Obstetrics

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Prenatal Tours

This service is designed to familiarize the expectant couple with the physical layout of the Birthing Unit and to give couples an opportunity to ask questions about our guidelines and procedures to better prepare them for admission. Each tour takes approximately one and a half hours. Couples must pre-register to keep tour sizes manageable.  It is advisable to register a minimum of six weeks before the delivery date. Scheduled Tuesday evenings 6:30 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. Tours completed by Birthing Unit staff. For more information please contact (905) 895-4521 extension 2665. Click here for Birthing Unit Tour Schedule

Labour and Delivery Hotline

We provide this outpatient service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to expectant couples who require labour and pregnancy support. This hotline provides couples with direct communication with a registered nurse in the Birthing Unit who will discuss their concerns and provide them with information. Access our hotline at (905) 895-4521 extension 2225

Midwives

- for further information please click on Midwives.

Labour Triage

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 develop a plan of care based on the mother's condition. Women in active labour are admitted to our Birthing Unit. Patients in premature labour may be stabilized and admitted to the maternity unit. Following testing to ensure the wellness of both mother and baby, some patients not in active labour will be discharged home.

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What You Should Bring

For Mother in labour:

For baby:

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 reclining 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-to-one support from a registered nurse is provided during active labour and birthing.

Birthing unit staff also provide compassionate care and education to help prepare families for a smooth return home.

If required, a fully equipped, state-of-the-art operating room to perform emergency caesarian sections is available on the Birthing Unit. 

Nutritious meals provided by our Food Services department are served buffet style in the Birthing Unit. If you have any questions or comments about the buffet during your hospital stay please contact Food Services at (905) 895-4521 extension 2524. The Birthing Unit is also equipped with an ice machine, toaster, fridge, and complimentary coffee and tea for patients.

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.  If all of the below criteria are met, the mother will be permitted to remain in the birthing room if availability permits.

• The rooms are not needed for other labouring women.
• Mother meets low risk birth criteria, e.g vaginal, uncomplicated delivery.

Mother has extended or private health insurance coverage for private room accommodations.  (Note: if a birthing room is available, all mothers will be given the option to pay to upgrade from a ward or semi-private to private room accommodations if they wish to remain in the birthing room)

Room Rates

• Current rate
  Semi-Private $205.00
  Private $240.00

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Maternity Unit

This is a 16-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.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Our unit is a state-of-the-art facility with the ability to support 14 babies. It functions as a regional Level 2 nursery which means that our highly trained nursing staff and physicians are able to stabilize and care for high-risk babies (32 + weeks gestation). Only those infants who have significant heart problems,surgery, and those who require assisted breathing are transferred to a Level 3 (tertiary) facility. A neonatologist, 2 perinatologists and 4 paediatricians support our unit and high-risk perinatal clinic.

We offer Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN). This is a program that allows us to feed premature babies intravenously who are not yet able to absorb food through regular oral feedings.

To offer continued support to parents with babies in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, we provide courtesy rooms for mothers at a nominal cost.

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Outpatient Services

We offer a variety of outpatient services to promote and maintain the health of the newborn infant. A Registered Nurse provides the service and assessment, while encouraging communication between the parents of the infant and the physician caring for the infant. For referral to any of these clinics or for information please call Pat Hill, RN at 905-895-4521 extension 2652.

Booked Outpatient Non Stress Test

Non stress tests are provided to non-labouring women who have been referred by their obstetrician/midwife/family physician. The test involves the painless, external application of abdominal electrodes that monitor the baby's heart rate and activity. This test is designed to monitor the well being of the baby for women who may be at risk for experiencing complications during pregnancy. This procedure is provided in our Birthing Unit's triage room by a registered nurse.

The Non Stress Test (NST) takes a minimum of 20 minutes. It is recommended to have something to eat prior to coming to hospital.

High Risk Perinatal Clinic

This consultation clinic provides specialized service closer to home for women in the early stages of a high-risk pregnancy and continue to be supported by their local obstetrician. It provides consultation and assessment for both mother and baby and is staffed by perinatologists from Sunnybrook/Women's College and Mount Sinai Hospitals.  This clinic provides on-site support to Southlake Regional obstetricians.

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Cord clamp removal
When baby goes home with clamp still in place - clamp will be removed, area observed. If any concerns, parents will be advised to return to their physician. Phone 905-895-4521 extension 2652

Bilirubin testing
Serum bilirubin levels drawn and the results phoned to ordering physician. Nutritional assessment reviewed with parents and follow-up instructions discussed. Phone 905-895-4521 extension 2159.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Clinic
Babies that are in the RSV criteria will be offered the monthly injection through this clinic. Phone 905-895-4521 extension 2652.

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Clinic
Babies requiring ROP eye exams and monitoring can be seen in this clinic and referred on when stable. Phone 905-895-4521 extension 2652.

Breastfeeding Clinic
This program provides assistance, support and education to breast feeding women after discharge. The program offers a 1 hour individual support session that must be pre-booked.  There is no cost for this service; however, participants must present a valid health card upon registration. A breast pump  rental service is available through the clinic. For more information please contact (905) 895-4521 extension 2665.

Breastfeeding Clinic Hours

Parking for Expectant Couples

We provide expectant couples' spots outside our East Building entrance.  These are short-term, metered spots provided specifically so that labouring women can get to the building easily.  Once women have been admitted to the Birthing Unit, it is expected that their partner will move the vehicle from the metered spots into the East parking lot so the spots are available to other mothers in labour.

We are committed to keeping the fire routes clear of parked vehicles. Provincial Offences Officers will ticket any car that is parked at an expired meter or is in violation of a parking by-law. Once ticketed, Southlake Regional Health Centre does not have the authority to withdraw or cancel a parking ticket.  Money raised through parking lot revenues is used to purchase medical equipment and offset the cost of maintaining the parking lot.

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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, please notify the Security Office at (905) 895-4521 extension 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 constantly to ensure correct identification.  Please 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, please contact your nurse immediately before releasing your baby to an unknown person.

Telephone Solicitation

While your child is a patient at the hospital, please do not give out any personal information about yourself over the phone to individuals claiming to represent a service or product (i.e., baby photographer, insurance etc). The hospital has no method of ensuring callers are reputable or offer a legitimate service or product.  If you receive such a call please advise your nurse immediately.

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Discharge

Your Health Care Team will determine when you and/or your child is ready to go home, and you will be given specific instruction to follow once you leave the hospital.  Your obstetrician or delivery person will provide discharge instructions for you, 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.

Please 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 yourself 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.

The law requires babies and young children who are travelling by car to be in an approved safety car seat.

Before leaving the hospital you may settle any outstanding financial charges:

 - on the unit: Visa or Interac (no cash or cheque)
 - at Financial Services, Main Floor, East building: cash or cheque, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
 - payments for discharge after hours or weekends  you will be billed by mail

Responsibility of Family

In order that the discharge process proceeds as smoothly as possible, Southlake Regional Health Centre 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 you convenience, Bridle Trail Pharmacy is located on the main floor of the East Building.
• 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 family member's care prior to discharge.
• Inform the Patient Care Unit of any unforeseen circumstances that may delay discharge.
• Have a certified car seat available at the time of discharge for infants or small children.

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For information on resources available to you during your hospital visit or stay (for example: parking, what to bring, discharge times and other helpful information) please click on Patients and Visitors.