Family Birth Center - Dignity Health - Sequoia Hospital

The Family Birth Center at Sequoia Hospital provides comprehensive care for both vaginal and cesarean births. Our services include on-site anesthesia, pediatrician support, breastfeeding assistance and vaccinations. 

Our Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is staffed by doctors and nurses from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. These physicians specialize in neonatal care and are nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report for their expertise.

When it’s time to come to the hospital, contact your OB/GYN. Then call our Birth Center at (650) 367.5655. Wheelchairs available inside main entrance

The Birth Center is only accessible via elevator “B,” across from the admitting and registration department. The Birth Center is located on the third floor. Just exit the elevator and check in at the nurses stations directly ahead.

You will stay in one of our labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum (LDRP) suites. Each LDRP suite includes modern medical equipment, a guest bed or sleeper chair for your birthing partner, and a private or shared bathroom.

You and your baby may spend your entire stay in the same room. Or you may be moved to a postpartum room to make an LDRP suite available for another patient.

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 anything that will make your stay more comfortable, such as:

• 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

• Swimsuit and a change of clothes for your birth partner

Yes, we welcome your chosen support people to be present during labor and delivery as well as after birth. We allow one visitor to stay overnight. Children may visit between 9 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. All visitors must be free of communicable infections and wash their hands before holding your newborn.

We encourage you to discuss your visitor preferences with your care team to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for everyone. 

Review our visitor guidelines

Yes, our lactation support helps new moms during hospital stay and through the crucial early weeks in the life of a new baby. Our hospital staff is well trained to help you get started with breastfeeding if you choose this option. International board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs) are available to provide expert support during your hospital stay and when you return home.

After you are discharged, our IBCLCs are available by phone or through a consultation to follow your progress. With a doctor’s referral, most insurance plans cover these visits. However, you should verify your coverage with your insurance provider. 

For advice about breastfeeding, you can call our free "calm line” at (650) 367-5158. This line is answered by IBCLC-certified nurses on weekday afternoons. Please leave a message for a return call by the end of our next business day.

Your doctor may recommend a cesarean section (C-section) if your baby is too big for your pelvis or if you’re carrying multiples. A C-section may also be recommended if your contractions are not strong enough to fully dilate your cervix or your baby does not tolerate labor.

Our nurses offer personalized support for your birth experience and provide various pain management options. These options include guidance on breathing techniques and anesthesia. Our anesthesiologists are available 24 hours a day and can discuss pain relief options with you at any point during your labor.

At Sequoia Hospital we keep mothers and babies together during the hospital stay to encourage bonding opportunities.

Skin-to-skin care provides a unique opportunity for initial bonding with your newborn baby within the first hour of birth. While skin-to-skin care is especially beneficial in facilitating breastfeeding, non-breastfeeding parents are also encouraged to participate in this special time.

You can choose a pediatrician by asking your obstetrics and gynecology doctor or asking family and friends. You can also use our Find a Doctor tool.