Welcome to Jacobs Medical Center at UC San Diego Health.
I'm Eliza Garay, surgical and support services manager for women and infants.
I'm going to take you on a virtual tour of our labor, delivery and postpartum
units. We hope to provide you a view of what to
expect when you deliver your baby with us.
We know you have many options as to where to have your baby and we're glad
you chose UC San Diego Health. Prior to arriving to the hospital we ask
that you call our nurse triage line. As you see on the screen there's 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. Calling ahead will allow UC San Diego Health
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 Jacobs Medical Center
Between the hours of 6 a.m and 7 p.m
patients can be dropped off at either the main or west entrance to the
hospital. After hours patients can be dropped off
at the emergency department entrance. Parking at any hospital entrance is not
authorized and can lead your vehicle to being towed.
We encourage valet parking located at our drop-off points,
it is convenient and inexpensive. The cost of la parking service
is five dollars for half a day up to four hours
or ten dollars for a full day longer than four hours.
Parking is free with a disabled placard. Maternity patients receive a discounted
flat fee rate of four dollars upon request.
This option is only available with valet parking.
Valet drop-offs are located at our Jacobs Medical Center main entrance,
Thornton Pavilion between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
weekdays and Jacobs Medical Center west entrance between the hours of 5 a.m. and
5 p.m. on weekdays. Self-parking is available in parking
structures or lots at a rate of five dollars for half a day,
up to four hours and ten dollars for a full day longer than four hours.
Note your parking space number and pay at our pay stations using cash or credit
card. You do not need to display your ticket
on your dashboard. You can also pay via park mobile app with your smart device
10 dollar parking allows you in and out privileges
for 24 hours. Just park in any visitor spot when you
return and display the ticket on your dashboard of your car.
With a disabled placard parking is free in any patient or visitor spot.
Checking in after parking, you will need to make your way
to the Jacobs Medical Center elevators located on the first floor
just past the west entrance. Maternity patients
need to take the elevator up to the ninth floor where our labor and delivery
units are located when you arrive on the ninth floor a
team member will check you in and notify the nursing staff that you
have arrived. One of our nurses will escort you back
to a triage room to begin your assessment
triage. All triage rooms are private with dedicated bathrooms.
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 or your birth center
room. If it is not quite time we will provide
you further guidance. If it is time to be admitted you will be
transferred to either your birth center room
or your labor and delivery room. Before you take a look at those rooms
I want to share with you some special features of delivering your baby at
Jacobs Medical Center. All our rooms feature free wi-fi and
large screen TVs. We also have iPads at each bed where you
can control the lights and temperature settings of your room or
page your nurse. All of our rooms have convenient
pull-down couch that your guests may use for their overnight stay.
All our rooms have stunning views and plenty of natural light.
We also provide various birth 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 we practice.
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 bait 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 seven
days a week to help you get breastfeeding off to a great start.
All of 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 their labor and delivery
All you have to do is ask for a doula when you are admitted from triage.
Your UC San Diego Health doula will stay with you until your baby is born
and can even go with you into the operating room if a cesarean 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 our facility for the health of our patients and staff.
We recommend that you discuss doula services with your provider
prior to your delivery. Birth center: Welcome to our birth center. Our birth
center is located on the same floor as our labor and delivery rooms,
allowing for a low intervention delivery with the peace of mind of knowing that
if other measures are needed they are a room
away. If you deliver in the birth center you will be cared for by one of our
midwives. You will also labor, deliver and have your postpartum care
all in the same room. The room features a queen-size bed that
may be shared with your support person. Also a large bathtub that can be used
for labor and relaxation during your stay.
We do not practice water birth at Jacobs Medical Center.
There is no continuous fetal monitoring, which means your baby will be monitored
with the same handheld doppler as you have in your prenatal visits.
Also you will not get an IV lock automatically in the birth center.
For pain relief we offer nitrous oxide and IV pain medications
but epidurals are not administered in the birth center.
If you decide you want epidural or if your labor requires additional
monitoring we can quickly transfer you to a labor
and delivery room and your midwife will stay with you for
the continuation of your care. To deliver in the birth center you must
be getting your prenatal care with the certified midwife at UC San Diego Health.
Midwives handle prenatal delivery and postpartum care for patients with
healthy low risk pregnancies. You must transfer your care to a midwife
no later than 34 weeks.
Now let's go look at our labor and delivery rooms. Both
obstetrician patients and midwife patients deliver in these comfortable
and ample rooms. All rooms are private with a private bathroom and shower.
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 you no
matter where you deliver. 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 get into the shower
while being monitored. If you need a c-section
we have state of the art dedicated surgical rooms here on the ninth floor.
Most of the time your support person will be able to come into the operating
room with you. We have a clear drape during delivery so
you can watch your baby being born. After you have your baby you will
recover about two hours and then you and your baby will
move to your postpartum room on the 10th floor for the rest of your stay.
All postpartum rooms are private and include a private shower and a couch
that pulls out into a bed for your support person.
For vaginal birth you will stay in the postpartum room for 24 to 48 hours after
delivery. If you have a cesarean you will stay
with us for two to four days on average. During your stay all patient meals will
be provided from a seasonal cook 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 our 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.
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 you are in the best
possible hands at Jacobs Medical Center. We have a level 3 NICU on the 8th floor
with 52 private rooms to encourage bonding between you and your baby.
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
at any time. Your friends and family can also see your baby via a private live
stream camera above your baby's bed. 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 and we look forward to seeing
you soon.