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Baby fever is all around. For the first time in about 10 years, healthcare providers have seen an uptick in overall birth rates. Analysts believe this first increase since the Great Recession might have occurred for the simple reason that women are feeling more financially stable to start a family.
As one of Cincinnati’s leading healthcare furniture companies, OstermanCron has dealt with many different healthcare clients like these. So, we had to ask: Since this infant upswing, how has hospital furniture in delivery rooms changed?
First off, with more births comes more preferences and options for delivery methods. Hydrotherapy has become very common in current years, resulting in accommodating water-friendly medical furniture for such unique needs. Also quite surprisingly, epidurals have started to make its exit in the birthing procedure. Instead, nitric oxide, (or laughing gas as many know it) is becoming a go-to choice. For this reason, healthcare furniture manufacturers are anticipating a growing implementation of more hospital headwalls, such as DIRTT Wall systems, to create easier access to these medical gases.
It’s also much more of the norm for mothers-to-be to have their husbands, family, and loved ones by their side during labor. Due to this increase in participation, more hospital seating is being included in hospital designs and healthcare furniture lounge pieces like pullout couches and comfortable lounge sections are being applied. Birthing aids and healthcare furnishings in patient rooms such as rocking chairs and birthing balls will also be added to accommodate these soon-to-be moms.
