Labor and Delivery Care

For more information about our Birth Center, join us virtually at our free, monthly Birth Center Orientation and Expectant Parents Night Zoom webinar. Our hospital staff and physicians will let you know what to expect and answer your questions.

Register for Birth Center Orientation and Expectant Parents Night Webinar now.

Delivering at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford Birth Center? What to know:

• At least six weeks before your due date—Complete the Labor and Delivery Pre-Registration Form.
• Once you’ve preregistered with Labor and Delivery, you can learn about pregnancy, labor, delivery, and newborn care at our Pregnancy and Newborn Patient Education site. You can get the redemption code to register for this site in your preregistration confirmation email.
• If you think you are in labor, call Labor and Delivery at (650) 723-5403 to speak with a nurse.
• If you have a scheduled delivery:
  • Morning of your delivery appointment—Call Labor and Delivery at (650) 723-5403 at least two hours before your arrival so we can prepare for you and let you know about any potential delays. 
  • Scheduled inductions—During times when we have a large number of unanticipated deliveries, we may need to delay or reschedule your planned induction. We ask for your patience as we make every effort to get you in as soon as possible while ensuring your safety and the safety of other patients.
  • Scheduled cesareans, or c-sections—Please review important pre-op instructions. Please come to Labor and Delivery two hours before your scheduled procedure time.
• Arriving at your appointment—Go to Labor and Delivery at 725 Welch Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304. There is a sign that says West Entrance—Labor and Delivery.
  • Labor and Delivery is in Unit 280 on the 2nd floor of the West building.

What to expect once you’ve delivered

• You will stay on the Labor and Delivery unit to recover for a couple of hours before being transferred to the Maternity or postpartum unit.
• Your care team will help you with skin-to-skin bonding time with your baby and support you with breastfeeding.
• If your baby needs special care, our Neonatology team is available to support your baby in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU.