Family Birth Center - Dignity Health - Mercy General Hospital

The team at Mercy General Hospital’s Family Birth Center helps you welcome your baby with personalized care. We support a range of birth options, including:

• Cesarean birth

• Natural childbirth (without pain medication)

• Vaginal birth

We offer pain management options, such as epidural and intrathecal combinations, to minimize discomfort during labor and delivery. Our adaptable beds also make it easy for patients to get into a wide range of labor and birthing positions.

Amenities like aromatherapy, spa products and doula services can help boost relaxation and confidence during childbirth.

Should your baby need extra monitoring, our non-stress test (NST) fetal testing is conveniently performed in our birth center. This offers crucial insights into your baby's well-being, all without the added inconvenience of visiting another facility.

After birth, we offer board-certified lactation consultant support to help you and your baby learn to breastfeed.

Spacious, private birthing suites provide you and your support partner with a comfortable place to await your new arrival. Parents have access to special amenities during their stay, including:

• Aromatherapy
• Celebratory meal
  
• Comfortable overnight sleeping accommodations for your support person
• Diaper bag filled with essentials 
• Flat-screen TV
• Plush robe and spa products
• Wi-Fi access
• Support from a board-certified lactation consultant
  
• Comfort care aids to help during labor, such as birthing and peanut balls.

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

However, you are welcome to bring anything that will make your stay more comfortable, including: 

• Comfortable clothes to wear home (maternity clothes)

• Driver's license or ID card, insurance card, and pediatrician and OB/GYN contact information

• Flip-flops

• Lip balm

• Nightgowns

• Nursing bras and nursing pads

• Personal electronics and chargers

• Personal toiletries

• Snacks

• A pillow or blanket

Yes, you are welcome to tour our birth center. You can register for an in-person Stork Tour to see our facilities and learn what to expect on the big day.

You may bring one guest on the tour, but children are not allowed. For more information or help with registration, email Carrie Underwood.  

Register for a tour

If you are more than 20 weeks pregnant and have an urgent pregnancy-related concern, our OB Emergency Department (OBED) is available 24/7.

You should come to the OBED for:

• Urgent or emergency pregnancy-related issues

• Active labor (we assess you to determine whether you need hospital admission)

• Postpartum concerns (up to six weeks after birth)

When you enter through the emergency department, you will be assessed by a nurse, and escorted to the OBED on the third floor of the south wing.

Our board certified OB/GYN hospitalists are on-site 24/7 and provide expert obstetric care.

The OB/GYN hospitalists have the expertise and experience to:

• Respond to emergency concerns

• Answer patient and family questions

• Assess and treat you regardless of circumstance or insurance status

• Monitor and manage your labor progress

At Mercy General Hospital, we proudly offer complimentary doula services during your labor and delivery. Our doulas provide information as well as physical and emotional support to you and your birth partner during labor and delivery. Doulas are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Research shows there are many benefits to using a doula, including:

• Shorter labor times

• Fewer medical procedures

• Increased breastfeeding success

• More satisfaction with the birth experience

Learn more

You’ll get support from a board-certified lactation consultant during your hospital stay. They provide personalized guidance to help you and your baby learn to breastfeed.

After you return home, you can access live online support on Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. An international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) leads the group.

For more information, email breastfeedingsupportgroup@commonspirit.org.

Use our Find a Doctor tool or call 916-453-4497 to find a provider who delivers at Mercy General Hospital.