Named a Best Hospital for Maternity by U.S. News & World Report, there’s more to Providence St. Jude’s maternity services than outstanding clinical outcomes and a list of honors. We are one of only a handful of hospitals in the nation—and the only one in California—to offer a maternity concierge service.
The complimentary service is designed to reduce the stress—and increase the joy—of a new baby. Whether it’s bringing luggage from the car to the hospital room or driving to a neighbor’s house to pay for dog-sitting, our maternity concierges are here to make life easier for new moms and dads.
SO, WHAT ARE THE MOST FREQUENT REQUESTS DURING A FAMILY’S HOSPITAL STAY?
1. FOOD FROM A FAVORITE RESTAURANT
During labor, when dads are the primary customer, In-N-Out, Del Taco, and Buffalo Wild Wings are in high demand. But the baby’s birth brings change. “When moms are again involved in ordering the food, In-N-Out remains popular but more often we’re picking up food from restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory or Mendocino Farms,” explains Gina Shafter, lead maternity concierge. No delivery fee is charged, and unlike normal food delivery services, which drop the food off in the hospital lobby, the maternity concierges deliver to the couple’s room.
2. PICKING UP FORGOTTEN ITEMS
From driving to Target to pick up shaving items for dad, to retrieving a forgotten makeup bag from the house, our concierges are available to help fix packing snafus or get needed items. “When you’re in the hospital, things come up that you hadn’t expected,” says Gina, explaining that commonly forgotten items include phone chargers, toothbrushes, car seats, and vitamins. “Almost anything can be fixed with a Target pickup order.”
3. RENTING A BREAST PUMP
Most people don’t think about it until after the baby is born—and mom realizes she needs it. “Pumps are covered by insurance, you just need a physician’s prescription,” explains Gina, who says the concierges can make the process easy. “We fax the prescription to the vendor and then either pick it up and deliver it to the room—so the mom can get help from the hospital’s lactation experts—or have it delivered to their house.”
4. MAKING IT A CELEBRATION
Sometimes it’s a gift for a sibling that’s needed; other times, it’s a gift for mom that the concierges are searching for and delivering. Finding flowers, balloons or even hanging lights and decorations are all services the concierges perform for couples who want a new birth to feel like a party. “We’ve even gone to pick up a special dish prepared by a new grandmother to add to the couple’s celebration,” says Gina.
5. HITTING UP THE STARBUCKS DRIVE-THRU
Thoughts of Frappuccinos and chai lattes can dance through the heads of laboring moms, prompting a post-delivery “Starbucks needed stat” request. According to Gina, dads also place their share of orders: “The caffeine helps prevent naps that wouldn’t be appreciated by a mom in labor.”
Concierge services are available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. To learn more or to sign up for your own concierge-led virtual tour of our maternity floors, call us at 714-461-1593. The tour, conducted over Zoom, includes lots of valuable information such as a packing checklist, getting pre-registered, and signing up for useful classes (from prenatal exercise classes to breastfeeding workshops after the baby comes).
