FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Jan. 26, 2016) -- In February, new moms who deliver at Womack Army Medical Center will no longer have to share a room with other new parents during their recovery.

"We're excited to be able to offer private rooms for patients in our Mother Baby Unit," said Lt. Col. Marshall Malinowski, chief, Obstetrics and Gynecology, WAMC. "We understand that new parents want the ability to bond with their child and be able to have privacy when Family and other visitors come to visit. Sharing a room is inconvenient and that's why we made the change."

The renovation project to convert the existing space into private rooms has been ongoing since early last year. The first stage of renovation is complete, with 14 new rooms opening on the third floor of the hospital on 3 South.

When the second stage is completed in early summer, the Mother Baby Unit, or MBU, will encompass the entire third floor of the hospital, featuring 34 spacious private rooms with their own bathroom.

Until renovations are fully complete, Mother Baby will extend up to 4 North and some new moms may reside there during their recovery. There will not be any difference in the care or patient experience for parents on the fourth floor; it will just be a slightly longer elevator ride for visitors.

"We will have babies on separate floors for a few months, but that won't impact the care they receive," said Col. Bridget Little, chief, Maternal Child Nursing, WAMC. "There will still be the same delivery of high quality care, the same security measures in place, the same amount of experienced staff and the same care and concern for the new lives we're caring for."

The expansion of the Mother Baby Unit will allow WAMC to better meet the needs of the population and provide Family-focused care. Services provided by the MBU include patient education, infant care, caring for the mother after delivery, breast and bottle feeding information and support, umbilical cord care, infant security, "Baby Basics," circumcisions and more.

Malinowski said that all services will be maintained as renovations continue.

"There may be a little construction noise, but we will continue to provide quality care for our patients," he said. "We're glad that we were able to respond to patient requests and provide them newly renovated rooms offering the privacy they desired."