Comprehensive Labor and Delivery Services at UCLA Health's The BirthPlace, Westwood

The BirthPlace, Westwood, part of UCLA Health, stands as one of Southern California's most comprehensive maternity centers, situated within one of the nation's top-ranked hospitals. It is dedicated to providing family-centered, high-quality labor and delivery care in a warm and friendly environment. The goal is to ensure a safe, comfortable, and cherished birthing experience for every family.

A Welcoming and Empowering Environment

The BirthPlace Westwood offers high-quality healthcare from professionals who use the latest proven technology in a serene, patient-focused setting that strives to make everyone feel safe and comfortable during the birthing experience. The labor, delivery, and recovery rooms are all designed to mimic a hotel or home. Parents and babies are moved to comfortable maternity rooms following delivery for postpartum recovery. This space encourages bonding, and parents and babies are kept together as much as possible. The BirthPlace features comfortable, private, modern rooms that are beautifully designed, with wood-paneled cabinets, flat-screen televisions, wireless internet access, XM radio, personal refrigerators, and a sofa bed. Postpartum rooms also include these amenities.

Comprehensive Care and Specialized Services

UCLA Health's labor and delivery hospitals are among the most comprehensive birthing centers in Southern California. They cater to individuals with both routine and high-risk pregnancies, providing access to maternal-fetal medicine specialists and the latest technology for patients with complex conditions. The BirthPlace, Westwood, offers a wide array of personalized services to make the birthing experience exceptional.

High-Risk Pregnancy Care

Patients at high risk for complications during their pregnancies may be admitted to the hospital for antepartum, or pre-birth, care by specially trained nurses and perinatologists (doctors specializing in managing high-risk pregnancies). Antepartum care is also available for women expecting twins or triplets.

Fetal Diagnostic Unit

Located on the 5th floor of the hospital, beside Labor and Delivery, this outpatient unit is staffed by specialized nursing staff who perform prenatal tests, such as ultrasounds for babies. If a baby needs special monitoring during pregnancy, all necessary diagnostic testing can be received here.

24-Hour Laborists

Board-certified obstetricians are always on the unit and available to manage labor until the personal obstetrician arrives. They provide a safe delivery if the doctor cannot arrive in time. These laborists respect each family's birth plan and collaborate with the obstetrician, who remains in charge of care.

24-Hour Obstetrical Anesthesia

Dedicated, in-house anesthesiologists are available 24 hours at The BirthPlace, Westwood, to ensure access to anesthesia during labor or should an emergency C-section become necessary. They can provide effective pain relief that is safe for both mother and baby while the mother remains awake.

Newborn Care Unit

While most evaluations and care of the infant occur at the bedside, some procedures may be done in the Newborn Care Unit, staffed by nurses specializing in newborn and postpartum care. This is where nurses also observe babies who are unstable or in need of extra attention. Because keeping newborns with their mothers is preferred, babies referred to the unit for observation, assessments, or other procedures are reunited with their mothers as quickly as possible.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

The BirthPlace, Westwood, offers high-level care for critically ill babies needing surgery or other intensive care. The NICU is a Level III/IV facility staffed by UCLA neonatologists, nurses, and other health professionals with advanced training and expertise in caring for premature or ill infants.

Commitment to a Safe and Dignified Birth

UCLA Health is committed to equitable care and helping individuals achieve their best health, striving to make every birth a safe and empowering experience. This commitment involves:

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Treating every individual with dignity and respect at all times.
Working collaboratively to understand how best to support each person throughout their labor and delivery journey.
Providing clear information, with interpreter services available if needed, to ensure understanding of all options and informed decision-making.
Respecting values and personal boundaries.
Respecting culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, functional needs, preferences, nationality, language, and religion.
Welcoming and actively involving chosen support individuals, such as family, friends, and doulas, as part of the care team.
Providing trained chaperones to ensure sensitive exams and procedures are conducted safely, comfortably, and professionally.

Comprehensive Labor and Delivery Services

The BirthPlace provides an array of services to facilitate the smoothest possible labor and delivery experience and transition to parenthood, including:

24/7 obstetricians and anesthesiologists: An on-call labor and delivery team includes care partners, nurses, and physicians, with anesthesiologists available to ensure access to pain management options for comfort.
Access to NICU care: Ensuring the health and safety of both mother and baby is the top priority. A Level III/IV NICU on-site in Westwood provides advanced care for critically ill babies.
Lactation consultations: Nurses and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) work directly with new mothers, who also have access to prenatal classes and support groups. Breastfeeding support is available for patients, with nurses and lactation educators. They make the transition home from the hospital as simple as possible. After discharge, breastfeeding parents have access to The BirthPlace’s free breastfeeding support group. There, they can ask questions and find support for breastfeeding.
Nurse midwives: If desired, individuals can work with a Certified Nurse Midwife in the Santa Monica birthing center location. The UCLA midwifery group has been a collaborative practice within the UCLA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2002, providing holistic, patient-centered pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.
Support groups and classes: Tours of BirthPlace locations and a variety of classes are offered to help prepare for childbirth, breastfeeding, and infant care. Support groups allow connections with other parents, sharing insights, and discussing parenting topics. There is also a support group for families of babies in the NICU.

Addressing Labor and Delivery Conditions

Ideally, labor and delivery proceed without complications. However, should problems arise, The BirthPlace has the technology and expertise to care for both mother and baby during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum experience. Maternal-fetal medicine obstetricians specialize in making high-risk pregnancies less stressful, and specialists in the NICUs work seamlessly with the labor and delivery team to care for babies who need specialized treatments. A whole-person approach to care addresses routine to complex conditions and offers mental health support, nutritional counseling, and postpartum pelvic floor rehabilitation.

Treatments Offered

Women who give birth at The BirthPlace, Westwood, have access to expert treatments to help them deliver safely and smoothly. Treatments include:

Pain Management During Labor and Delivery

Dedicated in-house anesthesiologists are available 24/7 to provide pain management during labor, including epidurals and intravenous (IV) medications. Alternative and holistic pain management strategies are also supported, including directed breathing, the use of essential oils, and position assistance for comfort.

Additional Amenities and Services

The Birthplace Westwood gives patients souvenir birth certificates, with key information about your baby’s day of birth as a memento of your hospital stay.

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Alternative birthing arrangements are available, including adoptions, surrogacy, and same-gender parenting.

This birth center also has signature dining options, with healthy fine-dining room service similar to what you’d get in a five-star hotel! Moms and visitors can order all day, with prompt service and delivery.

The Birthplace Westwood values the Golden Hour and Nesting Time when parents bond with their little ones as they transition into parenthood. This occurs immediately after your baby’s birth. It makes the perfect time for parents to get some quiet, quality bonding with their new baby.

Smooth Transitions and Convenient Check-Ins

UCLA Health providers practice at many locations throughout the greater Los Angeles region, ensuring world-class, integrated care from pregnancy through postpartum close to home. Often, a UCLA Health pediatrician or family doctor can be chosen before birth to establish a relationship and experience a seamless transition into newborn care. To further streamline the process, preadmission registration is completed before labor and delivery, allowing for quick check-in upon arrival at the birthing center, enabling focus on the labor and delivery experience without worrying about paperwork.

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