Welcome to UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest. I'm Eliza Garay, surgical and support
services manager for the Women and Infants team. I'm going to take you on a virtual tour of our
labor and delivery and postpartum units. We hope to provide a view of what to expect when you
deliver your baby with us. Prior to arriving to the hospital we ask that you call our nurse triage line.
As you see on the screen there is a phone number for our midwife patients and a different phone
number for our OB patients. Call if you think you're in labor, your water has broken or have
concerns or questions. A nurse is available 24 hours a day seven days a week to provide guidance
and calling will allow UC San Diego Health staff to be ready for you upon your arrival.
After calling and if you're directed to come into the hospital you have a few options to
either drop off or park when you arrive at UC San Diego Medical Center. Patients can be dropped off
at the main entrance to the hospital found on Arbor Drive between the hours of 5 am
and 8 pm. Parking at any hospital entrance is not authorized and can lead your vehicle to
being towed we encourage valet parking located at our main entrance between the hours of 8 am
and 4:30 pm. It is convenient and inexpensive. The cost of valet parking service is $5 for half a day
up to 4 hours or $10 for a full day longer than four hours. Parking is free with a disabled
placard. Maternity patients receive a discounted flat fee rate of $4 upon request. This
option is only available with valet parking. Self-parking is available at our Arbor parking
structure located at the end of Arbor Drive. The cost is $5 for half a day up to
four hours and $10 dollars for a full day longer than four hours. Note your parking space number
and pay at any of our pay stations using cash or credit card. You can also pay via the park mobile
app with your smart device. Your parking ticket allows you in and out privileges for 24 hours.
Just park in any visitor spot when you return and display your ticket on the dashboard of your car.
Complimentary disabled parking is available at UC San Diego parking meters and accessible
spaces when you display a valid disabled permit, placard or plates. If you arrive between 8 pm and
5am drop-off will need to be at our emergency department entrance found on Front Street.
Checking in after parking, you will need to make your way to the main elevators located on the
first floor just past our lobby. Maternity patients need to take the elevator up to the
second floor where our labor and delivery unit is located. Once off the elevator make
a right and follow the signs to our women and infant services unit. When you arrive at
the double doors outside the family lounge you will find a silver call button labeled check in.
Press the button and a team member will respond and escort you back to a triage room.
Triage. All triage rooms are private with the dedicated restroom here you and your baby will
be monitored to see where you are in the labor process. One of our providers will determine if
it is time for you to be admitted to labor and delivery to have your baby. If it's not quite
time yet we will provide further guidance. Before we take a look at our labor and delivery rooms
I want to share with you some special features of delivering your baby at Hillcrest some of
our standard room features include all rooms have free wi-fi TVs and tablets for your entertainment.
All our rooms have a convenient pull-down chair that your guests may use for their overnight stay.
We also provide various birthing equipment such as birthing balls, peanut balls, birthing
stools and birthing bars. Please request any of these from your nurse upon admission.
We use the latest medical evidence to help you have the best birth possible. These are some of
our standard procedures and practices. Please note that any of these procedures may not take place if
a medical emergency were to occur, delayed cord clamping baby to chest immediately after birth,
rooming in. Baby will stay with you for the entire stay. All newborn screenings and checks
will be done at the bedside. We do not bathe the baby during their stay. For safety you
and your baby will receive matching ID bands and your baby will get a special alarm ban
that they will use for the entirety of their stay. We have lactation consultants here to help you get
breastfeeding off to a great start. Our nurses have special training in breastfeeding as well.
Doulas. UC San Diego Health is also home to a unique program where patients can request a
volunteer doula free of charge to provide you and your family comfort and care during your labor and
delivery. All you have to do is ask for a doula when you're admitted. UC San Diego Health doulas
will stay with you until your baby is born and can even go with you into the operating room if
a c-section birth is needed. While a doula is not guaranteed they are available day and night and
requests for doulas can usually be accommodated. If you have hired a private doula she is also welcome.
Please note that at times our doula services may be limited or we may not be able to allow doulas
into the facility for the health of our patients and staff. We recommend that you discuss doula
services with your provider prior to delivery. Now let's go look at our labor delivery and postpartum
rooms. Both obstetric and midwife patients deliver in these comfortable and ample rooms.
All rooms are private and you will labor, deliver and recover in the same room.
Our anesthesiologists are here 24/7 if an epidural is part of your birth plan. However, if you want to
labor unmedicated we will encourage and support your decision. In your labor and delivery room your
contractions and your baby's heartbeat will be monitored. We have wireless monitors so you can
walk around or even go into the shower while being monitored. If you need a c-section we have
state-of-the-art dedicated surgical rooms here on the second floor. Most of the time
your support person will be able to come into the operating room with you. We even have a drape with
a clear window where you can watch your baby being born. For vaginal birth you will stay for 24 to 48
hours after delivery. If you have a cesarean you will stay with us for two to four days on average.
Meals and cafeterias. During your stay our patient meals will be provided from a seasonal cooked from
scratch menu made to order in our kitchens. We also offer a celebratory meal so you can
enjoy a special brunch or dinner in honor of your new baby. Family members can purchase food
from a cafe located on the first floor or bring their own food from home. We also have
vending machines in our cafes available 24/7 with a large variety of food options.
Gift shop. At the gift shop on the first floor you can find flowers, cards and gifts. You can
also purchase breastfeeding supplies and rent a hospital grade breast pump to take home after your
stay. NICU. If the unexpected happens your baby is in the best hands possible at UC San Diego Medical
Center we have a level two NICU on the second floor. We have renowned neonatologists, respiratory
therapists and every type of specialized care your baby will need while in the NICU.
Once it's safe you and your support person can visit your baby in the NICU.
We hope this virtual tour has given you the information you need
as you prepare for your new arrival. Please don't hesitate to ask us anything at your next prenatal
care visit that we didn't cover in this video. We know you have many options as to where to
have your baby and we're glad you chose UC San Diego Health, On behalf of everyone at
UC San Diego Health I want to congratulate you on your pregnancy. We look forward to seeing you soon.