Labor & Delivery at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

Each year our Labor & Delivery Department welcomes over 5,000 children into the world, making us the largest academic birth center in the state.

The Labor and Delivery (L&D) Unit delivers between 450 and 550 babies a month, making it one of the busiest L&Ds in the state. L&D has 14 labor, delivery and recovery rooms as well as a four-bed triage area to evaluate patients in early labor. L&D staffing for each shift consist of 12 to 13 RNs, 1 OBT, 2 to 3 USA (clean rooms, transport patients and equipment) and 1-2 clerks. Each shift has an Assistant Nurse Manager. The unit also has a Nurse Coordinator and a storekeeper. This staffing level allows each nurse to care for 1-2 patients, following AWHONN/ACOG guidelines. All RN staff have ACLS and NRP certification.

Mothers labor, deliver, and recover in the same room. Newborns remain with their mother during the recovery, but most of the assessments and administration of medication is done by the Mother-Infant Care Center staff. SCVMC has a cesarean section rate of 18-19%. L&D staff scrub, circulate and recover these patients. SCVMC has a renowned Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). NICU staff attends all high-risk deliveries.

During your labor and delivery, you will stay in one of our private birthing rooms. These rooms include a private bathroom and television. Your partner or labor coach can be present and a sleeper chair will be provided in your private room. Please know that during your postpartum stay in our maternal infant care center, guests cannot remain in your room overnight.