Family Birth Center - Dignity Health - Mercy Hospital Southwest

Our Family Birth Center provides comprehensive obstetrics care for both vaginal and cesarean births. This includes an on-site anesthesiologist available 24/7, pediatric support, breastfeeding assistance and vaccinations. 

We also have a licensed obstetrics emergency department for urgent and emergent pregnancy-related issues (OB Triage) and a Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for high-risk births.

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 personal items that will help make your stay more comfortable, including: 

• Comfortable clothes to wear home such as 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.

We allow two visitors at one time, but this number may be adjusted based on your

condition and circumstances. One support person over the age of 18 may stay overnight. Siblings of all ages are welcome for short visits if they are free of illness and symptoms. If you have any questions, please speak with your care team.

Review our visitor guidelines

Mercy Hospital Southwest is proud to be the first licensed obstetrics emergency department in Kern County, referred to as OB Triage. Our OB/GYNs provide care for patients who are at least 20 weeks pregnant and have urgent or emergent pregnancy-related needs, such as:

• Abdominal trauma

• Active labor (you will be evaluated to determine whether admission is needed)

• Bleeding

• Decreased fetal movement

OB Triage is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Yes, our hospital staff is well-trained to help you get started with breastfeeding if you choose this option. We also offer a virtual course to help you prepare to breastfeed, as well as consultations with international board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs) after you leave the hospital. 

Register for our breastfeeding class

Mercy Hospital Southwest’s Family Lactation Connection is a team of international board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs) who provide free outpatient assistance to patients who have delivered at our Family Birth Center. Our goal is to support, troubleshoot and encourage families at any stage of their breastfeeding journey.

We offer private, patient-centered consultations by appointment only, following current CDC guidelines. Appointments can be scheduled on Sundays, between 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., or Wednesdays, between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment or ask questions, please call (661) 663-6067.

The Family Birth Center suites at Mercy Hospital Southwest are designed for the comfort and care of you and your baby. Our private suites are spacious and modern, with adjustable beds and a bathroom with a shower. 

They feature advanced fetal monitoring systems, among other equipment necessary to provide care for you and your baby. Each suite also includes comfortable pull-out furniture for an overnight guest and complimentary WiFi.

Yes, we provide professional photography services to celebrate your newborn’s arrival. You can purchase prints or create a personal website. Our photography vendor offers on-site printing so you can receive your package before you leave the hospital. You can also select images or reorder them for up to one year.

Skin-to-skin contact may be encouraged after birth when appropriate for the parent and baby. At Mercy Hospital Southwest, we keep mothers and babies together during the hospital stay to encourage bonding opportunities. Skin-to-skin bonding may:

• Help comfort and soothe your baby

• Support bonding

• Support temperature regulation and stable vital signs

• Support breastfeeding and milk production

• Provide quiet time for your new family to connect

You can choose a pediatrician by asking your obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) provider or asking family and friends. You can also use our Find a Doctor tool.