One of the most common questions we hear at the Santa Clarita Birth Center, often whispered by anxious grandparents or well-meaning friends, is a version of this fear:
“If you don’t deliver in a hospital, does the baby actually get medical care? Who is watching them?”
There is a deeply ingrained belief in our culture that a hospital is the only environment where a newborn receives thorough testing, observation, and safety checks. When people imagine an out-of-hospital birth, they often picture a “wild west” scenario where families walk away minutes after delivery with no screenings, no follow-up, and no professional eyes on the baby.
We are here to set the record straight.
At the Santa Clarita Birth Center, and across our collective of midwives, including Renee Sicignano, Roam Midwifery, and Julia Underwood, that assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. Choosing a Santa Clarita homebirth or birth center experience is not about doing less. It is about doing the same essential, evidence-based care in a more intentional, family-centered way.
Modern midwifery care doesn’t skip safety; it simply delivers it differently. It honors the physiology of birth and the sacredness of the first hours while maintaining strict clinical vigilance. Here is exactly what happens after your baby is born under our care.
The First Moments: Vigilance Meets Peace
When a baby is born in a hospital, they are often whisked away to a warmer or a scale relatively quickly. In our care, the “Golden Hour” is sacred. We believe that unless there is a medical necessity, the safest place for a newborn is skin-to-skin on their parent’s chest.
But while you are soaking in those first snuggles, breathing in that new baby smell, your midwife is hard at work.
From the moment of birth, we are constantly assessing your baby’s transition. We are watching their breathing patterns, their color, their muscle tone, and their responsiveness. We perform standard Apgar assessments at one minute and five minutes of life, just like a hospital, but we often do it while the baby is still in your arms.
We use a stethoscope to listen to heart and lung sounds, ensuring the breath is clear on both sides, and the heart rhythm is steady. We verify that the baby is oxygenating well. We perform a complete physical exam, checking reflexes, measurements (weight, length, head circumference), and overall neurological well-being.
This is not a casual observation. This is a skilled assessment performed by licensed midwives who have attended thousands of births. Whether you are birthing with Renee Sicignano, whose experience spans over 1,500 births, or the intuitive team at Roam Midwifery, you are in the hands of experts who specialize in “normal” and know exactly how to identify when something falls outside that range.
The “Standard” Medications: A Conversation, Not a Command
In a conventional setting, certain newborn procedures happen automatically, often without much explanation. In our model of care, everything is based on informed consent. We believe you are the primary decision-maker for your child, and our job is to provide you with the evidence so you can choose confidently.
This approach is a cornerstone of Julia Underwood’s practice, where advocacy and autonomy are paramount. We don’t just “do” things to your baby; we discuss them with you first.
1. Eye Ointment (Erythromycin)
Hospitals routinely apply antibiotic ointment to a newborn’s eyes to prevent blindness caused specifically by Chlamydia or Gonorrhea infections passed during birth.
- Our Approach: During your prenatal care, we offer screening for these infections. If you test negative, you have the data to decide whether this antibiotic is necessary for your baby. We support families who choose to use it and families who choose to decline it based on their screening results.
2. Vitamin K
The Vitamin K shot is the standard of care in the US to prevent a rare but serious condition called Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB).
- Our Approach: We provide you with evidence-based articles and discussions about VKDB well before your due date. We talk about why the prophylaxis is offered, how rare the condition is, and the risks of declining. If you choose to give your baby Vitamin K, we administer it right here at the birth center or at your home, just as a hospital nurse would.
The Home Visit: Bringing the Hospital to Your Living Room
This is perhaps the single biggest difference, and the greatest luxury, of the Santa Clarita Birth Center model.
In the hospital system, a new family is typically discharged 24 to 48 hours after birth. This means you are strapping a tiny, brand-new human into a car seat, navigating Santa Clarita traffic, and dealing with exhaustion just to get home.
In our model, the care comes to you.
After you leave the birth center (usually a few hours after birth, once you and baby are stable and resting), your care transfers to your home. Then, between 24 and 36 hours post-birth, a midwife arrives at your doorstep.
We sit on your couch or by your bed to perform the same critical screenings a hospital would do before discharge, but we do it in your environment, on your timeline.
The Metabolic Screen (Heel Prick)
You might remember this from previous births or hearing about it, the “heel prick” test. This is a state-mandated screen for rare genetic and metabolic disorders. While these conditions are uncommon, catching them early is critical for a healthy life.
- How we do it: We gently warm the baby’s foot, perform the small prick, and collect the six circles of blood on the card to send directly to the state lab. It is the exact same test, processed by the exact same lab, as the hospital.
The CCHD Screening (Pulse Oximetry)
We also perform the Critical Congenital Heart Defect (CCHD) screening. This uses a “handy-dandy” pulse oximeter, a small, non-invasive light sensor placed on your baby’s hand and foot.
- How we do it: This machine measures how well your baby is oxygenating and compares the levels between the hand and foot. It can help identify heart defects that might not be audible with a stethoscope. It is high-tech safety gear, right in the comfort of your bedroom.
Feeding, Recovery, and “The Village”
The 24-hour home visit is about more than just medical tests. It is about supporting the transition of the entire family.
By the second day of life, babies often change. They “wake up” a bit more. They may want to nurse constantly (cluster feeding), or they may be too sleepy to latch well. This is a vulnerable time for new parents, and having a midwife in your home is a game-changer.
Renee Sicignano, who is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), has instilled a deep focus on breastfeeding support within our collective. During the home visit, we:
- Assess the latch and milk transfer.
- Teach you how to wake a sleepy baby or soothe a fussy one.
- Reassure you about normal newborn stomach size (it’s tiny!).
- Check your recovery, monitoring uterine bleeding, healing, and emotional well-being.
This holistic approach ensures that no one falls through the cracks. Whether you are a first-time parent or on your fourth baby, having that expert guidance in your own space allows you to rest and recover properly.
The One Exception: Hearing Screenings
We value transparency above all else, so it is important to note the one test we do not perform at the birth center or at home: the Newborn Hearing Screen.
This test requires specialized equipment that is typically found in hospitals or audiology clinics. However, because hearing loss is not an immediate emergency in the first days of life, this screening can be easily scheduled as an outpatient appointment. We have a network of trusted local pediatricians and clinics in the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys who can perform this screen for you within the recommended timeframe. We will make sure you have the referral and the info you need.
Safety is Our Language
So, to the worried grandparents, the skeptical friends, and the nervous partners: We hear you. We know you want the absolute best for this new life.
We want that too.
Our midwives carry oxygen, resuscitation equipment, anti-hemorrhagic medications, and suturing tools. We are trained for emergencies, but we are experts in prevention. By monitoring the baby closely, from the first breath to the home visit, we ensure that families getting a Santa Clarita homebirth experience or delivering at our center are never choosing between safety and comfort. You get both.
You get the best of modern medicine: the pulse oximetry, the metabolic screening, and the clinical assessments. And you get the best of midwifery: the time, the tenderness, the autonomy, and the peace.
Ready to Build Your Village?
Whether you are seeking the inclusive, advocacy-driven care of Julia Underwood, the grounded and intuitive guidance of Roam Midwifery, or the seasoned wisdom of Renee at the Center, we are here to answer your questions.
We serve families across the Santa Clarita Valley, Antelope Valley, Simi Valley, and San Fernando Valley.
Schedule a Tour or Consultation Today: 📍 SCV Birth Center: 23548 Lyons Ave, Suite B, Newhall, CA 91321 📞 Call us: (661) 254-3000 🌐 Visit us online to learn more about our team and our philosophy.