Having a baby is one of life’s most momentous experiences. The multidisciplinary team of obstetrics professionals at UCI Health understands this very special time.
We provide a comprehensive range of prenatal services, including genetic testing and counseling, as well as childbirth education programs, to help women prepare for a safe pregnancy and birth. When it’s time for baby to arrive, we offer private suites and a range of birthing options, allowing women to create a birth plan that meets their physical, emotional and family needs.
Our obstetricians are devoted to ensuring that every patient receives the best possible care. They take the time to get to know each mother-to-be as a person, following her closely from pregnancy to childbirth and postpartum.
UCI Health offers a full range of obstetric services, from pre-pregnancy genetic testing and planning through postpartum care for mother and baby. Our capabilities encompass not only general obstetrics, but also specialized treatment for high-risk pregnancies and babies born with medical conditions that require more intensive care.
We provide a nurturing and caring environment for our patients and their families because we know that the birth of a baby is one of life’s most important events.
As a university medical center with a strong focus on research, we are committed to offering patients the latest technologies, tests and treatments, including genetic testing. We have pioneered two tests used to determine a woman’s risk for premature labor and have been the first in the nation to adopt other breakthroughs that safeguard the health of both mother and baby.
UCI Medical Center is the only hospital in Orange County to fully meet national maternity quality care standards.
At 22%, we have among the lowest cesarean rates for low-risk pregnancies in the region. This beats the national goal of 24% and the Orange County average of 29%.
Our rate of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is 25% — twice the rate of other Orange County hospitals.
Our episiotomy rate is 3.3%, compared to an average of 29% at other Orange County hospitals.
Because we safely deliver a high number of high-risk babies each year (90 in 2015), we have the experience and expertise to manage high-risk pregnancies.
We provide Orange County's only combined high-risk perinatal and regional/level III neonatal program, which means we are fully equipped with the technology and specialists to manage high-risk pregnancies and at-risk fetuses.
For the past two years, we have done zero labor inductions before 39 weeks. Inductions are done only when medically necessary.
We are a Baby Friendly hospital. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is an international designation that recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer optimal care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.
Our Services
Because our obstetrical team is part of a university medical center, our patients have access to some of the best and most comprehensive OB services anywhere, including:
Obstetrical anesthesia
If a woman chooses to have a regional block (epidural or combined spinal/epidural) or IV medications to manage labor discomfort, highly trained anesthesiologists specializing in obstetrical care administer and monitor these medications.
Trial of labor after Cesarean delivery
Because we have a full staff available at a moment's notice, we are able to provide women with a prior Cesarean section the chance to deliver vaginally. This is called a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).
Our high-risk pregnancy program provides the consultation services of perinatologists (high-risk pregnancy specialists) and neonatologists (experts in the care of high-risk newborns) in certain cases. Because of our training as surgeons and obstetricians, we are uniquely positioned to take care of pregnancies complicated by fibroids and ovarian cysts.
For babies born prematurely or with medical complications, our NICU provides state-of-the-art treatment, a team of physician specialists called neonatologists, and a staff who is both highly skilled and deeply compassionate toward the needs of sick newborns. Our NICU is one of only two neonatal intensive care nurseries in Orange County accredited to care for the smallest and sickest newborns.
Childbirth education
UCI Medical Center childbirth education program prepares women, their partners and families for the arrival of their baby by discussing the physical and emotional aspects of birth. This in-depth series also helps participants make decisions about anesthesia, medications and other issues so women and families can prepare a personal birth plan in advance. We also offer classes in breastfeeding, newborn care and more.
The Ob/Gyn Hospitalist Division focuses on your care when you are hospitalized at UCI Medical Center. Our hospitalists primarily work with inpatients and are not available for outpatient appointments. Areas of clinical expertise include:
Postpartum hemorrhage
Shoulder dystocia
Emergent Cesarean sections
Fetal heart rate abnormalities
Placenta previas and accretas
Vaginal breech deliveries
Operative vaginal deliveries
Trial of labor after Cesarean section
Board-certified specialists
Our board-certified physicians are among the best in the nation. And if a newborn needs highly specialized care, UCI Medical Center is home to experts in more than 55 pediatric subspecialties.
Our OB Evaluation Unit is open 24 hours a day for any pregnant woman experiencing complications or concerns. Our specially-trained nurses and physicians are available to monitor contractions, measure the baby’s heartbeat, and perform ultrasounds and non-stress tests if indicated.
The OB Evaluation Unit provides services for pregnant women at 20 weeks gestation and above who are experiencing any pregnancy related concerns or conditions, or who have been referred by a physician. Our unit is also served by physicians specializing in obstetrics and high-risk pregnancies, available in-house 24 hours a day.
Birthing suites
Our brand-new birthing suites are designed with the comfort and privacy of our patients and their families in mind. This is a cozy and quiet place where you, your birthing partner and your care team can interact throughout your labor and birth. Our goal is to keep mother and baby together throughout the birthing process, even if surgery is required.
Our obstetrician, pediatricians and anesthesiologists are all on site 24 hours a day for the convenience and safety of our patients.
You and your birth partner can access the Labor and Delivery Unit through the University Hospital Tower Lobby from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The unit is on the 2nd floor. Temporary emergency parking is located in front of the University Hospital Tower entrance.
Postpartum rooms
After delivery, patients are closely monitored in our new mother-baby unity in the state-of-the-art UCI Douglas Hospital. With very few exceptions, all women are provided private rooms with extra space for family to stay with them at all times.
Newborn nursery
Infants are evaluated daily by pediatricians in the mother's room or in our newborn nursery. Our goal is to never separate a new mother and her baby.
Our Team
Our obstetricians take the time to get to know each mother-to-be and their families, following every patient closely throughout her pregnancy and childbirth.
Our strength lies in this close relationship and being able to tailor our medical knowledge to each particular case.
Since our obstetrical team is part of a university medical center, patients have access to some of the best and most comprehensive OB services anywhere, including:
Specially trained OB nurses
Highly skilled and experienced, our OB nurses think of themselves as facilitators who are privileged participants in a woman’s birth experience. As an important part of the birth team, they encourage, support and help patients, using their significant expertise to ensure a safe birth. UC Irvine Medical Center is one of a small group of hospitals nationwide to be awarded the Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence, the “gold standard” of nursing care.
Lactation specialists
We are a Baby Friendly-designated hospital, which means that we offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies. Our nurses and lactation consultants are available for individual assistance. If patients have difficulties at home, a UC Irvine Medical Center lactation consultant is available to provide advice and guidance over the phone or in person at the hospital.
Board-certified physicians
Our physicians are among the best in their field, and many of them have been named Best Doctors in America™ by their peers.
When you are in the hospital, the physician or surgeon who supervises your care is also seeing other patients and performing procedures.
That's why we have highly skilled, board-certified physicians known as hospitalists. They are on duty around the clock to oversee your care, and they collaborate with your primary and specialty physicians.
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 currently working toward Baby Friendly Designation with 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 currently working toward Baby Friendly Designation with 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 currently working toward Baby Friendly Designation with 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.
This four-week series of weekly two-hour classes is recommended for all first-time expecting parents, ideally during the seventh month of pregnancy. After attending the series, you will better understand the labor and delivery experience, cesarean childbirth and the basics of infant care. The classes cover breathing and relaxation techniques with practice opportunities and the support role of the coach during the labor and delivery process.
Orientación sobre maternidad y enseñanza sobre la lactancia materna
This 2 hour orientation program provides an overview of the hospital and the options and services available to you. It includes a live tour of the labor and delivery unit and the chance to meet our staff, along with other parents-to-be, and have your questions answered. You are encouraged to bring your spouse or partner, but children should not attend.
