While In Hospital

Childbirth

Coming to the hospital

It is difficult to know when to come to the hospital. If you think you are in labour, time your contractions carefully with a watch. When your contractions last 40 to 60 seconds, are painful, and occur approximately five minutes apart from the start of one contraction to the next, please come to the hospital.

If your membranes have ruptured, come to the hospital whether you have contractions or not. You may notice a mucousy blood-streaked discharge several days before your baby is ready to be born. If the discharge is watery, your membranes may be leaking. If the blood is bright red, come to the hospital. If you feel unsure about whether or not you should come in, please call your doctor or the hospital. The hospital number is 519-749-4300, ext. 2652. If you are not in active labour and everything is fine, you may be sent home after an assessment.

Registration

Each time you come to the hospital, you need to register. Registration for the childbirth program takes place at the registration desk on the Floor 4. Please bring your health card and any additional insurance information.

If you arrive Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. or Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., please enter the hospital through the main entrance. If you arrive at the hospital during any other time, please enter the hospital through the emergency department entrance (as the main entrance doors are locked).

Arrival at the Childbirth Unit

After you have registered, you will be directed to the childbirth triage area. A nurse will assess your labour, listen to your baby's heart rate and time your contractions. The nurse may also complete a vaginal examination to see if your cervix has dilated. If you are found not to be in active labour, the nurse and doctor will decide whether you will stay in the triage area for observation, be admitted to the antenatal unit, or be sent home if everything is fine. If you are in active labour, you will be transferred to a comfortable room on 4D for your labour and birth.

Admission to the childbirth unit

The labour/birthing/recovery and post-partum care rooms on Floor 4 are where women with low-risk births can deliver and recover. If you need to have a caesarean section, you will be moved to another room on the same unit.

In the childbirth unit a nurse will ask you to change into a hospital gown or your own birthing gown. She will take your temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure and check your baby's heart rate. You will be asked to sign a consent form for general hospital procedures. A doctor who is studying obstetrics may also examine you and ask some questions. Your support person and your nurse will work with you to help in the labour and delivery of your baby. Please ask questions about any concerns you may have.

What to bring to the hospital brochure

Pre-term labour brochure

Coping with labour brochure

Videotaping Policy

If you wish to videotape your baby's birth, the appropriate hospital waivers must be signed and all those present in any taping must first give their permission to be videotaped. As a general rule videotaping is only allowed after the birth of the baby. Please speak with your healthcare provider if you have any questions concerning our videotaping policy.

Those precious moments after birth

If you experience an uncomplicated vaginal birth, soon after birth your baby may be placed on your chest, skin to skin. This will allow you to spend those precious first moments close to your newborn. Skin to skin contact has also been shown to stabilize newborn temperature and blood sugars. At some point your baby will be dried, weighed and wrapped in a blanket. His or her mouth and nose may be suctioned to clear amniotic fluid and mucous. Staff will check to make sure your baby is doing well. Babies who need to be closely watched or need treatment will be cared for in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Most babies are alert during the two hours or so after birth and it is a wonderful time for families to be together. You are encouraged to hold and to breastfeed your baby. Ask your nurse for help if you need some assistance. Matching arm bands will be placed on you, your support person and your baby for identification and to ensure infant security.

In order to provide the highest level of safety and security for you newborn the childbirth unit is a closed access area. This means that in order to enter the unit you must first pick up the phone outside the childbirth program doors and identify yourself. Program staff will disengage the lock and allow entrance to partners, support persons and visitors as per our visiting policy.

Most women who experience an uncomplicated vaginal birth can expect to go home from hospital with 6-24 hours. Women who have a cesarean birth are usually well enough to go home within 2-3 days. Your doctor and nurse will ensure that you and your newborn meet certain criteria before you are discharged home. If you have any questions speak with your doctor and nurse about you and your baby's readiness to go home.

Going Home

It is important to prepare for your hospital discharge well before your actual hospitalization. If you have other children make arrangements for a care provider to be available during your hospitalization. Prepare your home to ensure you have all the necessary supplies for both you and your baby once you arrive home from hospital. Stock up on easy to prepare foods and if friends ask how they can help suggest they prepare and freeze casseroles or entres that can be easily defrosted and prepared for quick meals. Enlist the help of family members to take home your flowers and extra belongings.

You will likely still need to wear your maternity clothes when you leave the hospital; it will take time before you are back to your pre-pregnancy weight and shape. Have a diaper and outfit for the baby to wear home. As a general guideline, dress your baby in one extra layer of clothing beyond what you are wearing.

By law, your baby must leave the hospital buckled up in an approved car safety seat. Please make arrangements to obtain a proper car seat before your baby's birth (click here for more information).

Support for you after baby is born

It is important to make arrangements before the birth of your baby to have help when you return home. A new mother needs opportunities for rest. If you would like further advice and support, there are a number of resources in the community. You may call the Healthy Children Information Line at Region of Waterloo Public Health at (519) 883-2245 for more information.

New Mother Support Services

New Mother Support Services is comprised of a team of registered nurses who are certified as lactation consultants. They provide support, counseling and education for women and their families and health care professionals. The focus of the service is providing support to breastfeeding mothers and their newborns up to the first month of life, through in hospital support, telephone counselling and outpatient appointments.

Hours of operation: Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
To make an appointment, please call: 519-749-4355

New Mother Support Services brochure

Read about our Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative

Postbirth Clinic

All women who give birth at Grand River Hospital are offered an appointment in the postbirth clinic, 48 hours after their discharge home from hospital. Here, mother and baby will be seen by a nurse from Region of Waterloo Public Health. The public health nurse will ask questions and assess how mother and baby are managing at home. She will provide information about community resources and arrange a home visit with the family in approximately 1-2 weeks time. If any concerns are identified during the postbirth appointment the public health nurse will refer the mother and baby to the appropriate supports, including New Mother Support Services.

After your baby is born brochure