As Monterey County’s first and only 24/7 Obstetrics Emergency Department
(OB ED), we are dedicated to treating unexpected issues in pregnant women.
We want any expectant mother experiencing complications to be seen right
away by our team of obstetrics experts. That means when a complication
occurs, you don’t have to wait to get seen at the regular emergency
room: Just come straight to the OB ED if you’re experiencing any
of the following:
Determination that you are in labor
Pain/bleeding in pregnancy
Pre-term labor
Antenatal testing
Pelvic pain related to pregnancy
Abnormal vaginal bleeding related to pregnancy
Conditions related to high-risk pregnancy, such as high blood pressure
Labor and Delivery
Just as every baby is unique, so is every delivery. Our labor and delivery
department is ready to welcome you and your new baby. We are excited to
be part of your special day! Our staff is happy to provide excellent care
for you and the safest arrival for your newborn. As your partner in care,
we strive to provide you with the birthing experience you desire. Our
goal is to keep you at the center of your care and listen to your wishes
and preferences. Our labor and delivery nurses have been trained to provide
high touch maternity care to assist you and your support person(s) through
this exciting time.
Some of the methods available to cope with labor discomfort:
Massage
Aromatherapy
Nitrous oxide
IV Pain Medication
Epidural
Once your baby is born, they will be placed immediately skin-skin to begin
the precious bonding time. As long as your newborn is stable, they can
stay skin-skin as long as you desire.
Following your recovery period, approximately two hours, you will be transferred
to our Mother/Baby unit.
If you have a scheduled or unscheduled cesarean section, we want to ensure
you have the best possible birthing experience there as well. We have
see-through drapes where you and your support person can view the birth
of your newborn. Once the baby has been quickly evaluated, they are brought
back to you for skin-skin in the operating suite. Once the surgery is
completed, you, your new baby, and support person will spend some time
(approximately two hours) in the recovery room. You will then be transferred
to our Mother/Baby unit.
Mother/Baby Unit
The Mother/Baby team welcomes you to your private room and provides you
with the care and education you will need to care for yourself and your
baby independently. Our Mother/Baby team will also include you in your
care decisions to ensure your preferences are heard during this time.
One support person can stay with you in your private room during your
medical center stay. While on the Mother/Baby Unit, your newborn will
receive their first bath (with your participation); receive their newborn
hearing screen; cardiac screen; and other tests to ensure they have the
best start!
Exceptional Care for Fragile Newborns
Our 11-bed Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) allows us to care
for the most critically ill babies, including those who are premature,
have a very low birth weight or are medically fragile. Salinas Valley
Health is uniquely qualified to ensure that every baby leaves the medical
center healthy and strong – even if they need a little help before
they are ready to go home. We believe having family close by is beneficial
for babies and reassuring for mom and dad, so we offer expanded visitation
for parents, siblings and other family members. We also do all we can
to keep parents informed and teach them at-home care for when their babies
are discharged from the medical center.
Our specialists collaborate as needed to address each baby’s unique
needs. For example, if a pediatric cardiologist is needed, we link to
Stanford University via a high-speed audio/video network. This allows
our neonatologists to securely transmit the results of an infant's echocardiogram
to a pediatric cardiologist at Stanford using two-way, real-time video
and audio communications to determine the best course of care for each
tiny patient. If needed, transportation of these fragile babies is jointly
coordinated between our NICU and the transport team at Lucile Packard
Children's Hospital Stanford by a specialized mother/infant critical care
transport vehicle called “NICU on wheels.”
Lactation Support
Breastfeeding is important, and we do all we can to support this healthy
practice. We are proud to have met the standards for accreditation as
a Baby-Friendly medical center. This global program, sponsored by the
United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World
Health Organization, recognizes birth centers that offer an optimal level
of care for infant feeding. Our board-certified lactation consultants
to assist you and your newborn with any breastfeeding challenges. If breastfeeding
issues occur after mother and baby have gone home, we offer Outpatient
Lactation Clinic consultation twice a week (by appointment) for additional support.
Perinatal Diagnostic Center
If your doctor is concerned that your pregnancy may be high-risk, we will
perform the tests to confirm that possibility or rule it out. If you already
know your pregnancy is high-risk, we have advanced technologies, specialized
care and support services to support you in the coming months, including
a partnership with the world-renowned Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
Stanford. Our team uses state-of-the-art imaging techniques and diagnostic
modalities to provide up-to-the-minute care for mothers and babies in
high-risk pregnancies. We are able to evaluate a baby’s risk for
certain abnormalities as early as week 11. Our maternal-fetal medicine
consultation services include:
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