Los Alamitos Medical Center (562) 598-1311- A level 2, private (non teaching) hospital. LDRP's for vaginal birth. Significant others can stay overnight with no extra charges if you have a vaginal birth. Healthy babies are generally roomed in with mom unless requested by mom to be sent to the nursery. If you have a surgical birth, postpartum rooms are semi-private but they try to spread the moms out one to a room so your significant other can stay with you. It all depends on how busy the unit is. Nursing care ratio is 1 nurse for every 2-3 moms. Recently they eliminated all the great birth and breastfeeding classes. No IBCLC's on staff.

Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital (Whittier) (562) 698-0811 - A Level 2 NICU hospital with LDR rooms and all private postpartum rooms, so a significant other can stay with you overnight. Two people can be with you in labor. The standard routine is; Baby is born, spends about 1 1/2-2 hrs with you, then taken to the nursery for bathing, eye ointment, testing, and rewarming for about 2hrs and then 24hr rooming in. 24 hr rooming in for Cesarean birth moms as well. Nursing care ratio is 1 nurse for 2 moms in active labor. This hospital does have large jacuzzi tubs in 4 rooms (now used as postpartum rooms, so the tubs are going unused. However, there is no policy against their use. Talk to your doctor if you want to labor in water (www.waterbirth.org may be helpful with studies etc...). Showers are available in all rooms. They do allow video and photos during vaginal and cesarean births. Baby "Lojack" system in unit.

St. Mary's Medical Center (888) 478-6279 - Catholic hospital with LDRP's, level 2? NICU. VBAC's are banned by their policy. Nursing ratio 1 nurse for every 2-3 moms. Two people can be with you in labor. Standard routine is baby born, briefly left with parents, then sent to nursery for 4 hours. Labor rooms have no tubs or showers. Heavy fetal monitor use. Baby "Lojack" system in unit. Significant other can stay with you

Torrance Memorial (310) 325-9110 - Some of the LDR's were remodled in 2004. some private postpartum rooms, but even if you don't get one your support person can stay with you if your "roomate" does not object. Level 3 NICU. You can have as many support people in labor as you want but they have to rotate in and out 2 at a time. Children are also welcome in labor rooms with adult supervision. Pictures & video OK. Standard routine is; Monitors are used for the first hour and then 20 minutes out of every hour for low risk women. Baby is left with parents for about 1 hr then sent to nursery for a mandatory 4 hrs stay. Baby Lojack system. Highest cesarean rate of the area hospitals.

Little Company of Mary-Torrance - LDR's with a shower. Level 2 NICU. Popsicles/jello and drinking in labor is routine. Nursing ratio 1(or 2) moms per nurse. Rooming in is the norm. IBCLC on staff.

Downey Regional Medical Center (562)904-5055 -LDR rooms(labor, delivery, recovery)Level 2 NICU Nursing care 1 for every 2 moms. Continuous fetal monitoring policy. 2 support people allowed for vaginal birth. Baby Rooms in with mom if vaginal birth. Doula's not allowed in for cesareans, significant others not allowed to follow baby into nursery in the case of a cesarean. Significant other may stay overnight in postpartum if other bed is unoccupied. No private rooms available. Locked doors and security cameras.

St Judes Medical Center - LDR's Level 3 NICU. You can have 2 support people in labor. Pictures & video ok from view by mom's head with approval of everyone present in room. Standard routine is; Significant other may stay overnight in private rooms only. All the doctors share call hours so you don't know who you will get when you are in labor.

Kaiser Lakeview- Anaheim - Some LDR's some LDRP's you are usually moved into one of the LDRP's in active labor when one is available. Showers in the LDRP's. Certified Nurse Midwives on staff/on call most days. Low cesarean rate. Level 3 NICU. You get the on call Dr. or CNM. IBCLC's on staff.

Irvine Regional Hospital - LDR's Level 2 NICU. Pretty interventive hospital. They recently instituted a form that they want moms to sign saying that fathers and photos are not permitted during the "procedure of birth" (vaginal birth) but are allowed by permission of the physician. (like it's 1950!) Small whirlpool tubs in each LDR room. Each postpartum room is private so significant other can stay overnight (I assume with permission of the physician) meals (were?) included for both. Change is afoot, double check info. IBCLC's on staff and lactation clinic every weekday.

Fountain Valley Regional Hospital 714 966-8153 - LDR's Level 3 NICU. You can have 2 support people in labor. Continuous Fetal Monitoring policy. Standard routine is; Baby born goes to warmer or on mom for an hour and then to the nursery for 2-4 hrs. Significant other may stay overnight in private postpartum rooms only. This is the only hospital where I have ever seen routine enemas/episiotomies.