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Birthing Center

Delivering babies of the Lompoc Valley for more than 70 years, we are committed to providing you with personalized care while offering advanced technology and medical expertise.

Get to Know Your Birthing Center

The dedicated and caring nursing team is here to honor your birth plan and individual needs. With six labor delivery recovery and postpartum (LDRP) suites and a state-of-the-art cesarean operating room, our OB unit is prepared to make each birth as comfortable and safe as possible.

Our Birth Center features:

  • 6 spacious LDRP suites
  • 2 Triage rooms
  • Private bathrooms and bidets in every LDRP
  • Sofa bed for your overnight guest
  • Large windows in every room for plenty of natural light
  • State-of-the-art infant security system
  • 24-hour language line assistance
  • Celebratory dinner before discharge
  • Free wireless internet

LDRP Suites

Our single-patient rooms have private bathrooms and are outfitted with all amenities necessary to make you feel at home during your stay. Each room has a sleeper sofa, high-definition flat screen television, wireless internet, bathroom bidet, newborn bath sink, and more. What makes LVMC stand out is our LDRP suites which allow for every part of your care to be done in one room. Our goal at LVMC is to prepare you for home as we promote rooming-in for newborns and mothers.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Our Birthing Center has received the highest recognition from Beta Risk Management and Safety through online education and participation in annual quality improvement activities.
  • LVMC is also a Nationally Certified Safe Sleep Hospital through Cribs for Kids.

Preparing for Baby

Pre-Registration

All obstetric patients should pre-register at least eight weeks before their due date. This will allow the hospital to verify insurance coverage and counsel the patient on various payment options. If you do not pre-register, all this will be completed once you arrive for labor. If you have questions regarding pre-registering, you can call 805-737-3300. During the pre-registration process, you will receive information on educational videos regarding your labor and delivery process. It is also important to remember to call your insurance within 30 days after you deliver to get your new baby on your insurance plan.

Take a Tour

Expectant mothers and birthing coaches are invited to tour the OB Unit at Lompoc Valley Medical Center by appointment and with the Childbirth Education Class. The tour includes information on where to enter the hospital and OB unit, visiting hours, nursery space, and infant security measures for newborn safety. All our private LDRP suites are spacious and comfortable.

Call to schedule a tour at any time (805) 737-3395

Visitor Guide

We understand the importance of family and friend support in welcoming your new addition. Still, we ask for help in minimizing exposure at this time. While in labor, moms are allotted to have two support people in the LDRP with them. All visitors must wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. We recommend that we minimize visitors from 2 - 4 pm daily so families can bond. This is also known as Quiet Time at LVMC. Visitors will be allowed in at the request of the patient.

What Do I Bring to the Hospital

We are prepared and ready for your arrival at any time. While it is not required to bring anything with you at all, here are some suggestions to make your stay a little more comfortable. It is always a good idea to pack your bag at least a month before your due date:

  • Toiletries, you should expect to stay one to two nights.
  • The infant car seat should be installed correctly in the back of your car before your baby's arrival.
  • Newborn items such as clothes to go home in and a blanket to cover him/her in their car seat.
  • Flip flops or slippers to use while in labor as you may choose to walk in our hallways or your room. These can also be used while you shower.
  • Clothes to go home that are cozy and loose fitting, along with a nursing bra or even a robe, would be a much cozier option.
  • Breast pump or supplies so the staff can help you learn how to use, connect, and clean it while you are here.
  • Know what Pediatrician you would like to see your baby. If you don't have one or know who to choose, we will assign your newborn to a pediatrician. We will be asking at the time of admission if you have selected or prefer a particular pediatrician.

Birth Certificates

It is essential to start thinking about your baby's name. At LVMC, the birth clerk will visit you after delivery to help begin the process of completing the necessary paperwork and requesting a birth certificate. You can download the forms and fill in as much as possible before your hospital stay. You will leave LVMC with a complimentary birth certificate and your official birth certificate filed through the public registrar.

Download the Birth Certificate Worksheet

Classes and Support

We offer classes before and after delivery to help you understand what to expect.

  • Childbirth Class:
    We offer a Childbirth preparation course at LVMC taught in a single-day format by an experienced labor and delivery nurse.
  • Breastfeeding Support:
    While staying at LVMC, you will have help from expert staff committed to breastfeeding care and support. We also offer support long after discharge via our Breastfeeding Mothers Support Group.

Labor and Delivery

Arriving at the Hospital for Labor

Call the OB unit to inform them you are on your way at 805-737-3395. Don't worry if you don't have time to call, our staff are always ready and waiting to help you. Remember to drive safely. When you arrive at the hospital, it is best to come in through the Emergency Room entrance. You will inform the triage RN in the ED of your needs and be escorted to the OB unit.

Labor Pain Management

Your labor journey is one of your life's most exciting, emotional, and personal events. Whether you choose a natural path or medications for pain relief, LVMC staff are here to support your decisions.

As labor progresses and the uterine contractions intensify, your nurse, your Obstetrician, and your Anesthesia provider may give you other options to lessen the pain. These options include short-acting narcotics, regional anesthetics (epidural), and local anesthetics to help manage your pain.

Post Partum

Mother-baby bonding is an essential time after delivery, particularly the first hour of a baby's life, referred to as "the Golden Hour." This special skin-to-skin bonding is encouraged after each delivery to promote bonding, breastfeeding, and newborn transition.

Nursery Care

Our well-baby nursery can provide routine care for your newborn. Your newborn will have basic newborn care that can be performed in your LDRP. This includes nursing and physician assessment, vital signs, bathing, lab draws, hearing, and phototherapy if indicated.

National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 3,500 infants die suddenly and unexpectedly each year in the United States. These deaths are called Sudden Unexpected Infant Death or SUIDs. About 50% of SUID deaths are due to sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS, which are sudden deaths that cannot be explained. SIDS is the leading cause of SUID for infants under 1-year-old, especially from birth to 4 months.

Postpartum Depression or "Baby Blues"

Postpartum depression occurs in 50-85% of women; they don't feel embarrassed or alone. This is caused by hormonal changes with the rapid decline in estrogen and progesterone levels after delivery. Baby blues often begin in the first two to three days after delivery and may last about two weeks; postpartum depression symptoms will be more severe and can last longer.

We are Here for You

When it’s time to deliver, we are your partners for labor and delivery. We provide a safe, positive birthing experience for you and your family. Our professional staff is caring, compassionate, and always available. We are guided by our philosophy of providing services and personal care tailored to individual needs.

Have questions? Call us any time, (805) 737-3395

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