By Torrey Halbert, DO, obstetrics & gynecology, MemorialCare Medical Group – Rancho Mission Viejo
You’ve shared with family and friends that you are expecting — what an exciting time! As you prepare for this special time, it is essential to consider the importance of selecting a hospital that aligns with the compassion and clinical outcomes you and your family deserve. Here are some questions to consider:
Does your hospital have the resources and providers to support your ideal birthing experience? Is the hospital close to your home, ensuring you can reach it without delay when the time comes? Are there teams and systems in place to offer support beyond your health care provider, such as a maternity concierge, 24/7 nurse advice phone line, and lactation consultants? Does the hospital have the capacity for high-risk pregnancies, including at least a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to address emergencies? Is the hospital equipped with an Obstetric Emergency Department (OB ED) to safeguard yours and your baby’s health throughout your pregnancy and postpartum period?These are important questions you and your partner should ask as you prepare to welcome your newest family member. Choosing the right healthcare provider for this journey is essential. Various types of obstetric healthcare providers can meet your needs, including an OB-GYN or a certified nurse midwife.
Within MemorialCare, both OB-GYNs and certified nurse midwives are available to our expecting patients. OB-GYNs are medical doctors trained to provide women with both medical and surgical care. After completing medical school, they undergo four years of residency training focusing on reproduction, pregnancy, and female medical and surgical issues. They are certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Certified nurse midwives are educated in two fields: midwifery and nursing. To achieve the title of certified nurse midwife, they must earn graduate degrees in nursing, complete an accredited midwifery education program, and pass a national certification exam administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board. Due to their specialized training, certified nurse midwives are considered advanced practice registered nurses who provide care during prenatal visits, active labor, birth, and postpartum.
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center has been at the forefront of maternity care for more than 35 years and were the first to open Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum (LDRP) suites in Orange County. Saddleback Medical Center consistently re-invests in the community to bring leading quality initiatives and comfort amenities to new moms. Today, these suites are designed with the health and bonding benefits of keeping mom and baby together while ensuring the mother’s comfort needs are met. In addition, the LDRP suites feature large windows for natural light, Bluetooth speakers, lavender-scented towels, freshly baked cookies, and a celebration brunch. They also include peanut balls and rocking chairs for mobility during labor, with six suites equipped with soaking tubs.
Additionally, The Women’s Hospital at Saddleback Medical Center continuously focuses on quality improvement. For eight years running, The Women’s Hospital has been named a Center of Excellence by the Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology. The team also continually implements initiatives to reduce infection rates and support vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), empowering women with safe, evidence-based childbirth options. Saddleback Medical Center maintains a 23.2% cesarean birth for first-time, low-risk mothers – lower than national and state targets, and many local hospitals.
Another unique benefit I shared with my patients about The Women’s Hospital is the maternity concierge service, available to every patient who delivers at Saddleback Medical Center – something not offered at any other hospital in Orange County. The maternity concierge helps guide you in determining which provider is right for you, whether it be a midwife or OB-GYN, helps schedule tours of The Women’s Hospital, and answers any questions you may have, including those on insurance and billing.
In addition, Saddleback Medical Center has an on-site level III NICU equipped to support premature and fragile infants with a team of neonatologists, specialized NICU nurses, and respiratory therapists available 24/7. While nobody wants to plan for a pregnancy complication, should the need arise, Saddleback Medical Center has a 24/7 OB ED to care for patients who are 16 weeks pregnant and up to six weeks postpartum cared for by specialized nurses and board-certified OB hospitalists.
Future moms, it’s important for you to know that you’re in control of your birth experience. You will have a million decisions to make as a parent, starting with the one that matters most: choosing a provider aligned with your preferred hospital to ensure the best birth experience for you and your family.
Want to learn more? Visit memorialcare.org/SMCBaby or call at (949) 837-4500.
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