Sentara Norfolk General Hospital unveils newly renovated unit for high-risk pregnant women

Aima Bolton arrived at the hospital three months before her due date when her water broke early, a serious complication that will keep her hospitalized until her pregnancy to increase the odds of a safe delivery.

The 36-year-old, who is expecting her first child, is receiving focused care management from a team of obstetrician-gynecologists and antepartum nurses at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

“It’s been difficult,” said Bolton. “It was very scary and kind of devastating. My first couple nights I cried to sleep because this is not what I expected my pregnancy to be.”

(Aima Bolton, second from left, poses with nurses and another patient inside the renovated Antepartum Unit.)

On Feb. 1, the hospital unveiled a newly-renovated Antepartum wing and celebrated the expansion from 15 to 21 beds.

The unit has consistently remained near maximum capacity over the last decade because it is the only dedicated inpatient pre-natal care unit in Hampton Roads.

The renovation will ensure that Sentara Health continues to provide pregnant women with an environment conducive to achieving the best possible outcome.

“There is a real need for more beds. We are the transfer center for all local hospitals for high-risk pregnant patients,” said Angie Moore, antepartum clinical nurse manager. "Our goal is to help women stay pregnant and safe until the baby is a little bit older. We buy time to get the baby more stable.”

The $1.2 million capital improvement project includes more spacious rooms for patients and visitors, all new amenities, private bathrooms and showers, and an improved air conditioning system.

“The environment makes 100 percent of the difference,” Bolton said. “To not feel like you are in a hospital, to feel like you are in a hotel or home is such a difference. I think it helps with recovery.”

In 2014, Antepartum split from the Labor & Delivery Unit to provide more targeted care for high-risk pregnant women who experience a pre-term rupture of membranes (early water break) or develop complications during pregnancy due to high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity or other pre-existing conditions.

The unit cared for 1,736 pregnant women in 2022 and 2023 – or about 900 patients each year.

“The unique thing is that patients don't stay one or two days – they stay up to six months. The Antepartum Unit is a neat little gift that Sentara Norfolk General offers the community.”

Bolton and other patients say they are grateful for the renovated space, but they are more thankful for the nurses who provide quality care and comfort them around-the-clock during a stressful time.  

One patient left a note for the nurses, writing, “You are the best friend I needed when I was at my lowest. To say you are amazing isn’t enough.”

“It’s like nothing is a burden. They are always there and willing to help,” Bolton said. “It’s genuine care. They ask you questions. They talk about themselves. It’s a personable experience and it’s much needed when you are going through something like this.”