Maternity Services
Welcoming a new baby is a special time. From prenatal services through postpartum care, we’ll support you through your entire pregnancy journey.
Having a baby is one of life’s most meaningful milestones.
At UCI Health, you receive personalized maternity care supported by advanced specialists and technology, so you and your baby are cared for throughout every stage of pregnancy, delivery and recovery.
Recognition for our quality of obstetrics care
At UCI Health, we focus on providing a safe, comfortable birth experience for mother and baby.
Nationally recognized, high-quality maternity care
UCI Health — Orange is recognized as a
- Best Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report
- Designated Birthing-Friendly Hospital by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Baby Friendly hospital, which recognizes our efforts in helping mothers begin and continue breastfeeding
These recognitions reflect our commitment to safe, evidence-based maternity care and positive outcomes for mothers and babies.
Why choose UCI Health for maternity care?
Personalized care for every pregnancy
Whether your pregnancy is routine or medically complex, your care is personalized to your needs and supported by experienced obstetric specialists.
Advanced care for high-risk pregnancies
As Orange County's only academic health system, UCI Health provides access to maternal-fetal medicine specialists, fetal therapy and coordinated care for complex pregnancies.
Care that supports your birth goals
We believe every family deserves a birth experience that is safe, personalized and supported. Our Baby-Friendly designation, support for VBAC and evidence-based labor practices reflect our commitment to helping you achieve the healthiest possible birth experience while respecting your preferences.
Expert newborn care when it matters most
If your baby needs special care, our Level III NICU and neonatal specialists are available to provide advanced treatment immediately after birth.
A connected system of maternity care
Choose from multiple UCI Health birth locations while benefiting from one coordinated maternity program and access to specialized services when needed.
Delivering at Fountain Valley
If you choose to deliver your baby at UCI Health — Fountain Valley, please make arrangements with your private physician.Our approach to maternity care
At UCI Health, our goal is to provide you with the support you and your baby need throughout pregnancy, delivery, and the weeks after birth.
No matter where you choose to give birth, your care team works closely with you to create a birth plan that reflects your medical needs, preferences and family support system.
Services include:- Pre-pregnancy planning
- Genetic counseling and testing
- Prenatal care and monitoring
- Childbirth education programs
- Labor and delivery services
- Postpartum care and recovery support
- Maternal mental health services with our psychiatry department
Childbirth education
Approaching childbirth is an exciting time. UCI Health offers childbirth education programs and maternity tours to help you, your partner and your family prepare for the arrival of your baby. Our in-depth classes also help you make decisions about anesthesia, medications and other processes so you can prepare a personal birth plan. We also offer classes for breastfeeding, newborn care and more.
View a full list of our maternity and childbirth classesHigh-risk pregnancy care
If your pregnancy becomes medically complex, maternal-fetal medicine specialists provide advanced care for both you and your baby.
These specialists treat conditions such as:
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Gestational diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Premature labor
- Multiple pregnancies
With specialized monitoring and treatment, about 95% of high-risk pregnancies result in healthy deliveries.
Neonatal intensive care (NICU)
If your newborn requires specialized care, our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can treat even the most complex cases.
Our NICUs provide advanced care for:
- Premature infants
- Newborns with respiratory complications
- Infants with congenital conditions
Looking for more options?
View all clinicians
During this special time, work with a trusted maternity team
UCI Health obstetric specialists provide personalized care to support your pregnancy, childbirth and recovery.
Labor and delivery photo gallery
Want to learn more about our expert staff, beautiful facility and comprehensive services?
Take a closer look
Congratulations on your pregnancy! We are here to support and provide you and your baby with the care you need during this special time.
A dedicated waiting area is available for families and friends to remain close to the labor and delivery unit.
We have a dedicated team of emergency care experts to help you if you are experiencing any symptoms of pre-term labor or other serious issues. Any expectant mother in need of urgent medical care is encouraged to come straight to the labor and delivery unit to receive immediate attention.
The labor and delivery unit at UCI Health offers full staff coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. OB physicians, nurses and anesthesiologists are ready at a moments' notice.
Our antepartum unit is dedicated to expectant mothers who need to be hospitalized before the birth of their child. We provide spacious rooms with flat-screen TVs and access to tablets featuring educational materials.
UCI Health offers private labor and delivery suites for the comfort of expectant mothers and family.
For patients requiring cesarean procedures, we offer dedicated surgical space in the maternity unit.
Our private delivery suites also have a spacious restroom with shower for your comfort.
Our Mother-Baby Unit features 13 private and semi-private suites for mothers to recover and bond with their babies. The rooms are spacious, with built-in beds to accommodate care partners or guests.
Holding your baby after birth has many physical and emotional benefits for both of you. We encourage "The Golden Hour," an uninterrupted hour with your newborn, and skin-to-skin contact so you can bond by holding him or her against your bare chest.
Our goal is to keep you and your baby together as much as possible after birth. Your baby will remain in the room with you, where our nursing team will provide care to both of you. Our care team works with your family to plan and coordinate inpatient activities in preparation for the journey home.
Our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is equipped to care for infants with the most challenging health complications, including brain injury, respiratory failure and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Our NICU is a Level III unit, meaning that it meets the rigorous standards set by the state of California.
Dining options for new mothers include choices from an expansive menu, custom ordered to fit their dietary needs.
Our nurses and lactation consultants are available for individual breastfeeding counseling and assistance. UCI Health is committed to providing breastfeeding education to mothers and is a Baby-Friendly hospital as designated by Baby-Friendly USA.
We provide birth certificate services on-site to allow for easy completion of important documents.
Congenital cardiac heart screening, newborn hearing, jaundice and metabolic screenings are performed before discharge.
The Robert & Marilyn Sprague Gift Shop is located on the first floor of UCI Health Douglas Hospital.
The Tony & Daisy Fan Dining Hall is located off the main lobby of UCI Health Douglas Hospital. Our dining room is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. We have a variety of fresh, nutritious meals to serve our patients and visitors.
Board-certified pediatricians who are leaders in their clinical field will examine your baby and work with you on the care and health of the baby for a safe transition home.
You will receive instructions on car seat safety while in the hospital. We reinforce the California Child Restraint Law, which requires parents to have an appropriate car seat to take the baby home.
Our care team will provide you with education, resources and follow-up appointments to make sure you have a smooth transition home.
Congratulations on your pregnancy! We are here to support and provide you and your baby with the care you need during this special time.
A dedicated waiting area is available for families and friends to remain close to the labor and delivery unit.
We have a dedicated team of emergency care experts to help you if you are experiencing any symptoms of pre-term labor or other serious issues. Any expectant mother in need of urgent medical care is encouraged to come straight to the labor and delivery unit to receive immediate attention.
The labor and delivery unit at UCI Health offers full staff coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. OB physicians, nurses and anesthesiologists are ready at a moments' notice.
Our antepartum unit is dedicated to expectant mothers who need to be hospitalized before the birth of their child. We provide spacious rooms with flat-screen TVs and access to tablets featuring educational materials.
UCI Health offers private labor and delivery suites for the comfort of expectant mothers and family.
For patients requiring cesarean procedures, we offer dedicated surgical space in the maternity unit.
Our private delivery suites also have a spacious restroom with shower for your comfort.
Our Mother-Baby Unit features 13 private and semi-private suites for mothers to recover and bond with their babies. The rooms are spacious, with built-in beds to accommodate care partners or guests.
Holding your baby after birth has many physical and emotional benefits for both of you. We encourage "The Golden Hour," an uninterrupted hour with your newborn, and skin-to-skin contact so you can bond by holding him or her against your bare chest.
Our goal is to keep you and your baby together as much as possible after birth. Your baby will remain in the room with you, where our nursing team will provide care to both of you. Our care team works with your family to plan and coordinate inpatient activities in preparation for the journey home.
Our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is equipped to care for infants with the most challenging health complications, including brain injury, respiratory failure and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Our NICU is a Level III unit, meaning that it meets the rigorous standards set by the state of California.
Dining options for new mothers include choices from an expansive menu, custom ordered to fit their dietary needs.
Our nurses and lactation consultants are available for individual breastfeeding counseling and assistance. UCI Health is committed to providing breastfeeding education to mothers and is a Baby-Friendly hospital as designated by Baby-Friendly USA.
We provide birth certificate services on-site to allow for easy completion of important documents.
Congenital cardiac heart screening, newborn hearing, jaundice and metabolic screenings are performed before discharge.
The Robert & Marilyn Sprague Gift Shop is located on the first floor of UCI Health Douglas Hospital.
The Tony & Daisy Fan Dining Hall is located off the main lobby of UCI Health Douglas Hospital. Our dining room is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. We have a variety of fresh, nutritious meals to serve our patients and visitors.
Board-certified pediatricians who are leaders in their clinical field will examine your baby and work with you on the care and health of the baby for a safe transition home.
You will receive instructions on car seat safety while in the hospital. We reinforce the California Child Restraint Law, which requires parents to have an appropriate car seat to take the baby home.
Our care team will provide you with education, resources and follow-up appointments to make sure you have a smooth transition home.
Congratulations on your pregnancy! We are here to support and provide you and your baby with the care you need during this special time.
A dedicated waiting area is available for families and friends to remain close to the labor and delivery unit.
We have a dedicated team of emergency care experts to help you if you are experiencing any symptoms of pre-term labor or other serious issues. Any expectant mother in need of urgent medical care is encouraged to come straight to the labor and delivery unit to receive immediate attention.
The labor and delivery unit at UCI Health offers full staff coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week. OB physicians, nurses and anesthesiologists are ready at a moments' notice.
Our antepartum unit is dedicated to expectant mothers who need to be hospitalized before the birth of their child. We provide spacious rooms with flat-screen TVs and access to tablets featuring educational materials.
UCI Health offers private labor and delivery suites for the comfort of expectant mothers and family.
For patients requiring cesarean procedures, we offer dedicated surgical space in the maternity unit.
Our private delivery suites also have a spacious restroom with shower for your comfort.
Our Mother-Baby Unit features 13 private and semi-private suites for mothers to recover and bond with their babies. The rooms are spacious, with built-in beds to accommodate care partners or guests.
Holding your baby after birth has many physical and emotional benefits for both of you. We encourage "The Golden Hour," an uninterrupted hour with your newborn, and skin-to-skin contact so you can bond by holding him or her against your bare chest.
Our goal is to keep you and your baby together as much as possible after birth. Your baby will remain in the room with you, where our nursing team will provide care to both of you. Our care team works with your family to plan and coordinate inpatient activities in preparation for the journey home.
Our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is equipped to care for infants with the most challenging health complications, including brain injury, respiratory failure and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Our NICU is a Level III unit, meaning that it meets the rigorous standards set by the state of California.
Dining options for new mothers include choices from an expansive menu, custom ordered to fit their dietary needs.
Our nurses and lactation consultants are available for individual breastfeeding counseling and assistance. UCI Health is committed to providing breastfeeding education to mothers and is a Baby-Friendly hospital as designated by Baby-Friendly USA.
We provide birth certificate services on-site to allow for easy completion of important documents.
Congenital cardiac heart screening, newborn hearing, jaundice and metabolic screenings are performed before discharge.
The Robert & Marilyn Sprague Gift Shop is located on the first floor of UCI Health Douglas Hospital.
The Tony & Daisy Fan Dining Hall is located off the main lobby of UCI Health Douglas Hospital. Our dining room is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. We have a variety of fresh, nutritious meals to serve our patients and visitors.
Board-certified pediatricians who are leaders in their clinical field will examine your baby and work with you on the care and health of the baby for a safe transition home.
You will receive instructions on car seat safety while in the hospital. We reinforce the California Child Restraint Law, which requires parents to have an appropriate car seat to take the baby home.
Our care team will provide you with education, resources and follow-up appointments to make sure you have a smooth transition home.
Maternity spiritual support
The chaplain's office at UC Irvine Medical Center is here to give you support by offering access to spiritual advisers or cultural groups within the community.
The services of the chaplain are regularly available Monday through Friday. In case of emergency, the chaplain is available nights and weekends.
To see the chaplain, ask your nurse to page the chaplain's office with your request. You are also welcome to have your own clergy visit with you at any time.
A blessing for babies
Deacons administer a nondemoninational blessing to all NICU patients whose parents give verbal consent and are at bedside during the scheduled time.
The blessing is held every Sunday morning, between 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Please advise your clinical social worker if you wish to have your baby blessed by an officiate of your faith instead of receiving a nondenominational blessing.
Contact our chaplain
For more information about the Spiritual & Pastoral Support Program, contact Lead Chaplain Joseph Nguyen at 714-456-6157 or email nguyenjs@uci.edu, or Associate Chaplain Pirjo Carlisle at 714-712-1749 or email pcarlisl@uci.edu.
Maternity genetic testing
All parents hope for a healthy baby, free from any disorders or conditions. It's normal to worry.
Knowing the family history of both you and your baby's father will allow your healthcare provider to anticipate certain problems that can be minimized with proper care.
Prenatal tests
There are prenatal tests for more than 800 genetic disorders.
Amniocentesis is one of the most common, and is usually performed around weeks 14 to 16 of your pregnancy.
Family history
You will be asked to give a family history, which may include questions such as:
- Will you be 35 or older by your due date?
- Have you, your baby's father or anyone in your family had Down syndrome, spina bifida, hemophilia, muscular dystrophy, mental retardation, sickle cell disease, Tay-Sachs disease or cystic fibrosis
- Have your or your baby's father produced a child born with a defect not listed in the box above or that was stillborn?
- Do you, your baby's father or a close relative in either family have any inherited genetic or chromosomal disorder not listed?
- Are you, your baby's father or a close relative of Jewish ancestry or a descendant from Eastern European people or Mediterranean ancestry?
- Have you or a previous spouse of your baby's father had three or more miscarriages?
Giving birth at UCI Health
Whether it's your first baby or you've delivered before, UCI Health provides compassionate, personalized care for both mothers and babies.
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UCI Health — Fountain Valley Childbirth Preparation
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