Mother and Infant Care

The medical center provides hospital services for people of all ages in Los Angeles County. Services include emergency room services, prenatal care and obstetrics, general medical services, optometric services, and Safe Havens for Abandoned Newborns. Specialized services include neonatal intensive care and the perinatal center. The hospital also serves as a site of the Prenatal and Obstetrical Access Project which provides outreach to low-income pregnant women; (see separate entry for details). There are no geographic restrictions.

Prenatal services include comprehensive obstetrics and neonatology for pregnant women and newborn babies. The hospital can accommodate high risk patients. Services include information and referral, and prenatal care. Staff can provide neonatal intensive care for very ill infants and a total spectrum of specialized services for mother and child. Staff social workers can assist patients to obtain Medi-Cal.

Under the Safe Haven Law, this county designated site accepts newborn babies up to 72 hours old from mothers who want to anonymously relinquish their child. After 72 hours women are not protected under the law. Designated emergency room staff attempt to place a numerically matching ID bracelet on the mother and the baby, and women have up to 14 days to reclaim their child. Women may receive emergency medical attention without the threat of criminal prosecution; however, confidentiality will be compromised. Mothers who surrender a newborn in accordance with the Safe Haven Law are immune from criminal liability for child abandonment.