Family Birth Center - Dignity Health - Memorial Hospital

Our Family Birth Center provides comprehensive obstetrics care for both vaginal and cesarean births. This includes on-site anesthesia, pediatric support, breastfeeding assistance and vaccinations. We also provide care in the event of a high-risk birth at our Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

The most important item to bring is an approved infant car seat. You may also want to pack a going-home outfit for your baby and a receiving blanket. We provide all other necessary items for your baby during your hospital stay, including diapers and blankets.

You are welcome to bring personal items that will help make your stay more comfortable, including: 

• Comfortable clothes to wear home such as maternity clothes

• Driver's license or ID card, insurance card, pediatrician and obstetrician contact information

• Flip flops

• Lip balm

• Nightgowns

• Nursing bras and nursing pads

• Personal electronics and chargers

• Personal toiletries

• Snacks

• Swimsuit and a change of clothes for your partner

Yes, we welcome your chosen support people to be present during labor, delivery and recovery. We encourage discussing your visitor preferences with your care team to help support a comfortable and safe environment for everyone.

Two visitors are allowed at a time during labor and delivery and postpartum recovery. This number may be adjusted based on your condition and circumstances. One support person over the age of 18 may stay with you overnight. Siblings can visit for short periods of time if they are free of illness and symptoms. Please speak with your care team if you have any questions.

Review our visitor guidelines

If your baby is born prematurely or with a serious illness, our Family Birth Center has an intermediate Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In the NICU, specially trained doctors and nurses use advanced monitoring and medical equipment to care for the unique needs of newborns.

Yes, we help all families create a feeding plan, whether they choose breast milk, formula or a combination of both. Our physicians, nurses and breastfeeding support specialists, including international board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs), can discuss your options, answer your questions and help you make an informed choice for you and your family.

Our Birth and Parenting course is a free, four-week series of classes on what to expect during labor and birth. The course is taught by certified childbirth instructors and covers:

• Pregnancy

• Labor coping techniques

• Childbirth

• Breastfeeding

• Postpartum care

We encourage you to register for the course before or during your fifth month of pregnancy. Courses usually begin the first Monday of each month, with classes running weekly for four weeks (exceptions include holidays and classroom conflicts). Classes are held from 6–8 p.m. in Founders Hall at Memorial Hospital.

For more information or to register, please call our Maternal Child Coordinator at (661) 426-1688.

Register for class

Yes, we offer professional photography services to help you and your family celebrate the arrival of your newborn. You have the option to purchase prints or create a personal website. Our photography vendor provides on-site printing if you wish to receive your package before you leave the hospital. You can also select images or reorder them for up to one year.

Skin-to-skin contact may be encouraged after birth when appropriate for the parent and baby. At Memorial Hospital, we keep mothers and babies together during the hospital stay to encourage bonding opportunities. Skin-to-skin bonding may:

• Help comfort and soothe your baby

• Support bonding

• Support temperature regulation and stable vital signs

• Support breastfeeding and milk production

• Provide quiet time for your new family to connect

You can choose a pediatrician by asking your obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) provider or asking family and friends. You can also use our Find a Doctor tool.