Birth Center
At UC San Diego Health System, families now have the option of delivering at our Birth Center, which offers a safe, spacious and comfortable alternative to the traditional hospital maternity environment.
The Birth Center environment supports the natural childbirth experience desired by many women when bringing their babies into the world. It provides family-centered maternity care in a comfortable, home-like setting, including four spacious birthing suites (furnished with double or queen beds, rocking chairs and homey antiques). However, because the Birth Center is located at the UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest, patients are just minutes away from the latest technology and state-of-the-art obstetrical/neonatal units if needed.
Women delivering at the Birth Center can also take advantage of our Volunteer Doula Program, which provides continuous one-on-one support throughout labor, delivery and the postpartum period.
Specialists in Labor Support
Every woman in labor faces the challenge of how she will cope with the normal process of labor and birthing. At the Birth Center, women have a variety of choices to help them. First and foremost, all staff members at the Birth Center are specialists in labor support techniques that can help women give birth with little or no pain medication. These techniques include:
- Walking during labor
- Hydrotherapy (shower or tub)
- Birth stools
- Birth balls
- Breathing techniques
- Massage
- Music
Women are also free to explore a variety of positions to help alleviate discomfort.
Should the need arise, intravenous fluids and pain medication are available. If the pain is too challenging, or if a complication should arise, the option of transferring to the Labor & Delivery Unit for epidural anesthesia or more intensive medical care is available. Regardless of whether care is provided at the Birth Center or the Labor & Delivery Unit, each mother will continue to have the support of her certified nurse-midwife throughout her delivery and postpartum period.
For more information about the Birth Center, please call (619) 543-3863.
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