Women and Infant Services
Women and Infant Services
From the early stages of pregnancy to the birth of your precious bundle of joy, we'd be honored to walk you through one of life's greatest experiences.
We're here for you at every step of the way, providing you with the tools, knowledge and services you'll need to be confident in your pregnancy and approach.
Our specialty team includes board certified obstetricians available in the Labor and Delivery Unit 24/7 and neonatologists from Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). Our staff strives to accommodate the needs of every patient and their child and understands the importance of offering personalized care.
With one of the lowest cesarean rates in Southern California and the only CCS designated NICU in the High Desert, Providence St. Mary Medical Center ensures the highest care possible for mothers and babies.
Thank you for letting us be your partner during this very special time.
We're ready to care for you and your baby no matter the circumstances. Providence St. Mary has a full spectrum of programs and services for expectant mothers, many unique to the High Desert and all designed to provide safe, quality care for moms and babies. These services include:
- Labor and Delivery
Family centered personal care to you and your support person during the birth of your child - Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Specially-equipped unit to care for infants with health complications at birth - Healthy Beginnings/New Avenues
Ensures mothers receive prenatal care during the first trimester of pregnancy - Mother/Baby Unit
Our state-of-the-art Mother Baby Unit offers top quality care and services for mothers and their newborns, ensuring that every baby’s life begins with health and happiness
Preparing for childbirth comes long before being admitted to the hospital, which is why Providence St. Mary offers childbirth classes every month for parents-to-be. We listen to you and help you make informed choices. It's a pregnancy journey that addresses your head and heart.
Prepare for the anticipated, the unexpected and everything in between. Birth plans are a great way to let your physician and labor and delivery nurse understand how you and your family would like your delivery experience to go. Creating a birth plan is a useful tool to determine the expectations both you and your partner have about the upcoming birth. Knowing these expectations will help guide our health care delivery team in providing the most comfortable plan possible.
Please do not bring valuables to the hospital, as they cannot be secured. The hospital is not responsible for replacing lost items. Any items that will be left unattended should remain at home.
- A hospital gown or birthing clothing, if you would like to bring your own. While we permit patients to wear their own clothing (i.e. skirts, nightgowns or dresses), we prefer that you wear a hospital gown, as they are fashioned with snaps at the sleeves for easy maneuvering around IV's. Also, because birth is a messy process, clothing worn during labor is unlikely to be worn again.
- Pajamas, bathrobe and slippers
- Underwear suitable for wearing with maxi-pads
- A nursing bra, if breastfeeding
- A comfortable outfit for mom to wear home
- Baby clothes and blankets for baby's trip home
- Cell phone/laptop/camera. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hospital. If you are bringing a cell phone, laptop or camera, please ensure these items will be attended at all times.
The Baby Friendly Health Initiative is a global initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). As part of this initiative, Providence St. Mary's clinicians support policies and practices that foster breastfeeding as the exclusive feeding choice for infants in their first six months of life. All Providence St. Mary nurses are trained and qualified to assist new moms with breastfeeding. Additionally, we have certified lactation consultants on staff to assist.
Our journey with you doesn't end at childbirth. Our community programs offer newborn evaluations and support, as well as education for mom.
Nurse-Midwives are nurses, most often with labor and delivery experience who have received on average two years of additional education to care for women. Our Nurse-Midwives care for women during pregnancy, during delivery and for the first eight weeks following delivery. All of the Nurse- Midwives at Providence St. Mary have a master's level education as well as a current license from the state of California to practice midwifery.
The Healthy Beginnings Midwifery Service began providing care to childbearing women in 1995. Prenatal care is provided at one of our three offices with births occurring in the Labor & Delivery Unit at Providence St. Mary.
Providence is committed to helping women experiencing emotional, social and psychological challenges during and after pregnancy. Our focus is prevention and early intervention.
If you or a loved one is struggling with maternal depression, anxiety, family conflicts or other stressors, or if you would like help connecting with mental health or social services resources, please call our toll-free Maternal Wellness WarmLine to speak to a licensed mental health professional.
WarmLine is available 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and is not text-capable.
The Maternal Wellness WarmLine is not a crisis line, nor does it handle emergencies. People in crisis should call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255.
Free pregnancy and parenting app
Circle® is a free pregnancy and parenting app that provides useful health resources, top-notch pregnancy calculator and tools to help track ovulation, weight, blood pressure, and vaccinations. Enjoy easy access to program information, services and classes, too! Plus, when you connect to MyChart through Circle, you will receive appointment reminders for you and your children. Learn more about the Circle app.
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