers. We are here to help you and your newborn learn how to breastfeed if you choose to do so.

Childbirth classes

This course provides an overview of the childbirth basics and the birthing process. The class will answer questions regarding what to expect during the different stages of labor, equipment used and the options available for pain relief. It will also focus on specific breathing and relaxation techniques to assist patients and their support person during labor. Comfort techniques for each stage of labor will be used to prepare the expectant mother and birth partner.

Breastfeeding classes

We offer breastfeeding classes to help expectant mothers and new moms succeed at breastfeeding.

The classes provide breastfeeding techniques, encouragement and support to women who choose to provide breast milk for their babies.

Topics include:

Attachment techniques
Establishing milk supply
Milk production
Positioning
Providing breast milk for a baby who is not yet able to breastfeed
Preparing to return to work
Pumping
Relief of common problems

Fathers and partners are also encouraged to attend.

Couplet care

We understand that you want to bond with your baby after delivery. We are committed to giving you the education and support your family needs to welcome your new baby into your lives.

Mother-baby care, or couplet care, is not the same as rooming in, where you are expected to care for your baby by yourself after childbirth.

Instead, couplet care means the same nurse cares for mom and baby in the convenience of mom's room. As the mother, it is your decision when your baby leaves your room.

Benefits of couplet care include:

Better communication
More confidence through better education
More family bonding
Peace of mind having your baby at your side
Potentially easier and more successful breastfeeding
Smoother adjustment

Security system for infants

Our infant security system enhances your baby's safety and your peace of mind. Each infant wears a comfortable tag on their ankle attached by a soft, tamper-proof strap.

Alarms are generated if the strap is cut or tampered with, if the infant is moved to an unauthorized zone or if the tag's signal is no longer detected.

The system activates security cameras, which record activity at the door at the time of the alarm and one minute prior to the alarm.