Pregnancy and Delivery

Congratulations

Come to our birth center orientation and meet our world-class staff. We know there’s no better place to deliver your baby—and we trust that you’ll feel the same way.

Pre-Admission Registration >

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Choose your team

Our world-class doctors and nurses provide extraordinary care. Your care team, led by your obstetrician, will partner closely with you to support your birth plan. Our 100-percent registered nursing staff is highly experienced in labor and delivery, and will give you personalized care and attention. And if you desire, specialized obstetric anesthesiologists will help make your experience as comfortable as possible. Your birth partner is an important member of the care team throughout the experience.

Care for you and your baby

Our Obstetric Care team includes Stanford Medicine specialists in maternal-fetal medicine and general obstetrics, along with nurse practitioners dedicated to obstetric care. Our labor and delivery team also partners with obstetricians throughout the community. Find an OB near you.

Deciding on a pediatrician is another important part of planning for the arrival of your baby. You will be asked to confirm that you have a pediatrician before your little one goes home from the nursery, so be sure to start your search before arriving at the hospital. Find a pediatrician near you.

Support for every pregnancy

Every pregnancy and delivery is unique. But our goal is always the same: to provide extraordinary care. Our Johnson Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Services provides a full range of diagnostic, treatment, consultation and genetic counseling through our six state-approved Perinatal Diagnostic Centers. Whether your pregnancy is routine or high-risk, we provide nurturing care and the very best outcomes, to give your baby the strongest start possible.

CenteringPregnancy®

At Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, you have two options for receiving prenatal care for your low-risk pregnancy: regular one-to-one care (1:1) visits or group care through CenteringPregnancy®. We are always looking for innovations to improve your care, and CenteringPregnancy® is a nationally recognized care model.

Prenatal, Infant and Child Classes

The Perinatal Education Program at Stanford Medicine Children's Health is designed to support every member of your family through the entire perinatal journey from before birth to after baby arrives. We offer a broad spectrum of classes taught by our skilled and certified instructors in both online and in-person formats.

Your birth plan

We want to help make your labor the experience you want it to be. We’ll work closely with you to support your birth plan choices, such as un-medicated or medicated labor and using birthing balls, music and other relaxation aids. With your birth plan as our guide, we always strive for a vaginal delivery and only recommend a C-section if your health or your baby’s health is at risk.

• Labor and Delivery FAQs
• What to Bring to the Hospital 
• Birth Center Orientation and Expectant Parents Night
• Classes and Registration
• Car Seat Fitting
• Choose a Pediatrician

Your arrival and stay

Once you're admitted at 725 Welch Road, West building, our staff will escort you to a comfortable room where you'll stay throughout your labor and delivery. The room includes a bathroom and shower, chairs and sofa for your partner, a flat-screen TV with cable and on-demand movies, and free wireless Internet access. A wireless fetal monitoring allows you to be up and around during your labor. We also assess your comfort throughout labor, and provide the type and amount of relief you prefer. Giving birth is an extraordinary experience, one that deserves the best amenities and care.

View our visitor guidelines >

Delivering your baby

When the moment comes, we’ll be right there with you and provide the quality care and comfort you need. While most of our deliveries are routine and healthy, our patients find it comforting to know that if an issue arises, some of the country’s top neonatal specialists are right down the hall.

Maternity and nursery

We do everything possible to ensure you have time together from the start. Your skin-to-skin time is a special part of the birth experience for you, and important for your baby’s well-being. Our nurses, who are highly experienced in caring for new moms and babies, will partner with you on post-delivery care—from ensuring your obstetrician is available to answer your questions, to explaining and demonstrating breastfeeding techniques.

Nursery care

We encourage you and your baby to stay together in the Maternity Unit.

For babies who need a little extra support, our teams are dedicated to providing your baby with neonatal care that is ranked among the top five in the country.

Breastfeeding

While breastfeeding is natural, it’s not always easy. And that’s why every maternity nurse at our hospital is trained in breastfeeding techniques. If you need specialized care and extra support, our expert lactation consultants provide daily breastfeeding classes and individual sessions.

Heading home

Congratulations! Your life will never be the same—and we look forward to supporting you in the transition. Our checklist for bringing your baby home—from car seats, to birth certificates, to newborn visits with your pediatrician—allows you to focus on getting to know your little one.

Postpartum Support Group

Join us weekly to share, discuss and connect with new parents and their babies. These groups are hosted by our group facilitators who have years of experience listening and supporting new parents and their babies. Support Groups are currently being held online via Zoom.