1. Take your hubby and do the tour. At least, if you get nothing else out of it, or if your hubby wines about beer the whole time, you’ll know where to park, and where to go. Hospital hallways all look alike, and I noticed that the signs aren’t always helpful. So- go and learn.

2. Valet parking at the Ronald Reagan Medical center is $11. Self parking at the 200 Medical center is $11. You make the choice. I’m going in style and doing valet. Note- they accept credit cards. Woot!

3. Wait for the appropriate contractions before going to the hospital. Otherwise you’ll just end up going home. Talk to your medical professional about what the right duration and intensity of contraction is for you.

4. Have your pediatrician picked out and have their info with you when you go. You will need- Name, Address, and Phone Number.

5 Labor and maternity is BTW on the 5th floor of the Regan Center- that took a while to figure out.

6. Siblings are welcome at labor and delivery but make sure they have an adult- not you or your husband (or partner)- with to escort them out if they are horrified by the magic of childbirth. Also- the child can’t be sick- they’ll send them home if they are so be forwarned.

7. The phone number for labor and delivery is: 310-267-7560. Their moto is “when in doubt call!”

8. Have your babies name ready when you come becuase it makes getting the birth certificate and their social security number a whole lot easier.

9. If you need your ipod bring your ipod speakers- they dont have any there.

10. They do have a plasma television though

11. Moms UCLA hooks you up, robe, slippers, toothbrush, etc… Dads bring a hobo sack- UCLA does not have you hooked up- you get nada.

12. Have your advanced care talk before you go.

13. Visiting hours for recovery room are 8am to 8pm.

14. They have a baby stays with you at all times policy, and everyone gets a neat little security ID bracelt.

15. They have internet access. So bring your laptop and play WoW.

16. They promote breast feeding. In fact they said if you are undecided when you get there then you will be breast feeding.

17. If your baby is a boy they perform circumsisions there. However, make sure that your obstatricion actually performs them if you want one. They mentioned that not all UCLA obstatricions will perform a circumsision.

18. They have food service from 6am to 11pm. Thats hot food. If you deliver outside of those hours they have a cold box lunch with sandwishes and fruit.

19. Nurse shifts are 12 hours from 7am to 7pm. So you, most likely, will have one nurse tending to you for that 12 hour shift.