"We deliver small miracles. At Dominican Hospital, we are committed to offering a full service, state-of-the-art, individualized birth experience.

We believe every birth is special, from our tiniest 26-week preemies to our robust 12-pound full-term babies. That is why our Birth Center is designed with the latest technology and staffed with a highly specialized obstetrical team of physicians, nurses and auxiliary staff, available 24 hours a day. We are prepared for any type of birth and any situation that may arise.

At Dominican, we have high standards for both safety and patient satisfaction. Our birth rooms are well-equipped and cozy to help emphasize bonding while “rooming in” with your newborn. With patient safety as our first concern, our Birth Center includes an operating room in the Labor and Delivery area, and a Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) equipped to care for high-risk babies who need closer observation. The Birth Center, Postpartum, and NICU areas are staffed with highly trained registered nurses. Specialized staff such as anesthesiologists, neonatologists, perinatologists, clinical nurse specialists, lactation consultants and occupational therapists are available to meet with you and your family for any routine or emergency needs that may arise."

"I can't recommend Dominican Hospital highly enough. They were incredibly hands off through my entire stay, from labor through postpartum. Since I was GBS negative I didn't need an IV for antibiotics and they didn't even ask if I wanted a saline lock. The only needle I ever saw was when they drew blood to bank. I was able to eat while I was in labor and when I did need to be on monitors, they used the telemetry unit so I could still be up and moving around. The telemetry unit is also waterproof so it didn't restrict me from spending time in the jacuzzi tub, which is huge and made contractions so much more bearable I didn't even realize I had hit transition until they did an internal exam.

When it was time to push, they helped me take my gown off so Aaron could be skin to skin immediately. He stayed on my chest until it was time to clean and stitch me up, at which time my husband was surprised to be told "Okay Dad, take your shirt off, it's your turn for skin to skin". They didn't even consider clamping the cord until it stopped pulsing. They helped me get him latched on to nurse right away. EVERYTHING (bath, vitamin k, assessments, etc.) was done in the room with me. Literally the only time he left the room before we were discharged was when we moved over to the mother-baby unit. When they did the heel prick for the Newborn Screening, it was with me holding him, still clothed, breastfeeding him, lights down low, and she was very gentle with him.

They have a variety of bars and equipment for pushing so that you can deliver in the position that works best for you. I had been looking forward to trying giving birth in a position other than lying down but didn't get to because he came when they were doing an internal exam and unconstipating me. I literally only pushed once. I wonder if I would have pushed at all if I'd been standing up... lol. Once we moved rooms after he was born, they left us alone for the most part, except for the necessary vitals, checking if we needed anything, etc. They didn't push us to do this that or the other. The dry-erase boards were very well-organized with sections to write requests, considerations, and preferences. They encouraged us to use the boards for that purpose. It was also nice having it on the board when I could get another dose of pain medication after the baby was born.

We loved having a mini-fridge in the room and especially loved the double bed. My husband did sleep on the pull-out bed-chair in the birth room and the rest of the night after Aaron was born in Mother-Baby and he said it was actually pretty comfortable. The chairs are wider than the ones you see in most hospitals and have an actual mattress that folds out.

The nurses were FANTASTIC. I can't remember which night it was, Aaron was extremely fussy and didn't want to sleep unless he was being held. The nurse knew we were having a rough night and when she was busy, had another nurse come in and check on us. That nurse sent me back to bed and took Aaron and rocked him to sleep, then rearranged the bassinet to incline it a little and rolled blankets on the sides. I could have kissed her. The food was amazing too. I've never had hospital food before that actually made me happy for meal times to come around. One of the juice options is Martinelli's sparkling apple cider, that was my drink of choice. I'm also not a big seafood fan but I did like the salmon. They give you a celebration meal for two one night, that was nice. The food all tasted fresh, like they actually cook FOOD instead of just sticking packaged processed food in the microwave."

"I labored in the tub at Dominican and the nurses are AHHHHHHMAAAAZZZZZING!!!! As was that tub! I was in there for quite some time and spent a good chunk of time in the shower as well. I wasn't bothered by any of the nurses and they pretty much left me to labor. Absolutely wonderful! Unfortunately baby had a short stay in the NICU, but fortunately, everyone there was wonderful. I even requested that he receive donor milk instead of formula, as I wasn't getting a drop out of me and the doctor accommodated my wishes! This was my second birth at Dominican and I thoroughly enjoyed that full size bed :0) It was like a vacation. Especially because we were served three celebratory dinners."

"Not all OB's at Dominican are VBAC friendly. My frustration lies in the fact that the on call Dr. (Dr. Nicholson) told Dr Klikoff she used the vacuum because they were worried baby's heart rate would dip too low and not come back up and that I wouldn't be able to push him out fast enough. Yet my records say I was pushing very effectively (literally, exactly what the doctor wrote down) and they didn't use the vacuum until he was nearly crowning. Wwwwhhhyyyy?! He was nearly out and I was doing fine! Reading my records just made me even more frustrated than I already was. Another care provider in my doctor's office wasn't surprised at all by his delivery once she saw who delivered him. She said she's far more conservative than Dr. Klikoff...she stopped short of saying she's not VBAC friendly but did say I probably freaked her out, walking into L&D attempting a natural VBAC and already feeling the urge to push."

"I was REALLY impressed with Dominican's birthing center tour last night... They highly encourage using the showers during labor if you want... The beds are specifically birthing beds that are designed to have all sorts of bars so you can labor (and push) kneeling, standing, squatting, in bed or out of bed, in whatever position is most comfortable for you. They also have the birthing stools... The sleeper chairs for support staff are a lot bigger and more comfortable than most hospitals, they actually had dads at one of their tours try out a bunch of different models and pick their favorite and that's the one they went with. Of course they have the Jacuzzi tub too that they encourage women to use...

The [postpartum] bed is a traditional double bed with (gasp) more than one pillow! The postpartum rooms do not have showers in them. I was a little iffy at first until she explained their reasoning. I guess too many moms try to go to the shower by themselves and get lightheaded and have issues, so they want you to be communicating with the nurse. The nurses will go in the shower and help you if you need it. Support people are "welcome and encouraged" to use the showers too. Of course the rooms do have toilets and sinks in them and a rocking chair...

I talked to her afterwards and explained how fast things moved with [my last baby], and that we're going to be coming from Seaside and that I don't plan on sticking it out at home and risking a car birth, and said 'But what happens if I get here and I'm not 4cm, are they going to send me back home?' She said 'Absolutely not. If that happens, just explain to them where you're coming from and they'll go ahead and have you stay there, they might have you go walk around outside and in Santa Cruz some but explain the situation to them and they absolutely will not send you all the way back to Seaside.' They encourage medication free labor but support whatever decision the mom makes and have a team of anesthesiologists in LDR to administer meds if asked for/needed."

"I had a great experience at Dominican with Dr. Klikoff, but I got lucky with a nurse who is at Sutter 99% of the time, and was only covering a shift at Dominican. Her name is Carol and I'm certain she's an angel."

 "I've had clients deliver there recently and Dominican is fine with eating during labor. They pretty much leave it up to Mom and how she's feeling. You can also bring a few healthy snacks with you--just pull them out when you need/want them." - doula

"I delivered there in 2009 - The staff was wonderful, so grateful to the nurses I had!"

"I had both of my youngest children at Dominican - I felt like a queen there. Great, professional staff, beautiful large room, more food than I could possibly eat. I give them 5 stars!"

"The birth center has great security, the nurses were nice, the rooms were bright and clean (p/s the post-delivery rooms where you stay for 2 days had double beds, couches, fridges, etc. - way nicer than the post rooms I've been in at Marin General and California Pacific in SF). The rooms didn't feel like a hospital, more like a 2-3 star hotel. Not bad, come on, it isn't the Hyatt. Before the tour I didn't think I would want to deliver at Dominican, now I am 100% happy with the idea. I especially liked how they played 'rock a by baby' on the loudspeakers when a baby is born (it happened two times while we were there), they have a level 2 and 3 intensive care unit for at-risk newborns (which Sutter does not have), and the security is top notch... not that I am a security freak, but it appears to be pretty much impossible to steal a newborn from that ward, the babies wear a low jack type bracelet and there are locked doors with passwords and cameras, etc. That was nice for the hubby who comes from a much more security phobic."

"Since the birth of my daughter 5 years ago I have visited Dominican many times.  The first was when Dr. Hencke knew what was wrong with me (rare pregnancy complication, which a lot of doctors miss).  The whole staff is caring.  When my daughter begin having seizures at 5 months old we were in and out of ER and pediatrics till she was one.  We had to transfer to Lucile Packard children's hospital twice because, even for having such a great staff, do not specialize in infants and seizures. We had an awful time at LPCH.  If I had to pick a hospital (and really who would want to be in a hospital) I would pick Dominican for the caring, compassionate staff."

"My son was delivered at Dominican. We were in labor room for 4 shifts, and every staff member we interacted with was amazingly helpful and kind. Same experience in the postpartum section of L&D. Would recommend, 5 stars. Even the food was good."

"Pregnancy in western society, in fact, straddles the boundary between illness and health" - Comaroff 1977: 116

"Medical management practitioners start from the premise that pregnancy and birth are intrinsically difficult and potentially dangerous process that, when left to occur naturally, frequently result in poor outcomes." - Optimal Care in Childbirth by Henci Goer

"...when high-dose oxytocin infusion leads to nonreassuring fetal heart rate, the medical management model calls for IV fluid boluses, internal fetal monitoring, and, ultimately, cesarean surgery." Optimal Care in Childbirth by Henci Goer

“Remember this, for it is as true as true gets: Your body is not a lemon. You are not a machine. The Creator is not a careless mechanic. Human female bodies have the same potential to give birth well as aardvarks, lions, rhinoceri, elephants, moose, and water buffalo.” - Ina May Gaskin, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

"The midwifery model of care makes the woman and her life the central focus of prenatal care. A large part of the midwife’s attention focuses on the pregnant woman as a unique person, in the context of her family and her life. The midwife is interested in the woman’s expectations and experience of her pregnancy—her perceptions and beliefs; her knowledge and opinions; her questions and worries; her satisfactions and dissatisfactions; her comforts and discomforts; her desires, decisions, and actions; and the effect of all these on her pregnancy, fetus, labor, delivery, breastfeeding, postpartum recovery, and development as a mother." - Our Bodies Ourselves

"Broadening access to obstetric care will involve moving from our own preconceived notions of appropriate packaging into a patient-based and multi-option setting for delivery of these services."

"Midwifery and medical obstetrics are separate but complementary professions with different philosophies and overlapping but distinct purposes and bodies of knowledge. Physicians are experts in pathology and should have primary responsibility for the care of pregnant women who have recognized diseases or serious complications. Midwives are experts in normal pregnancy and in meeting the other needs of pregnant women— the needs that are not related to pathology. In most countries, midwives have primary responsibility for the care of women with uncomplicated pregnancies."  - Our Bodies Ourselves

Photo Credit: Monterey County Weekly

1998 - My labor and delivery with Tyler was awful from the time I checked in all the way to the time I pushed him out. L&D nurses were rude and less than compassionate, even telling me at one point to "shut-up there are other laboring women here." When the pain got to the point where I felt I needed pain relief I asked for an epidural only to be told: "Too late, you waited too long so you will just have to deal with it." The OB was Dr. Nelson, not my OB but was in the same group. He was rude, cold and was basically just doing his job. He told me if I wanted this baby to come out faster we should do an episiotomy (which he did). Second baby, first episiotomy! The ONLY positive was that I was able to stay in the same room the entire stay.

2006 - Went in to be evaluated for possible ROM (rupture of membranes) at 38 weeks and 2 days. Took 3 hours for a nurse to say she was "pretty sure" I was leaking fluid and that I would need to be admitted. Immediately started me on Pitocin and after 6 hours of intense going nowhere contractions I asked for pain relief... they gave was an intrathecal. Pain relief would last for about 3 hours. My heart rate and blood pressure plummeted as did the baby's. The next few minutes were a blur but I heard them say something about "If it continues to drop we can give a shot of adrenaline"...words of comfort, I think not! Spent most of the next 3 hours in and out of sleepy state. As the pain meds were wearing off I was told I was fully dilated and to go ahead and to start pushing. Maybe 2-3 times into pushing the same doctor who delivered Tyler, Dr, Nelson, told me "I want to do an episiotomy rather than let you tear." Yet again I ended up with an episiotomy! Brenna was my smallest baby at 8 pounds 11 ounces & in the future I would push a 9 pound 10 ounce baby out with NO episiotomy!!! Anyways back to this experience. I had asked upon admission that the Hep B vaccine be put off until I had a chance to talk to my pediatrician about it. That note was overlooked and a nurse gave it to my baby anyway. Do they even read the admittance papers? I spent nearly 12 hours after delivery vomiting due to the intrathecal. The nurses kept threatening to take Brenna to the nursery to give her a bottle if I didn't want to breastfeed her. Didn't??? No, more like couldn't, but I did and they were nice enough to give me a barf pan. The nausea & vomiting were the worst I have ever experienced in my life. There was such a lack of support. When we confronted the nurse about the vaccine she basically said that we were just worried about the cost! We were self-pay at the time, no insurance. Took forever to get discharged. Just an all around awful experience.

2007- I went in for an induction at 38 weeks due to leaking fluid... knowing that I would want an epidural for pain relief. This time around I had positive, supportive nurses throughout my labor process... when I asked for my epidural they asked me if I was sure that I wanted one. I let them know that I get nauseous and sick with anesthesia, for which they informed the anesthesiologist who gave me an anti-nausea medicine to curb that side effect. The anesthesiologist was nice and professional with a calm demeanor which I appreciated. He had no problem with the placing...  About 4 hours later I was fully dilated and they told me that I was ready to push. Dr Watkins, the doctor on call all night long, had just ended his shift but earlier he told the nurses that he started this and wanted to see it through so to page him when I was ready to push. He was great and very encouraging through the pushing phase, patiently and slowly we worked through every push until my 9 pound 10 ounce baby girl Summer was here! Dr. Watkins was the first doctor to ask my husband to cut the cord! Yes it only took four babies for a doctor who seemed to care about the whole labor and delivery process for all of the family members involved. Summer had a nuchal cord and meconium so she needed some assistance for about 10 minutes or so with some members of the NICU, she never left the room and as soon as all was clear she was placed on me for some skin to skin & nursing. Since she was a big baby they had to check her blood sugar quite frequently which I found to be a little disruptive but other than that everything else went well.

2010 - This was a scheduled induction for my 40 week due date at 7am. Upon check in I was greeted by a nurse who explained what was about to happen, third time being induced [at Salinas Valley Memorial], first time having it explained in detail. At about 8am I was given Cytotec and some weak contractions started. I liked that they didn't do cervix checks all the time, I think throughout the day up until delivery I was checked a total of four times. My nurses pretty much left me to do my thing until about 2pm when they decided to start Pitocin. Throughout the day I had been able to get up walk around, sit in a rocking chair, use a birthing ball which was a nice change of pace from my past laboring experiences! At 6pm my OB came in to do a check...4 cm. She said the head felt low & that if I was ok with it she felt she could go ahead & break my bag of waters to really get things moving, I said sure & away we went. At 7:30 I started to get the shakes & felt quite a bit of pressure so a nurse checked me & found me to be 8 to 8 &1/2 cm! I was having contractions but nothing too bad, so in a pure panic all of sudden I decided I needed an epidural now before the horrible pains started! The anesthesiologist was an older man who had many years under his belt, my epidural was placed & working with-in 10 minutes. Twenty minutes after the epidural took full effect I pushed out a 9 pound 8 ounce baby girl. Madison went straight to the breast where she nursed for an hour! The aftercare I received was excellent, the team of nurses respected my experience as a fifth time mom & I appreciated the time alone bonding with my newborn baby girl. There is only one regret I had with this L&D ...The decision to have an epidural and while that falls on me, I wish there would have been some words of encouragement from the staff or doctor that would have led me to believe I made it to 8 cm without pain meds, I could see this labor through totally pain med free! Even my doctor told me at a later appointment:. " You made it that far, you could have gone all the way." I think laboring women need to hear that as they near the end of their laboring phase, positive words & encouragement can take a person just as far as pain meds without the side effects.

2012 -  My first natural birth. I labored at home for about 11 hours before going to the hospital, I wanted to avoid any and all procedures/interventions that come with a hospital labor. In the 25 short minutes that I did labor at SVMH I was asked to leave a urine sample and had an IV started. I did not like those two things. I also had to ask for my baby rather than them just giving her to me immediately. I should note that she had a nuchal hand (hand up by her face) and meconium so NICU nurses needed to check her out, but when they were done I had to ask for her.  I did like that I was able to be in an upright position for pushing as Dr. Gilbert said "whatever is most comfortable for you." I also liked the fact the he took the time to explain the super twisted cord and how rare it was for it to twist to the side it did. I liked that the nurse asked if it was ok to give Aubree a bath instead of just taking her to do it. I didn't like that they don't have showers in your postpartum room, they have community showers that you have to walk down the hall to get to. For me that seemed to be an inconvenience.

 Discharge was a breeze. From check-in to check out I was at SVMH for a total of 26 hours. That being said, I did not like the cost! I had no pain meds, baby didn't need any special aftercare other than the brief visit from NICU, nothing complicated and still my bill was about 17,600.00, that seemed to be kinda on the high side. I will say that this L&D was by far my fav,the outcome was the most incredible experience I've ever been through!


Cori, I would like to say thank you for being an advocate for natural childbirth and always willing to answer any of my questions."

"I gave birth at SVMH in April 2013, it was induced so I spent 40 hours in L&D before my baby was born and 3 days postpartum due to my babys' hyperbilirubinemia...

Overall staff is very friendly, each shift, including the nurse in charge, introduces themselves and writes their names on the board in the patients' room. The nurse call button is answered promptly day or night. I had an opportunity to review and discuss my birth plan in detail with a nurse. Unfortunately, we had to deviate from it due to medical reasons, but my wishes were honored and I was given 2 extra hours before we had to utilize a procedure I was not comfortable with."

"I was 1cm dilated and not effaced at all. They told me to prepare for a long road. They inserted Cervadil and told me to rest up... I wanted to go as pain med free as possible; I really did not want an epidural...

Honestly, sitting on the toilet was the most comfortable place to be! The nurses kept telling me they needed to check me and I told them to go away! Around 3am, my body started pushing on its own. The nurses kept asking if I wanted an epidural, I finally caved in. When the anesthesiologist got there I was, big shocker, on the toilet. The nurse came, took one look at me, and said they needed me on the bed immediately and that my body was pushing the baby out...

My husband grabbed one arm, and my mother grabbed the other and they threw me on the bed. The anesthesiologist started the epidural... The epidural did not kick in until the OB was stitching my 2nd degree tear."

"L&D rooms are fairly spacious with full baths [in 2 rooms] for those wishing to use hydrotherapy. Birthing balls are also available, just ask."

"SVMH is a baby friendly hospital: they promote immediate skin to skin contact and breastfeeding. Lactation consultant is available during weekdays (I believe) and free breastfeeding support group meets every Tuesday 1 - 2pm. I would recommend calling Shawna, the lactation consultant, Tuesday morning to confirm the meeting. Both times that I showed up I was the only attendee and ended up having a free private consult!"

"I was only 3cm dilated which was enough to get me admitted and a bed in labor and delivery. Unfortunately, there were forms to sign and it seemed like it took the nurses hours to get these forms ready. During this time, the contractions were increasing with pain and my mom, my fiance, and I were in this small, dark room with a few nurses watching the tragedy of Michael Jackson on TV. I remember my fiance whispering to me, 'If they don't quit watching that TV we are going to pack you in the car and drive to CHOMP.'"

"When I have birthed there (4 times) it was a positive experience with no rush. [With my 4th in 2009] my Dr. at the time anticipated a dinner time baby but I knew better and told him lunch. He was pleasantly surprised. Babies come when they are ready and she was ready before the Dr guessed it."

"Our first nurse was HORRIBLE. She took one look at me and rolled her eyes. I had tested positive for Group B strep and needed IV antibiotics to protect the baby during delivery. Apparently the nurse had little patience for this. She gave me the IV, then hooked in the antibiotics, cold. I immediately forgot about the painful contractions. My arm felt like the bones inside it were freezing and breaking apart! It was so painful and unbearable. I begged for some relief. My nurse offered little help...

At this point, I had to go to the bathroom (again). This REALLY irritated our nurse. Basically she told me that I couldn't get out of bed and I could just go in the bed, and that someone would clean it. No kidney dish, no bed pan...just sheet and mattress. Thanks. So after holding it as long as I could (which made the contractions 10x worse) I went, in the bed. Humiliating. That was the first time during labor that I started crying."

"The labor and delivery rooms were very nice, all the nurses were wonderful. Dr. Chan listened to my wishes (however, I did NOT want staples after my c-section and she forgot and gave me staples....she was very apologetic) My anesthesiologist was the best ever. I did not want morphine and I wanted something for nausea and he was awesome. I was slightly disappointed that the NICU team wouldn't let me see Nathan at birth. I got to hear him cry and they whisked him off to the NICU. I was able to see Adeline and she was much smaller at a different hospital. Recovery was wonderful and Dr. Chan was right there typing her notes while I recovered. That is when she realized she gave me staples and was so sorry. I had to request a breast pump... they kept telling me that I didn't need one yet. They accommodated me but they didn't send anyone from lactation until the next day. No biggie to me since I knew what I was doing anyways. The nurses knew how much I wanted to see my son and got me up there after 12 hours. I didn't get to see Adeline again until over 24 hours. The NICU was wonderful there. We had a private room and that was so nice. Postpartum was awful. Stuffy rooms, super small, no shower. Nursing staff was wonderful... especially Nurse George."

"Thank you for doing these reviews, I think they are incredibly helpful for expectant parents."

"Our 13 rooms are equipped for labor, delivery, recovery, and mother-baby care. As you prepare for the birth of your child, we thought you might like to know some of the things we believe at the Family Birth Center...

• Birth is one of life's most special events.
• Birth and parenting occur with greater ease, comfort, and joy when parents know what to expect.
• Parents can make decisions and accept responsibility for their own healthcare.
• Family, visitors, nurses, doctors, healthcare providers, and all hospital personnel are regarded with dignity and respect.
• Your support person should be encouraged to stay with you and your baby throughout your hospital stay.

Your nurse will manage your labor according to the instructions from your doctor. Your heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and temperature will be monitored periodically, and your urine will be checked for protein and glucose. Vaginal exams will be done to check the progress of your labor.

A test may be performed to determine if your water has "broken."

A fetal monitor will be used to assess your contractions and your baby's well-being.

You may eat and drink as instructed by your doctor.

You will be encouraged to walk and move while you are in labor.

If you choose to have an epidural, an anesthesiologist will be called.

An episiotomy occasionally is performed at delivery if needed.

A special suction device or forceps may be used to assist in the birth if needed.

If it is determined that your baby will require special care at birth or shortly after birth, a pediatrician or neonatologist will be called to attend the delivery of your baby.

Identification bands will be placed on the baby and on you and your partner. Your nurse will discuss your baby's security at the hospital.

The usual length of stay after a vaginal birth is about 1-2 days, for a cesarean birth 3-4 days.

I toured CHOMP in spring of 2012. CHOMP seems to only allow pregnant ladies and one other adult on the tour. They also don't schedule a tour until pretty late during pregnancy. I was 6 months (I think) when I finally got to do a tour.

CHOMP is a nice hospital. They have lovely grounds and gardens, a koi pond, and valet parking.

The Family Birth Center has a nice waiting area with comfy furniture and awesome murals. It also looks out onto a garden. There's a place to get food and drinks just down the hall. There are no visiting hours, so family and friends are free to come whenever. You can tell the nurses if you don't want visitors.

The rooms all have adjoining bathrooms with showers. The showers are spacious enough for laboring in. They also have hand-held shower heads and stools. The beds can be raised and lowered and the back can be raised and lowered to allow for all kinds of laboring positions. There's also a sofa that converts to a bed like a futon. It was pretty big, big enough that I thought my 6'3" husband could sleep comfortably on it. Each room has a white board so moms can leave notes about preferences and what not for the nurses. The room we toured look out on to a garden. The rooms also have TV's with DVD players and a little stereo thing for CD's or an MP3 player.

Moms have a nurse who is their primary nurse. If mom ends up in surgery, this nurse will usually attend the surgery/recovery as well. They seem concerned about making sure moms of continuity of care through the entire labor and delivery process.

CHOMP is known for their milkshakes. Apparently, all of their food is good. You can order food anytime. I'm sure they charge a premium for it, but its nice to know its an option if you really want that cheeseburger at 2am.

The nurse on my tour said they encourage laboring moms to move around. They do monitoring 20-30 minutes of every hour, so mom has to be lying in bed for that time.

CHOMP has a surgery room (or possibly 2?) in the Family Birth Center. There's a recovery room across from surgery where mom goes after surgery for a couple of hours. After that, mom returns to her room. Having all that stuff close together means dad/birth coach can stay with mom and/or baby pretty much the entire time. They really seem to have the c-section routine down. They also encourage moms to be up and moving around soon after surgery. On my tour, all of the other moms (5) were having scheduled c-sections and they all seemed very impressed with CHOMP.

Overall, CHOMP is a nice hospital. If I were having a scheduled c-section, it would be my first choice. I decided that we wanted a lower intervention birth so we had our daughter at home with a midwife."

"They took me to my room – which was a teeny tiny room that they haven’t used in a long time but had to shove me in it since they were extremely busy. I stripped my clothes off as fast as I could, got my monitors on and hopped up on the bed.

They checked me and I was “just a lip” – I think meaning I was about 9 cm and almost fully dilated and ready to push. I had to pant through several contractions… I don’t even know how many but way too many in my book! I was waiting for the doctor to show up so I could push. I kept asking how much longer, and they couldn’t really tell me! I kept saying how it wasn’t fair that I had to wait, and that I wanted a 15 minute break from the contractions to catch my breath. Luckily there was a nice lady there that was actually a nursery nurse, that came in to help me through my contractions. She told me to blow out birthday candles so that they would just flicker and not go out. That helped a bit, because otherwise I really wanted to push. Everything in the room was chaotic. I can’t remember how many people were in this tiny “closet” like room! One particular nurse came in to put my IV in and I yelled at her saying she can’t do it now! I couldn’t imagine I’d be able to stay still for her to poke me. It took her several tries but she did get it in. After what seemed like an ETERNITY, panting through a billion contractions (ok so it was like 20 minutes)… I was finally told that the doctor was close enough to the hospital that I could start pushing."

"Being a first time mom, and having heard some negative stories about delivering at CHOMP, I had my concerns about being able to have a natural birth, free from interventions there. However because of my insurance, CHOMP was really my only option.

I ended up having a fairly problem free pregnancy, and as my due date approached I wrote a birth plan, which I reviewed thoroughly with both my doctor and my doula. Labor started naturally with my water breaking in the middle of the night and contractions starting about 30 minutes later... I arrived at the hospital about an hour after labor had started and at first was a little put off by the attitude of the nurse who I was assigned to. However after my husband and doula gave the nurses my birth plan, the nurses attitude changed and I was left to labor as I wished. I labored in a few different positions including kneeling, standing, and laying on my left side towards the end. The baby was monitored occasionally, but really the only intervention I was required to have was a Hep-Lock, in case of emergency. I ended up laboring for about 6 hours total with pushing for about an hour. With the help of my husband, doula, and doctor I naturally delivered a healthy happy 10 1/2 lb. baby boy, without any medical interventions. Following the delivery I was put on a Pitocin drip to help my uterus contract and minimize blood loss because my uterus was so expanded from having carried such a large baby.

During the remainder of my stay at CHOMP, my son stayed with us the entire time, and I was happy with the help and breastfeeding support that the nurses provided. The only downside to my stay was there were a lot of interruptions and they did the hearing test in the middle of the night. Because of this, and because we had postpartum and breastfeeding support outside of the hospital, we decided to only stay one night. The only other thing that bothered me during our stay, was that because my son was so large they tried to treat him as if he was a diabetic baby (even thought I did not have gestational diabetes). My pediatrician ended up intervening and they did only 3 of the 6 blood glucose tests that they wanted to do."

The doctor wanted to induce me at almost 37 weeks because the non-stress test was  94% and they wanted to see 100%. The doc told me he didn't want to have to have me come in every other day for a non-stress test and said I needed to be induced. I didn't have any problems throughout the pregnancy...

I told the doc I didn't want to be induced and that I wanted a natural birth. I felt my birth plan was a waste of time. He assured me this was the best option and I could still have a natural birth... natural meaning vaginally. So, the next morning I was induced. Having my water broke felt like the biggest violation to me with our unborn child. I will never forget that eerie moment. Within less than 1 hour, baby's heartbeat went from the being in the healthy 145 bpm range to 119 bpm and slowly decreasing. Before I knew it, the doc called and said we had to deliver via c-section. He was at home watching the monitor when he made the call. I was never asked to rotate, etc.

After 9 painful attempts to give me a spinal anesthesia, the anesthesiologist was ready to give up and have me go under for general anesthesia. I wouldn't have that. So I told them I felt my position was wrong sitting up right on the OR table. I told them maybe I should have the back of my knees to the table and then lean over to open up the spinal column. So we tried it again. Each time more painful than the last. It felt like your sorest muscle being pulled apart. At last, 45 min later, the 10th time worked like a charm. I immediately felt a weird, cold sensation run down my legs. I remember shivering, even though I wasn't physically cold.

Once the baby was out and they allowed me to hold her, I asked for back up hands from daddy because I couldn't stop shaking. There she was. Born 3 weeks 2 days early. An unnecessary preemie, in my book. Went against all my motherly instincts I felt as a mom. Fortunately, she was healthy. I had weird heart palpitations and flutters for 4 months (I attribute that to the chemicals put in my body) never had that happen before.

In the end, I wasn't even in labor for more than 2 hours. My body could not birth naturally once the intervention took place. I was angry for a long time. Instead of having me rest more, whether at home or in the hospital, and be monitored, to let the baby grow and come out when ready, the interventions started, leading to a c-section. Never thought I'd have one of those. My mom had 10 babies naturally, I felt I could birth naturally too.

I was banned from CHOMP if I wanted a VBAC for any future pregnancies, so 4 years later we had another baby, this time born at home.

I've had my 3 kids at CHOMP: 2010, 2012 and 2013. I had gone in the first time expecting to do an all natural birth, no meds. I had an open mind though, knowing and telling myself it would be okay if I did end up getting an epidural. I did and it ended up saving my life and my babies, I truly believe that. I had to be turned on my side and my pelvis/hips slid out of socket because of the weight of the baby and my super lax tendons. If I had not had the epidural, I would have been in immense pain, and not have been able to push.

Anyhow, after that, my next two, I knew my plan, and the hospital staff was very accommodating to my needs and wants. One birth we had to be moved out of our room because there was so many babies being born that night. They gave us a nice room overlooking the forest and had great nurses.

My third baby, which was born this past March, was born at 36 weeks. I had gone 3 times before for pre-term labor. I ended up having to stay and extra 4 days, and they accommodated me by giving me a room for free to stay close to my son. Even though he was under lights, the nurses allowed me to go into the nursery to nurse him and see him. Excellent, nurses, every time.

"My daughter was born at CHOMP. We hoped for a natural birth, but one thing lead to another and I got to experience the "cascade of interventions" first hand. We ended up with pitocin, my water was broken, an epidural, episiotomy, vacuum extraction and then my baby had to stay in the NICU for 5 days because of the infection we got while in labor, which I've learned can happen when nurses do many cervical checks after your water has broken."

"I had a c-section at CHOMP 5 years ago. I was moved three times starting the day after the surgery. The second room I was in was atrocious. There was a jack hammer breaking apart the neighboring wing. It was so loud I couldn't hear my husband talking nor my baby cry. I asked the nurse if there was anywhere else they could put me and she said 'would you rather be in the hallway?' Anyway, I waited in a wheelchair in the reception/waiting area until a room became available. It took a few hours, but I was grateful, all 13 rooms were full. I went on to have a VBAC at Sutter for my next child."

"I don't know where it began exactly, but I do remember that Jim Gaffigan spurred me on just a little. 'When you think about the male contribution to life, it's kinda embarrassing, really.' That quote and his mention of home birth, inspired me to learn something about childbirth. Dana was carrying the baby, Dana could feel the baby, Dana was going to deliver the baby... I wanted to do something a little more than just stand there, terrified, on game day. I wanted to take responsibility for my wife, especially since this was her first child (meaning she had no idea what she was doing either), and my future baby. I read books. I watched documentaries. I read articles and blog posts. I couldn't do much during her pregnancy, but I could help her be comfortable, healthy, and educated. I took her to a birth class at the hospital. We watched the Birth Boot Camp videos together. I bought lots of books. I tried to feed us healthy food, since I normally cook for us. I encouraged her to walk with me. I did what I could.

Now, concerning her plan for birth, over time she had decided that she wanted a natural birth. She wanted to have the baby in the healthiest way possible and did not want a c-section. So, I began reading. I read books for doulas and midwives. I read blogs and watched documentaries. I didn't want that time to come and for me to freeze up. I didn't want to get sick to my stomach. I wanted to be focused and do everything I could to help her in any way I could. After all the preparation, I was ready to have the baby in the bathtub if the situation went a little crazy. She had contractions for over 30 hours, only to find that it was all in preparation. She hadn't dilated at all when we got to the hospital, though the doula and I, with all my charts and knowledge of "normal" labor, were certain she should be well on her way. That disappointment was something that I wanted to prevent her from dealing with, but not everything can be planned out perfectly, no matter how well you know your options. At the hospital, on our way out of the hospital since they don’t admit women until they are 4 cm, her water broke. We went back up to Labor and Delivery. They confirmed that her water broke and admitted her. Once she was in the room, nothing went according to her plan. Her legs were exhausted. Her contractions were intense. She went from partially clothed to completely naked, which wasn't in her original plan. She was in a kind of sitting, half leaning back position with her legs on the handle bar. In all of this, I was calm and confident. After 5 hours of contractions, she began pushing. After an hour and a half, we had a baby. There were people coming in and out, because we were in the middle of a nurse shift change. There was all the technical aspects of monitors and refusing drugs. But I knew all of that stuff. I knew what to expect. Even when everything exploded in activity in the last moments, when his head came through, but his pulse dropped low. The nurses demanded that Dana push more, but I understood what was happening. The shoulders came out and then the rest. His eyes opened and he began to cry. Before any doctor or nurse told me, I knew that my baby was fine.

Had I not taken time to prepare, the entire thing would have been confusing and terrifying. I would have felt like I was at the mercy of doctors and nurses. I wouldn't have known how to help my wife through pregnancy or labor or delivery. I would have been a 'supportive' bystander, rather than right there in the moment. Did I mention I requested to catch my baby? The hospital wouldn't allow it, but it was worth it to ask, just to see the shocked look on their faces. I think that the classic picture of dad pacing around the lobby is well past done. We have the privilege, but I also believe the responsibility, of helping our wives. That's my wife and that's my baby and, in a way that shouldn't take anything away from mom, it's my birth experience too."