The Special Delivery Unit (SDU) is a vital resource for women and families facing complicated pregnancies due to fetal anomalies By being located within a pediatric hospital, the SDU is uniquely positioned to offer seamless, integrated care that spans both maternal and neonatal needs, which is a significant advantage for families dealing with fetal anomalies. Here’s what sets the SDU apart:

• Focus on Fetal Anomalies: The SDU’s emphasis on supporting women carrying babies with fetal anomalies means they offer highly personalized care tailored to complex pregnancies. This could involve early diagnosis, close monitoring, and advanced medical interventions to support both mother and child.
• Comprehensive Care Across the Continuum: The unit doesn't just provide care during labor and delivery; it supports women before, during, and after childbirth. This holistic approach ensures that mothers have access to the right specialists, resources, and emotional support at every stage of their pregnancy.
• World’s First Pediatric Hospital-based Birthing Facility: Being located in a pediatric hospital allows the SDU to provide immediate access to pediatric specialists if needed, ensuring a smooth transition for babies who require intensive care or surgery after birth.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: The two operating rooms dedicated to cesarean sections and fetal surgeries help accommodate the unique needs of the pregnancies being managed in the SDU. The 15-bed Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum (LDRP) rooms provide a nurturing environment for the mothers to labor and recover while also allowing flexibility for individual care plans. The two infant stabilization rooms ensure that babies born with complications are immediately stabilized by the neonatal team.
• Skilled, Multidisciplinary Team: The staffing of experienced labor and delivery nurses, a 24-hour obstetrician and certified nurse midwife, and obstetrical technologists ensures that the team is equipped to handle high-risk deliveries. The backup maternal-fetal medicine physician and the availability of pediatric specialists enable a coordinated approach to addressing both maternal and fetal care needs.
• Compassionate, Individualized Care: The SDU's approach seems centered around not just medical intervention, but also providing compassionate care, which is critical for families facing such difficult circumstances. The emotional and psychological support for these mothers and families is as important as the physical care provided.

The Special Delivery Unit (SDU) is a unique unit delivering approximately 400 babies per year that provides individualized and compassionate nursing care to women carrying babies with fetal anomalies. The SDU is the world's first birthing facility located within a pediatric hospital that provides comprehensive care to these mothers before, during, and after delivery. The unit includes two operating rooms (one for cesarean sections and one for fetal surgeries), a 15-bedded LDRP, and two infant stabilization rooms. Our unit is safely staffed with experienced labor and delivery nurses, a 24-hour obstetrician and certified nurse midwife, obstetrical technologists, and a back-up maternal fetal medicine physician.

The Clinical Nurse practices at the level of an advanced beginner to expert practitioner of professional nursing in accordance with, and guided by the CHOP Nursing Professional Practice Model. The nurse at this level demonstrates competence in caring for patients and families and progresses to caring for those with the most complex problems/highest acuity in the designated clinical area. Provides age/developmentally appropriate care. Care is delivered through RN leadership for patient care within the framework of family-centered care.

The Clinical Nurse adheres to the organizational and nursing department mission, vision, and values. S/he practices in accordance with the ANA Code of Ethics; the ANA Standards of Clinical Nursing Practice; practice standards of applicable specialty nursing organizations; and CHOP developed standards of nursing practice. The professional nurse practices within the defined scope of practice designated by the Nurse Practice Acts of Pennsylvania and/or New Jersey, depending on the assigned work site.