Family Birth Center - Dignity Health - St. John's Regional Medical Center

Our Family Birth Center provides comprehensive care for both vaginal and cesarean births, including vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Our services include on-site anesthesia, aromatherapy, pediatrician support, breastfeeding assistance and vaccinations. 

Our board-certified obstetricians and registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are available 24/7. We also have a dedicated maternal-fetal medicine program for high-risk pregnancies and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for high-risk births.

Upon your baby's arrival, we provide a gourmet celebratory meal and dessert for you and your partner, and offer a studio photography session in your hospital room.

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, including: 

• Comfortable clothes to wear home (maternity clothes)

• Driver's license or ID card, insurance card, 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 partner

Yes, we welcome your chosen support people to be present during labor and delivery. After birth, visitors can also see you and your baby in your hospital room. We encourage discussing your visitor preferences with your care team to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for everyone.

We allow two visitors at a time. One care partner may stay 24/7, and a second guest can visit from 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Siblings may visit during that time, accompanied by an adult. 

Review our visitor guidelines

A Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), like ours at St. John’s, provides advanced treatment for seriously ill, low birth weight and premature babies. This designation is only given to hospitals that can care for the most complicated births. Our NICU includes 20 private rooms, including adjoining rooms to accommodate twins and sleeping areas for you or your partner to comfortably spend the night.

Our neonatologists and neonatal nurses provide a range of specialized services using advanced technology. We also offer a high-risk follow-up program to monitor the development of your baby until age three.

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Yes, our hospital staff is well-trained to help you get started with breastfeeding if you choose this option. Our board-certified lactation consultants and counselors will provide you with support and answer your questions and concerns. 

You may also choose to attend our Personalized Breastfeeding Support class. In this class, our nurses will show you how to hold your baby and how to help the baby latch on. You will also be given advice about how to breastfeed and how to make enough milk for your baby. For more information or to sign up, please call (805) 988-2796.

Register for the class

Our standards of care for newborns follow the current recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Some guidelines are also recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and some are required by law in the State of California. 

Our standard treatments and tests include:

• Eye care using an antibiotic ointment to avoid infection

• Vitamin K to help blood clot

• Immunization against Hepatitis B

• Newborn screening for uncommon diseases

• Hearing screening to identify hearing loss

• Screening for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection

Yes. If you have had a cesarean delivery (also called a C-section) before, we support your decision to deliver your next baby vaginally. Our certified nurse-midwives are specialists in VBACs and have received national recognition for their success in this procedure. 

Having a VBAC can be a safe choice for most women. Whether it’s right for you depends on several things, including why you had a C-section before and how many C-sections you've had. You and your doctor can talk about your individual chance of success and carefully weigh the benefits and the risks.

Yes. St. John’s Regional Medical Center offers studio photography right in your hospital room. Once your baby is born, the photographer will visit your room to see if you’d like to schedule a time for your baby’s photo session.

You’re welcome to dress the baby or use a special blanket, so be sure to bring these items with you to the hospital. Your baby’s portraits will remain available online for a year for you to view or purchase. If you choose to purchase your photos while in the hospital, we now have on-site printing — your photos will be hand-delivered to you before you leave.