Family Birth Center - Dignity Health - Methodist Hospital of Sacramento

At Methodist Hospital Family Birth Center, you get outstanding maternity care from an experienced labor and delivery team in Sacramento. We work with you to develop your birth plan, offering tailored support and guidance.

We support a range of childbirth options, including:

• Cesarean birth
• Natural childbirth (without pain medication)
• Pain medication, including nitrous oxide, epidural, IV pain medication
• Vaginal birth

As our patient, you have access to a full range of pain management options and comforting amenities, such as aromatherapy and doula services. Our team then provides compassionate postpartum care after delivery. We also promote mother-baby bonding through skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding.

Yes, if you are more than 14 weeks pregnant or up to six weeks postpartum and have an urgent or emergent pregnancy-related need, our OB Emergency Department (OBED) is here for you. You will be seen by one of our board-certified OB/GYN hospitalists regardless of time, complications or circumstances. Commonly referred to as OB triage, our OBED is where you will go for:

• Urgent or emergent pregnancy-related issues for patients greater than 14 weeks pregnant

• Active labor (you will be assessed to determine if it is time to be admitted)

• Postpartum concerns, up to six weeks

The OBED is located on the 2nd floor of our hospital. Start by checking in at the main ER, where you will be triaged, then moved to the OBED.

Our spacious facilities feature natural lighting, offering a warm and welcoming environment. Your labor and delivery suite and postpartum room features:

• Aromatherapy
• Board-certified lactation consultant support
• Family kitchen
• Flat-screen TV with patient education and entertainment options
• Sleeping accommodations
• Organic bath and body products
• Wi-Fi access
• Comfort care aids to help during labor, such as birthing and peanut balls.

We also provide a celebratory meal for you and your support partner after your baby arrives.

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

• Lip balm

• Nightgowns

• Nursing bras and nursing pads

• Personal electronics and chargers

• Personal toiletries

• Favorite snacks

• Change of clothes for your birth partner

Yes, we’d love to show you around the birth center. You can register for an in-person Stork Tour to visit our facilities and learn what to expect on the big day.

In-person tours happen on the second Saturday of each month from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Each tour lasts about 40 minutes.

Register for a tour

Babies who are born prematurely or with complications get advanced care in our Level II NICU from a highly trained team of doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists. The 12-bed NICU is on the second floor of the Family Birth Center and includes a family waiting area and meal-preparation facilities.

Using our expertise and advanced equipment, we closely monitor your baby and support their growth and development. Once they are strong enough to go home, we make sure you feel comfortable and confident caring for your baby before you leave the NICU.

Yes, our board-certified lactation consultants and nurses offer breastfeeding support for you and your baby during your hospital stay. 

For more information, email our breastfeeding support staff. 

We offer complimentary doula services during your labor and delivery. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Our doulas provide informational, physical and emotional support to you and your birth partner during labor and delivery.

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

• Shorter labor times

• Fewer medical procedures

• Greater satisfaction with the birth experience

• Increased breastfeeding success

Learn more

Use our Find a Doctor tool to find a provider who delivers at Methodist Hospital of Sacramento.