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Planning For Your Child's Birth
We know you have many choices in deciding where to give birth to your child and thank you for considering Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, which is consistently ranked among the finest hospitals in the United States. By choosing us, you can rest assured you and your baby will receive the excellent and personalized care you want with the technology and safety you need.
Pre-Admission Registration
When a woman in labor is ready to give birth, she doesn't need the additional stress of filling out insurance and hospital registration forms. That's why The BirthPlace, Westwood offers pre-admission registration to expectant mothers. If you have a UCLA Medical Record Number (MRN), you are already preregistered and only need to tell the Admissions office your due date. Obstetricians who work in clinics or private offices affiliated with UCLA usually submit Pre-Admission Registration forms for their patients, but you can also preregister yourself if your obstetrician does not offer this service.
If you do not have a UCLA MRN, please fill out a Pre-Admission Registration form as soon as possible during your pregnancy. Forms are available in the Admissions office on the first floor of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. When labor begins and your doctor instructs you to come to our hospital, you can go directly to our Labor and Delivery Unit on the fifth floor. Please remember to bring your insurance card and some form of identification, such as a driver's license.
Choosing a Pediatrician
In the first year of your baby's life, you will visit the pediatrician for well-baby visits at least six times, so it's important you choose a doctor you trust and like. UCLA Health System makes the decision easy by providing you with convenient access to dozens of top-quality physicians in your neighborhood. For a list of UCLA pediatricians near you, go to www.uclahealth.org or call (800)825-2631. Most UCLA pediatricians offer a getting-to-know-you visit to help you learn more about them. Some items to discuss with your prospective pediatrician include:
- breastfeeding versus bottle-feeding,
- circumcision
- newborn screenings and hearing tests
- examinations and vaccinations.
We strongly encourage you to choose your baby's pediatrician before you are admitted for delivery and request that you provide us with the doctor's name, address and phone number so we can forward all test results to his or her office. Please be advised that every baby delivered at The BirthPlace, Westwood is seen by a neonatologist, a pediatrician with extra training to care for sick babies. If you also want your pediatrician to visit your newborn at the hospital, you will need to make those arrangements yourself.
Financial Information
The cost of having a baby at The BirthPlace, Westwood varies according to your insurance coverage, the type of delivery and your length of stay. We suggest you talk to your insurance company about your coverage and then speak with one of our financial counselors. They can answer your questions and provide more detailed information about accepted insurance plans and any other charges you may incur.
Birth Wishes
We have created this Birth Wishes form to help you design your ideal birthing experience. Please note your preferences on this form and bring it with you to the hospital. We will do our best to honor your wishes, but keep in mind that labor can be unpredictable and circumstances may require certain medical interventions to ensure you and your baby remain healthy during your stay. Downlaod a birth wish form »
