When You're Expecting?
Choosing the place to deliver your bundle of joy is an important decision. That’s why we’re so proud to deliver award-winning, exceptional maternity care in a beautiful, comfortable environment at The Women’s Hospital at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills.
We’re here for your entire journey. From preconception planning and childbirth and pregnancy classes, to lactation consultants after childbirth, we have the experts, resources and support to answer all your questions. Whether you’re planning to start your family, choosing your OB/GYN or discovering what we’re about, we’ve got you covered.
The Women’s Hospital offers a team of highly trained obstetricians, pediatricians and other specialists who are sensitive to the needs of new mothers and their babies, and are committed to providing the highest level of service. We deliver nearly 3,000 babies a year, and of these, approximately 10 percent are high-risk births and high-risk multiples referred from throughout Orange County and the surrounding area.
Planning to start your family is an exciting time! For many couples, getting ready for a new arrival often begins once you confirm you are expecting, but by the time you learn you are pregnant, you may have already missed a critical window of opportunity to ensure a healthy start and boost the lifelong potential for your child.
To prepare for the best pregnancy possible, preconception planning is essential. There is evidence that many preconception interventions can reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as birth defects, miscarriage, low birth weight, and preterm delivery.
If you are thinking about starting a family sometime in the next year, join us for our exclusive pregnancy planning event. Register here. To learn more in the meantime, listen to “The Importance of Preconception Planning” podcast.
Registration required. For additional information or to register, visit our events section or call 1-800-MEMORIAL (1-800-636-6742).
Find out what you and your partner can do before you get pregnant to give your baby a healthy start. Enjoy a complementary meal, gain new insights, spend one-on-one time with a leading obstetrician to get your questions answered, and join us for a personal guided tour. Visit our Preparing for Pregnancy Page for more information and to register.
Is fertility treatment an option for you and your partner? Join fertility specialist Jane Frederick, M.D. to learn about the causes of infertility, miscarriage and effective treatments.
The secret behind the success of our award winning care is simple. We’re focused on creating the perfect place for you to have your baby.
We were the first Labor, Delivery, Recovery, Postpartum (LDRP) concept in California, allowing you, your partner and your baby have state-of-the-art care and equipment in the comfort of your private suite. After the birth, food service, pediatricians and lactation specialists come to you.
Also, dedicated obstetric anesthesiologists are available to provide immediate, around-the-clock pain management to maximize your comfort.
You and your baby’s safety and health are our top priorities at all time, day or night. That’s why we have a dedicated obstetrician, neonatologist and anesthesiologist on-site 24 hours a day 7 days a week. In the event your obstetrician is unavailable to provide immediate care, our hospital-based obstetricians are here to begin caring for you from the moment you arrive.
While we plan for perfect deliveries and healthy babies, we have an on-site Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and an expert team – including an on-site neonatologist available 24/7 – dedicated to caring for ill or premature infants. This special unit gives you peace of mind knowing that, should the need arise, we can provide immediate, advanced care for your newborn.
We are proud to have low caesarean section (c-section) rates, and have recently been recognized by the California Health and Human Services Secretary and Smart Care California as achieving the Healthy People 2020 goal of 23.9% for low-risk, first-time c-section deliveries (NTSV). While c-sections can be life-saving in some situations, we promote vaginal births as the safest option for low-risk pregnancies.
The Women's Hospital at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center now offers women the option to give birth using the services of a Certified Nurse Midwife. Women who prefer this option can now select to have a midwife by their side throughout their pregnancy and deliver within the comfort and safe environment of our hospital.
The Women’s Hospital offers a program that brings together different disciplines – including medicine, nursing, and midwifery – to provide the most comprehensive care to women in our community. Certified Nurse Midwives develop a special one-on-one relationship with their patients throughout pregnancy, and work collaboratively with each patient’s obstetrician to ensure optimum care.
When your special time comes, Certified Nurse Midwives provide personalized care during active labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period. They support natural childbirth techniques with little medical intervention if you prefer, provide guidance and support during the pushing phase, and offer assistance to find a position of comfort for your labor and delivery. After the birth, they collaborate with our exceptional nursing staff to encourage skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding.
Certified Nurse Midwives adhere to the Standard for the Practice of Nurse Midwifery set forth by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and adhere to the same hospital and community standards as their physician and nursing colleagues.
Most insurances will cover midwifery services. We encourage you to contact your insurance carrier to confirm plan benefits.
We offer a variety of childbirth and parenting classes to assist and support future and expectant parents. For additional information or to register, visit our events and education section or call 1-800-MEMORIAL (1-800-636-6742).
We know how important your moment and your little miracle is, and we want you to have the utmost confidence in where your baby will have its first glimpse of the world. Whether you’re already pregnant or thinking about starting a family, tour our private, recently renovated, maternity and baby suites. You’ll get a sneak peak of all the wonderful amenities you’ll experience when you welcome your bundle of joy.
Note: To maintain the healthiest environment possible for our new moms and babies, we respectfully request that you refrain from bringing children 10 years old and under on the maternity tour. However, when you deliver your baby at Saddleback Medical Center, your children are welcome to visit your room.
Achieve the confidence you need to make breastfeeding a satisfying experience for you and your baby. This class covers the basics: positioning, feeding techniques and corrective actions for breastfeeding problems. Dads, coaches and/or a support person are encourage to attend.
This class explores the adventures of early parenting and provides demonstrations of infant care basics. Take one class prior to delivery.
Veteran dads answer questions, offer advice and share what to expect so “rookie” dads-to-be can thrive. Topics covered include: supporting new mom, caring for baby, parenting as a team and dad’s role during pregnancy, birth and beyond.
Veteran moms answer questions, offer advice, share experiences and demonstrate the many ways to be a mom. Moms-to-be learn how to boost dad’s confidence, work as a team, reinforce the parental relationship before baby’s arrival and get solutions to challenge new moms face.
Designed for expectant and new parents, this class covers baby-proofing your home, car seat safety and infant CPR.
Grandparents learn about baby-proofing the home, car seat safety, how to handle an emergency and infant/child CPR.
The Auto Club (AAA) wants to help keep kids safe and is partnering with The Women’s Hospital at Saddleback Medical Center to offer free Child Passenger Safety classes. These classes are perfect for parents, grandparents and caregivers – anyone who transports children up to 8 years of age. Resources for proper installation will be provided (there will be no installation of car seats). Adults only. No children please. Please register directly with the AutoClub online at AAA.com/ChildSafety or call (714) 885-2312.
This class prepares expectant parents for labor and delivery, with descriptions of the labor and birth process and pain management/relaxation techniques.
Taught by a registered nurse and obstetrician, this one-day class includes an overview of labor and delivery, pain management and a discussion of statistical data for parents who have previously delivered by c-section and considering VBAC.
For your convenience, you can now complete and submit obstetrical pre-admission paperwork in our secure, online form.
PRE REGISTER NOW
We know how important your moment and your little miracle is, and we want you to have the utmost confidence in where your baby will have its first glimpse of the world. Whether you’re already pregnant or thinking about starting a family, tour our private, recently renovated, maternity and baby suites. You’ll get a sneak peak of all the wonderful amenities you’ll experience. Choose from two tour options:
This section needs to get that actuial poscast placed once all the podcasts are uploaded.
39 private, family-friendly suites, including natural birthing suites
In-room fold-out bed.
Including lavender towel service, satin robe for mom, fresh baked cookies and a Jacuzzi tub
Dedicated obstetrician, neonatologist and anesthesiologist are on-site 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Perinatologists are available for high-risk patients.
Including an on-site neonatologist available 24/7 who is dedicated to caring for ill or premature infants, and multiples, if additional care is needed
From the moment you sign up for a class to well beyond your stay with us.
When you’re expecting, there are many decisions to make—but none is as important as choosing the health care team who will help deliver your baby. It’s easy to see why so many families choose MemorialCare as the best place to deliver their baby.
This setting allows you to view available services and providers associated with your preferred location. You can change this setting at any time.
Cookies are required to view location-specific content.
We’ve developed a new tool on our website allowing you to see content most relevant to you and your preferred location. It’s our way of making the information you need, more personalized.
You’ll find this feature labeled “Set My Location” throughout the website. Most often, you’ll see it in the top left corner of every page.
You’ll also find a feature that allows you to set your location temporarily, as seen below.