Family Birth Center - Dignity Health - St. Joseph's Medical Center

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

The most important item to bring is an approved infant car seat. We offer free car seat checks and installation during your stay. 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 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 ensure a comfortable and safe environment for everyone.

You can have one full-time support person who can stay with you 24/7. You may also have a second support person (this does not have to be the same person the entire time) during visiting hours, which are 12–7 p.m. 

Review our visitor guidelines

St. Joseph’s Medical Center has a 30-bed Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This distinction means we can provide specialized care for newborns who need intensive medical attention. We offer a caring environment combined with advanced technology and a highly skilled team, including:

• Neonatologists (doctors specializing in premature and high-risk babies)

• Pediatric cardiologists

• State-certified respiratory care practitioners

• Specially trained nurses

• Clinical nutritionists

• Specialized transport personnel

Our neonatal intensive care team also includes you. We also encourage you to participate in your baby’s care as often as possible. This may include diaper changes, feedings or gentle touches, depending on your baby’s condition.

For critically ill premature infants, we offer a donor milk program that provides specialty nutritional formulas made exclusively from human milk. We also offer a developmental care program known as the high-risk follow-up clinic. This clinic allows us to track your baby after they have been discharged from the NICU to ensure they continue to thrive.

Yes, we help all families create a feeding plan that works best for them. This plan may include breast milk, formula or a combination of both. You can discuss your options with our physicians, nurses and breastfeeding support specialists, who will answer your questions and concerns.

We also offer a breastfeeding support group that meets in person every Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the maternity department. This group’s purpose is to provide breastfeeding education and information, as well as encouragement. You can work one-on-one with our board-certified lactation consultant and learn from other parents. Registration is not required. To learn more, please call (209) 461-5213.

Yes, we offer take-home training kits so you can learn the lifesaving skill of infant CPR and relief of choking. Please call St. Joseph’s Education Department at (209) 467-6331 to learn more about our kit, which costs $40.

Yes. At St. Joseph’s Medical Center, we keep mothers and babies together during the hospital stay to encourage bonding opportunities. Skin-to-skin bonding often:

• Causes your uterus to contract and bleed less

• Comforts and soothes baby

• Gives baby better oxygenation and blood sugar levels

• Promotes feelings of closeness and protectiveness

• Provides a quiet time for your new family to connect

• Stabilizes baby’s temperature and vital signs

• Stimulates milk production and provides the best opportunity to get breastfeeding off to a good start

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.