Northwell Health has unveiled a new “Life Center,” bringing sensory birthing suites complete with aroma, light and sound therapy to Queens
BY TANYA BENEDICTO KLICH | news@queensledger.com
FOREST HILLS — Northwell Health LIJ Forest Hills has unveiled its newly expanded New Life Center, a state-of-the-art maternity unit designed to redefine pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care for families across Queens.
At the heart of the new center are two innovative sensory birthing suites—the first of their kind at the hospital—to provide a more calming, personalized labor experience. Its evidence-based features include ambient lighting, aromatherapy and music therapy. Labor & delivery nurses helped develop the suite concepts, inspired by their direct experiences in caring for mothers. The suites challenge the traditional labor environments of fluorescent lighting and clinical bustle, and were designed to reduce stress and anxiety during labor.
“LIJ Forest Hills is committed to ensuring that families in Queens have access to exceptional maternity care close to home,” said Lorraine Chambers Lewis, president of LIJ Forest Hills. “By continuing to strengthen the New Life Center and listening closely to the needs of the communities we serve, we are creating a more supportive, personalized experience for mothers and their families.”
The unveiling marks another milestone for the Forest Hills hospital, which has earned national recognition for patient safety and maternity care. The hospital is Leapfrog-certified for safety and has been designated a Baby-Friendly USA hospital through 2028, recognizing its commitment to evidence-based practices that support breastfeeding and maternal-infant health.
The New Life Center’s underlying goal is to provide comprehensive maternity care without requiring Queens families to travel outside the borough.
The center features a dedicated 24-hour labor and delivery team, an on-site Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for newborns requiring specialized care, certified nurse midwives, full-time lactation consultants, and a Center for High-Risk Pregnancy and Fetal Health. Private labor, delivery and recovery suites also provide overnight accommodations for birthing partners, helping families remain together throughout the birth experience.
Recognizing that pregnancy extends well beyond delivery, the hospital has expanded access to postpartum support and maternal mental health services. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders remain the most common complication associated with childbirth, according to Northwell. The New Life Center collaborates with Northwell Health’s Perinatal Psychiatry Program at Zucker Hillside Hospital to connect patients with specialized, evidence-based mental health care during pregnancy and throughout the first year after birth.
The expansion also reflects the diversity of Queens, one of the most multicultural communities in the country. Under the leadership of Dr. Victoria Vallejo, vice chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the team offers care in more than 55 languages through bilingual clinicians and interpreter services. Patients also have access to culturally responsive amenities, including kosher and halal meal options.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned through my work in the community is that many expecting parents simply do not know what maternity care is available to them right here in Queens,” said Stancy Saji, program manager for Government and Community Relations at Northwell. “My focus has been on closing that information gap, building trust and helping families feel informed and confident when choosing LIJ Forest Hills for their care.”
To help families prepare before delivery, Saji hosts complimentary private tours of the New Life Center, allowing expectant parents to meet staff, explore the facilities and become familiar with the environment before labor begins.
Patients who have already delivered at the center describe both the surroundings and the care as memorable.
“My delivery was truly a beautiful experience,” one new mother shared. “The room felt very cozy and peaceful.”
Another patient praised the clinical staff, saying, “My nurse Natasha was phenomenal. She made the whole experience calm and comfortable for me and my husband. She answered every question we had and went over my birth plan point by point. She truly was the main reason my hospital stay was a whole 10 out of 10.”
Beyond labor and delivery, the New Life Center is expanding women’s health services with pelvic floor care, women’s wellness webinars, Baby University educational classes for expecting parents, and mind-body integrative medicine programs designed to support families throughout pregnancy, postpartum recovery and beyond.
