Labour and Delivery Hotline
Southlake offers a Labour and Delivery hotline for expectant couples who require labour and pregnancy support. This hotline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, provides couples with direct communication with a registered nurse in the Birthing Unit who will discuss your concerns and provide you with information.
Access our hotline by calling 905-895-4521, ext. 2225.
Birthing Unit
Our Birthing Unit offers private birthing rooms where mothers labour, birth and recover in a warm and comfortable home-like setting. Each room is spacious and includes a three-piece washroom, a pull out chair for the mother's partner to spend the night and enough space for the family and friends to visit. Mothers also have access to a whirlpool tub that assists them with pain control during labour. One-on-one support from a registered nurse is provided during active labour and birthing.
All patients who come to the Birthing Unit are assessed by an experienced Labour and Delivery registered nurse. Following this assessment, the patient, nurse, and physician or midwife develop a plan of care based on the mother's condition. Women in active labour are admitted to our Birthing Unit. Following an assessment to ensure the wellness of both mother and baby, some patients not in active labour may be discharged home.
Two fully equipped Operating Rooms and a recovery room are located within the Birthing Unit for both elective and emergency caesarean sections.
Meals are delivered to your room three times daily. The Birthing Unit and Post Partum Unit is also equipped with an ice machine, toaster, fridge, and complimentary coffee and tea for patients.
Birthing Unit staff also provide compassionate care and education to help prepare families for a smooth return home.
Birthing Room Guidelines
All labouring women are admitted to a private birthing room to labour and birth. Following birth, we make every effort to give new mothers an available room that matches their insurance coverage. All mothers will be given the option to pay to upgrade from a ward or semi-private to private room accommodations. Private rooms are available in the Birthing and Post-Partum Units.
Security
Hospital staff, physicians and volunteers can be easily identified by their photo identification badges. It is mandatory for all of these individuals to wear their ID badge while at the hospital. If you require assistance, observe a suspicious person or activity, have lost personal items or have any security concerns, notify the Security Office at 905- 895-4521, ext. 2385 or inform a staff member immediately.
If you are a parent, the safety of your baby while you are on the maternity unit is very important. Immediately after delivery, you, your support person and your baby are identified with matching arm bracelets. During your hospital stay, these bracelets are checked to ensure correct identification. Do not remove these bracelets before going home. Do not release your baby to any individual who is not wearing appropriate Southlake Regional Health Centre photo identification and do not leave your baby unattended in your room. If ever in any doubt, contact your nurse immediately before releasing your baby to an unknown person.
Post-Partum Unit
This is a 24-bed unit that focuses on assisting new families following the birth of their baby. Staff on the unit help new families prepare for their return home and educate them on how to care for both mother and baby. This unit also supports undelivered mothers requiring hospitalization due to complications of their pregnancy until they are ready for discharge.
Going Home
Your health care team will determine when you and/or your child is ready to go home, as well as specific instructions to follow once you leave the hospital. Your obstetrician will provide discharge instructions for the mother. Your family doctor/paediatrician will determine discharge criteria for your baby. You may also be given prescriptions for medication and a follow-up appointment time with your doctor.
Make arrangements for transportation home by discharge time (9:00 a.m.) in order that other patients who require admission can be accommodated.
If you are a new mother, you will sign a form for you and your baby. Your nurse will confirm the identification of your baby with you by checking the numbers on the hospital identification bracelets. At that time, you will receive any special instructions and a discharge package. Only parents or persons having legal custody may take a baby home.
Before leaving the Hospital you may settle any outstanding financial charges at the:
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Nurses' Station (Visa and Interact accepted. No cash or cheques)
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Cashier's window, located on Level 1 of the East Building, at the main entrance.
Hours of Operation and Type of Payment Accepted <link>
Note: Invoices will be mailed to patients that are discharged after hours or on weekends.
Criteria for Discharge Home with Your Baby
For Mom:
For Baby:
Responsibility of Family
In order that the discharge process proceeds as smoothly as possible, Southlake would appreciate if you and/or your family would:
- Provide necessary clothing to be worn at the time of discharge.
- Pack, remove and transport all personal belongings.
- Fill prescriptions for medications prior to or immediately following discharge. For your convenience, a full-service pharmacy is located on Level 1 of the East Building, at the main entrance.
- Make arrangements for the necessary equipment or home modifications as instructed by the health care team.
- Be available to receive necessary instructions for you or your baby's care prior to discharge.
- Inform your nurse of any unforeseen circumstances that may delay discharge.
Have a certified car seat available at the time of discharge for infants.
Car Seat Safety
You are required to bring a Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) approved car seat to the hospital to take your baby home on the day of discharge. Your discharging nurse will review proper placement of your new baby in the infant car seat. Ensure you have properly secured the base in the rear facing position in the vehicle where the baby will travel home.
For information on how to properly install your CMVSS approved car seat, you are encouraged to attend a car seat clinic. Click on the links below for more information: