Delivering More Than Exceptional Care

Labor and delivery—and maternal mother care—built around you

Written by Laura Roe Stevens

There has never been a better time to have a baby at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. The hospital is recognized for its state-of-the-art technology, highly trained physicians and dedicated nursing staff.

And Torrance Memorial has expanded to offer more choices in personalized care—both in labor and delivery services and maternal mother care. Torrance Memorial Physician Network’s OB-GYN program recently added six new OB-GYN physicians to work within its five locations. Expecting moms can rest easy knowing all physicians in the network are committed to honoring patients’ needs and collaborate closely with nurses, doulas and other physicians to personalize every delivery, recovery care plan and Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) care.

“Our nurses will cater to your choices. I go over birth preferences in the office, so it’s clear how a patient wants pain management or whether she wants a doula in the room,” explains Meher Raza, DO, a Torrance Memorial OB-GYN. “Our labor and delivery nurses act as advocates and share various aspects pertaining to delivery preferences, and I will honor them as long as I deem them as safe.”

Mom & Baby's Safety

“You will never be without a physician when delivering at Torrance Memorial,” says Dr. Meher Raza. “If you need an emergency C-section, it will never be delayed. We prioritize safe deliveries. There is always a laborist, anesthesiologist and neonatologist in the hospital at all times.”

Not only are physicians always at the hospital, all Torrance Memorial OB-GYNs excel at caring for complications that may arise. In January, the Joint Commission’s Maternal Levels of Care verification program (in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) named Torrance Memorial a Level III maternal care verified facility for its expertise in caring for complex maternal medical conditions, obstetric complications and fetal conditions.

This eased the mind of Nikole Alexis Lina, RN, a Torrance Memorial labor and delivery nurse, who gave birth to her son Noah in September 2022. Lina was surprised by how nurses went “the extra mile” to calm her during stressful moments.

“At one point, the baby’s heartbeat was going down since the umbilical cord had wrapped around my son three times. A nurse saw my mom sitting anxiously and praying [in the room] and asked: “If it’s OK, can I pray with you?” says Lina. “This was so nice for my mom and me, and it brought peace within the whole room and helped me relax.”

Lina’s labor and delivery was fast—only three hours—but came with complications, including an infection of the placenta and amniotic fluid. Chorioamnionitis can happen if a woman is dilated before labor starts, as pressure can break the amniotic sac, making the placenta vulnerable to infection.

Since Lina had been 7 cm dilated upon arrival at 39 weeks into her pregnancy, this infection was deemed a possibility. Her team—nurses, an anesthesiologist and a physician—sprang into action.

Given the urgency, Lina was pleasantly surprised by how the nurses calmly consulted with her in every decision, trying to honor her needs. “I had an amazing nurse tell me: ‘Hey, this is happening right now. This is the plan. How do you feel? Are you good with that?’ I loved that approach,” Lina adds. “Instead of telling me what had to be done, she explained with me, not to me. This collaboration helped me not panic or stress, which can complicate labor.”

Talented Physicians

Lina learned this firsthand. If a complication arises during labor or delivery, a patient can feel vulnerable, anxious and helpless. Having a capable and experienced physician can make all the difference in delivery outcomes and for mom’s recovery.

“I was having some bleeding issues, and Dr. Elledge worked quickly to get it controlled with medication so I didn’t need any other intervention,” explains Lina of her physician Kay Elledge, MD.

This approach aided her recovery, which was helpful because baby Noah went straight to the NICU for monitoring and antibiotics. For a week, Lina spent her days and nights there, which would not have been possible if she, too, needed to recuperate. While the birth didn’t go as she envisioned, Lina says she wouldn’t change a thing. In the end, she and her baby are healthy—and that’s the miracle.

Her words of advice to expecting moms? “Whatever your birth plan is, keep an open mind and be flexible. Nurses will strive to honor it, and physicians will keep you and your baby safe. Just remember, this magical moment will never happen again.” 

Torrance Memorial Offers More For You & Baby:

• Pregnancy Care: Personalized, obstetrical care focused on the unique needs at every stage of life
• Prenatal & Parenting Classes: Dedicated maternity team providing vital support and resources
• Labor & Delivery: Private L&D rooms for your family’s birthing experience
• Mother Baby Postpartum: 28 private rooms featuring lactation support and nursing couplet care to limit interruptions and exposure
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): Comprehensive Level III NICU delivering the highest level of care for the tiniest patients
• Breastfeeding Support: A safe place for new moms needing resources, support and education around breastfeeding and newborn nutrition
• Pediatrics: Offering a full range of medical services for pediatric to young adult patients