Alta Bates Campus Birth Center
About This Location
Congratulations! We’re excited to be by your side as you welcome the newest member of your family. At Alta Bates Campus Birth Center in Berkeley, California, you’ll enjoy spacious private rooms with showers or whirlpool tubs as well as maternity programs and services designed to make your birth experience pleasant and memorable.
With over 4,000 births annually, 22 labor and delivery suites, and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), our Baby-Friendly designated birth center is focused on family-centered care.
Your Stay
We’re excited to help you get ready for your big day. Review our checklist for helpful tips, links and forms to help you prepare for your delivery at our Berkeley birth center.
- Book your birthing tour
- Explore our classes and support groups for childbirth, breastfeeding and newborn care
- Register for delivery during your second trimester (20-28 weeks)
- Fill out our form outlining your birth preferences and bring it with you to the hospital: English | Spanish
- Contact your insurance company about your coverage and costs. Learn more about billing, payment options and financial assistance on our billing and insurance page.
- Learn what to pack for your hospital stay
- Find out when you should head to the delivery room
- Make sure your car seat is installed correctly
Take a look at our Pregnancy, Birth & Babies Guide for more helpful articles covering all three trimesters, plus postpartum and newborns.
Find Your Way
Contact a Patient
General Information and Patient Calls
510-204-4444
510-204-1302 (TTY)
Contact a Patient
General Information and Patient Calls
510-204-4444
510-204-1302 (TTY)
Visitor Hours and Information
Visitor hours are 5:30am-8:00pm.
Call us at 510-204-4444 for up-to-date information about visiting policies.
Parking
There are designated parking spaces near the entrances of the Health Pavilion at 5700 Telegraph and 5730 Telegraph as well as inside the parking garages across from the main entrance of our Alta Bates Campus.
Valet-assisted parking is available if the parking garage is full. Twenty-minute patient drop-off and pick-up parking is also available.
For questions, call the Parking Services office: 510-869-6993.
Public Transportation
Bus Route
For information on bus routes, contact AC Transit by calling 511, and saying "AC Transit.” You can also get information by visiting the AC Transit website.
BART Service
For information on taking BART, visit the BART website for train schedules.
Shuttle Service
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center provides free shuttle services for patients and visitors across our campuses. There’s no shuttle service on weekends or holidays. Our shuttle services include:
- Route 1: Milvia to Herrick to Alta Bates to MacArthur Bart, every 40 minutes, 5:30 am – 8:40 pm.
- Route 2: MacArthur Bart to 5730 Telegraph to Alta Bates Campus, every 20 to 30 minutes, 5:05 am – 9:10 pm.
- Route 3: MacArthur Bart to 350 Hawthorne (Summit Campus) to 30th and Summit St. to 3100 Telegraph Ave., every 15 minutes, 4:30 am – 8:56 pm.
- Summit Direct Shuttle: 350 Hawthorn to 5730 Telegraph Ave to Alta Bates, every 30 minutes, 6:30 am– 2:40 pm, when round trip is extended to 50 minutes to accommodate commute traffic delays.
On-call shuttle service for the Summit Campus, Ashby Campus, MacArthur BART station and Rockridge BART station is available 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm.
On-call shuttle service for the Herrick Campus, Milvia parking lot and Ashby BART station is available 9:00 pm – 2:00 am.
If you have questions about our shuttle service, please call 510-655-4000, ext. 2126.
Campus Maps
Plan your visit with confidence. Our maps show entrances, parking options and other helpful locations.
Food and Dining
Alta Bates Café
Located on the ground floor of the Alta Bates Campus at 2450 Ashby Avenue in Berkeley.
Cafe Hours
Monday through Friday: 6:30 am – 7:00 pm
Weekends and Holidays: 7:00 am – 2:00 pm
(Closed for cleaning from 10:30 am – 11:00 am and 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm)
Meals
Breakfast: 6:30 am – 10:30 am
Lunch: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Dinner: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Grab-and-go food items are available at all times during hours of operation.
Gift Shop
Located on the ground floor near the N elevators, our gift shop carries baby gifts, flowers, cards and more as well as lactation supplies for sale or rent.
Register for Your Delivery
Frequently Asked Questions
You can sign up online for a virtual or in-person tour of our birth center or call 800-769-1650.
Come in when contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each, for 1 hour.
Come sooner if you experience any of these:
- Your water breaks
- Bleeding like a period
- Severe pain
- Decreased baby movement
- You feel something isn’t right
If you’re unsure, call us — we’ll help you decide. You can reach us at 510-204-4444.
Pack a small bag ahead of time with a few essentials for you, your baby and your support person. Here are the basics to consider:
- Important items: ID, insurance card, phone and chargers
- Comfort items for labor: lip balm, water bottle, socks, pillow, hair ties, light entertainment
- Clothing for you: robe or pajamas, slippers, nursing bra, going‑home outfit
- Toiletries and personal care: toothbrush, deodorant, medications, glasses or contacts
- For your baby: car seat, going‑home outfit, hat, blanket
- For your support person: change of clothes, snacks and basic toiletries
You may not need everything, so focus on what will help you feel comfortable. For a complete checklist, read our hospital packing list.
Insurance coverage and out‑of‑pocket costs can vary based on your plan. Care related to having a baby may include prenatal visits, labor and delivery services, your hospital stay, postpartum care and care for your newborn.
You may receive separate bills for different parts of your care, such as your provider, the hospital, anesthesia and your baby’s care. Some services may be covered differently depending on your insurance plan and whether providers are in network.
For the most accurate information about your coverage, we recommend contacting your insurance company directly. You can also learn more about billing, payment options and financial assistance on our Billing and Insurance page.
Yes. Free medical interpreters are available 24/7 in person, by phone or video.
Ask any staff member when you arrive and we’ll connect you right away.
You’ll go to triage first so we can check you and your baby.
We will:
- Check your vital signs
- Monitor the baby’s heartbeat
- Examine your cervix, if needed
- Decide whether you’re in active labor
If you’re ready to deliver, you’ll move to a birth room. If not, we’ll give guidance on next steps.
You can discuss pain relief options with your care team at any time during labor.
Options may include comfort measures and medical pain relief, depending on your needs and preferences. Nonmedical measures can include birthing balls, heating pads, cold packs, massage, music, aromatherapy, and showers or tubs. Your team will explain what’s available and help you decide what’s right for you.
We review your birth plan when you arrive and support your preferences when it’s safe to do so. If your care needs to change, we’ll explain why and talk through next steps so you can make informed decisions.
You can fill out our birth preferences list and bring it with you to the hospital: English | Spanish
If your labor or delivery requires extra medical support, your care team will explain your options and act quickly to keep you and your baby safe. Specialists, including obstetricians and neonatal experts, are available if needed.
Yes. If your baby needs extra medical care after delivery, a neonatal team is available at Alta Bates Campus Birth Center.
Your baby can receive monitoring, breathing support or specialized treatment without transfer to another hospital whenever appropriate. Our Level III neonatal intensive care unit is located on the fourth floor.
Yes. Your support person can usually stay with you during labor, birth and recovery. They can help with comfort, communication and bonding after delivery.
Your birthing suite is equipped with seating for visitors and a chair that converts for sleeping so your support person can stay overnight.
After delivery, your care team checks your baby’s breathing, heartbeat and overall health. Learn about the routine newborn procedures that are performed right after your baby is born. When possible, your baby stays with you in your room so you can begin bonding and feeding right away.