The Women's Hospital at Saddleback Medical Center Launches Orange County's Only In-House Doula Program

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's Hospital at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center has expanded its maternity program to include complimentary, 24/7 in-house doulas—it is the only hospital in Orange County with this offering. The expansion comes as 76% of respondents with employer-sponsored health insurance expressed interest in doula care for a future pregnancy, according to a 2025 Morgan Health survey.

"This expansion gives families access to advanced birth support by ensuring we closely integrated doulas with the physicians, midwives and nurses responsible for their medical care," said Christine Huff, RN, director, The Women's Hospital, Saddleback Medical Center. "Doulas do not replace the clinical team. They add continuous, non-clinical support to a care model designed to give families more options while maintaining the safety and medical expertise of a hospital setting."

Evidence continues to demonstrate the benefits of doula support during childbirth. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) recognizes continuous one-on-one support as an effective tool for improving labor and delivery outcomes, citing research that found patients receiving continuous support were 25% less likely to have a cesarean birth and 8% more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth, as well as associations with shorter labor and fewer negative feelings about the childbirth experience. In 2026 guidance, ACOG recommended stronger partnerships between doulas and clinicians, noting that integrating doulas into care teams can improve communication, continuity of care, patient experience and birth outcomes.

Saddleback Medical Center introduced the In-House Doula Program to expand access to individualized labor support in the hospital. In-house doulas help patients understand their options and communicate preferences, provide emotional and physical support, and assist with movement and comfort measures to ease labor pain.

The program complements The Women's Hospital's broader low-intervention birth experience, which includes private labor and delivery spaces, labor tubs and comfort carts equipped with tools patients can use for movement, positioning and pain management. Throughout labor and birth, certified nurse midwives and OB/GYNs provide medical care while doulas offer continuous, non-clinical support tailored to each patient's preferences.

"Through philanthropic funding, patients have complimentary access to a MemorialCare-employed doula during labor and delivery, or they may bring their own doula, with both options coordinated alongside The Women's Hospital's clinical team and resources," said Huff. "This support reflects our continued investment in women's health and maternal outcomes by expanding access to personalized birth support within the safety of a hospital setting."

Within a dedicated environment centered on mothers and babies, families receive coordinated support throughout labor and birth, with OB/GYN specialists available if a pregnancy becomes more complex or a patient prefers physician-led care.

"Meeting families where they are is central to how we provide maternity care," Huff said. "Whatever care experience they choose, we want them to feel supported, safe and cared for every step of the way."

To learn more about the maternity care available at The Women's Hospital, visit memorialcare.org/smcbaby.

About MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center, part of MemorialCare, a not-for-profit, integrated healthcare system, has served South Orange County for more than fifty years. It is recognized for excellence in cancer, heart, orthopedics, women's health, maternity care and minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery. It is a STEMI receiving center for stroke and heart attacks, holds a Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation and is a certified Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center. Saddleback Medical Center is the only Orange County hospital to centralize women's specialty care under one roof at the Women's Health Pavilion. Saddleback Medical Center is nationally recognized for maternity care by U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek; named one of Healthgrades America's 250 Best Hospitals; and ranked as a top hospital in the Los Angeles Metro area by U.S. News & World Report. Visit memorialcare.org/saddleback.

SOURCE MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center