Getting Ready To Go To The Hospital
As your due date approaches, it’s time to pack your bags and get ready for your new baby's arrival.
Visitors Guidelines
Click here to see our current Visitors Guidelines.
Doulas and Labor Support
A doula provides labor support that has been shown to play an integral part of a woman’s labor process. The doula offers emotional support, labor support, helps decrease stress and anxiety by working on breathing techniques, and helps with labor positions to help move labor along. A doula’s role does not encompass providing medical advice and doulas are not employed by El Camino Health.
Many doulas have provided labor support at El Camino Health, and we have compiled a list as a reference to our patients should they be interested in hiring one. For more information, please contact them directly. Payment will be made directly through the doula, either out of pocket or through insurance.
Doula Directory
Click here to see our current Doula Directory. (Click to expand)
Cat Gieser | Email
Caren Hespeler | 408-655-4523 | https://www.heartworkbirthservices.com
Christine Vermeersch | 408-912-6299 | https://www.healinghandsdoula.com
Lori Ismail | https://earlyadvantagebirth.com
Madrone Cerelli (based in Santa Cruz) | Email | 831-566-1167 | https://www.blessedbirth.net
Mari Frietas | Email | 650-245-8290 | https://doulabymari.com
Paula Calhoun | Email | 408-761-5876 | https://www.deliverydoula.com
Stephanie Freeman Czarina Bowers | Email | 408-883-5177 | https://svdoulas.com
Stephanie Mollinier | Email | 408-504-5972 | https://www.stephaniedoula.com
Susan Boehnlein | Email | 408-348-3949
This list is intended to give you a head start. However, you are not limited to the doulas listed here. Doulas outside of this list may also provide labor support at El Camino Health. This list does not represent endorsement by El Camino Health.
Birth Preferences
We aim to shape your birth experience according to your preferences, while keeping you and your baby safe and as comfortable as possible. Our Birth Preference sheet is similar to a birth plan and includes a list of your choices and wishes for during and after delivery. You'll consider whether you'd like pain medication, how you plan to feed your baby, who should be in the room with you and other preferences. Please print and present these birth preferences to your delivery team once you are admitted to the hospital.
Suggested Packing List
A few weeks before your due date, pack a suitcase with a few items to make your hospital stay more comfortable.
Here's a checklist. (Click to expand)
- A favorite pillow and blanket for you and your partner – Additional bedding and towels will be provided
- Slippers
- A robe that is easy to take on and off
- A nursing bra
- A refillable water bottle with straw for you and your partner
- Personal care items, including toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, hairbrush, hair ties, moisturizer, deodorant and lip balm
- A comfortable going-home outfit to wear when you leave the hospital – front-opening shirts help with breastfeeding
- Electronics, such as phone and charger
- Nonperishable snacks for you and your partner, if you have favorites you’d like to have on hand
- Change of clothes and toiletries for your partner
- Identification and insurance cards
- Birth Preference sheet
Note: The hospital provides all basic necessities such as postpartum care products, gowns that support breastfeeding, diapers, baby care products and breast pumps, as well as T-shirts and blankets for baby.
For Baby's Trip Home
- Note: It is not necessary to pack infant formula for your Maternity stay. In the interest of patient safety, infants are allowed to consume formula that is provided by El Camino Hospital exclusively. The integrity of formula that is brought in by patient families cannot be accurately verified. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
- Be sure to pack a few items for the ride home from the hospital, including:
- A new infant car seat (required by California law)
- A baby blanket for going home
- A going-home outfit for baby
