Client Information For Maternity

Transcription

1 Client Information For Maternity Community & Family Health Lions Gate Hospital Perinatal & Paediatric Services 231 East 15th Street North Vancouver BC V7L 2L7 Tel:

2 How do I register for admission? It is advised that you pre-register for admission. Pre-registration forms are available at the Admitting Department or as included. Complete and return to the Admitting Department by mail or drop off, before your last month of pregnancy. They may also be faxed to Lions Gate Hospital maternity tours are held every Tuesday evening. You must pre-register by calling ext Coming to the hospital in labour Be sure to talk to your doctor/midwife about when to come to the hospital. Review and bring your copy of Baby s Best Chance. Contact the hospital and ask for Labour & Delivery to speak to a nurse before your admission. If you are preadmitted when you arrive at the hospital, go to Labour & Delivery on the 3rd floor off the elevators to the left. If you have not preadmitted you will be required to go to admitting and present your care card, credit card and health insurance information before going to Labour & Delivery. If you come to the hospital between 8:30 pm and 5:00 am, the only entrance is through the Emergency Department. Observe signage about parking limits on the street. Pay parking is available at the hospital off 15th Street, for an hourly rate or 24 hour rate. When you arrive in the Labour and Delivery Ward the nurse will see you and ask some questions about your labour. The nurse will assess you and your baby and inform your doctor/midwife. What do I need to bring to the hospital? While the hospital will provide basic supplies, you will need to bring some items with you. You will need: Housecoat, slippers, toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, shampoo, brush, extra underwear, etc. Sanitary pads. We suggest you purchase thick pads (ie. maxi overnight or extra long). Hot/cold packs, massage tool for back massage, massage lotion or oil, resuable water bottle. Ginger ale (helpful for nausea in labour), snacks for support person. Pen or pencil, Baby s Best Chance, camera. Baby clothes. Disposable diapers are provided. A nursing bra is recommended and can be fitted at 36 weeks gestation. Leave valuables at home. See Baby s Best Chance page 57. Please make sure you: Bring an approved infant car seat - under BC law, on discharge from hospital, all infants must be in an approved car seat. Know how to use the car seat and have practiced securing it in your vehicle. Review Baby s Best Chance page See Child Passenger Safety Program Toll Free , or childseatinfo.ca If you are in very early labour you will be more comfortable in your own home during this time. We will allow you to go home with instructions on when to return to the hospital. We encourage all parents to attend a New Parent Child Seat workshop before your baby s birth. 2 3

3 Who can be with me during my labour? Research shows that women in labour have a more positive birth experience with good support. Choose your support people carefully and wisely. One or two calm, supportive, helpful people are often enough. Please let them know that if an emergency situation occurs they may be asked to leave the room. Prenatal classes are helpful to prepare mother and support persons. See Baby s Best Chance page 55. Labour and Delivery Ward The birthing rooms provide a relaxing place for you to give birth. All birthing rooms are single private rooms with their own bathroom. Special equipment and help is close by if you or your baby requires them. You will labour and give birth in this room and remain there for up to two hours following the birth. After the birth you and your support people will remain together. This is a time to get acquainted with your baby. You and baby are very alert at this time and this is an excellent time to start breast feeding. Soon after birth, your baby s health will be checked, he/she will be weighed and identification bracelets will be attached to wrist and ankle. There is a telephone in each room for outgoing calls only. Please ask your friends and family to wait for your call with news about your labour and birth. Families may bring a camera into the Labour & Delivery and Operating Rooms. Video cameras are not allowed in the Operating Room. You are welcome to photograph your own family members. Please obtain consent from staff members before including them in photographs. Pain relief during labour There are many methods for managing the pain of labour contractions: breathing techniques, baths and showers, body positioning, visualization, relaxation, music, aromatherapy, walking and massage. The following pain relief medication is available with your doctor s/midwife s order: Entonox gas, narcotics, or epidural. Please discuss these options with your physician/ midwife. A hospital anesthetist can meet in advance with mothers with specialized pain control issues. See Baby s Best Chance pages What happens if I need a Caesarean Section? If, at any time during labour, it is determined that a caesarean section is necessary we will make every attempt to keep mother and newborn together. The operating room is on the labour and delivery ward. One support person is welcome at the caesarean birth. During the immediate recovery period only one support person will be allowed to stay with mother and newborn. All other visitors will be asked to wait in the family lounge. See Baby s Best Chance pages You are welcome to bring in your own small portable source of music. 4 5

4 Post-Partum Unit You and your baby will move to a postpartum room approximately 2 hours after the birth, where you will stay until you go home. Private and ward rooms are available. Each room has its own bathroom and a shared shower. There is a telephone and television at each bedside. The television runs a free parent education program (channel 75) 24 hours a day. Costs: Private room - $195.00/day Many extended health plans will pay a portion of this cost. Check with your healthcare provider before your admission. Ward room (2 beds in one room) - No charge. Your baby will stay in your room with you 24 hours a day unless your infant is in the Neonatal Intensive care unit (NICU). The best security for your baby is at your bedside. We request that you never leave your baby unattended. Your support person may stay overnight in your room to help you through the night. During your stay, the nurse will help you learn about: Your health and physical changes after the birth of your baby How to care for your baby How to feed your baby The Public Health Nurse (PHN) will visit you in hospital. The PHN will also contact you at home within the first 24 hours of your discharge. Your baby will have a simple hearing test and a blood test (a small prick in the heel) for newborn screening before you and your baby are discharged home. See Baby s Best Chance pages If you are not a North Shore resident, your follow up by a Public Health Nurse in your own community will be arranged. Before discharge you will receive your child s health passport and legal documents for you to submit to vital statistics. They are also available online at See Baby s Best Chance pages Visiting Hours Try to limit the number of people who visit you in the hospital. You need your rest. Your main support person may visit any time and may stay with you to help you care for you and your baby. Brothers and sisters of the new baby may visit during the day, accompanied by an adult. Non-siblings may visit during visiting hours. Visiting hours on maternity: 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Anyone suffering from any infection should not visit you or your baby. For you and your baby s protection, everyone is encouraged to use the hand sanitizer dispensers located at all entrances, upon arrival and discharge. How long will I stay in hospital after the birth of my baby? The length of your hospital stay will be based on you and your baby s readiness to go home. The expected discharge time is hours after a normal birth and 72 hours after a Caesarean Section birth. However, you may go home at any time before that when your caregiver, nurse and you decide that you are ready. 6 7

5 At home after discharge from the hospital Plan to arrange for help at home. Arrange a follow up appointment with your General Practitioner (GP)/Midwife for you and your baby s checkup. Your GP/Midwife will usually see you and your baby within 5-10 days after the birth. For more information about coming home see Baby s Best Chance pages Baby s Best Chance is available online at For more copies, go online at or phem@vch.ca and quote Catalogue No. JB.300.M4191 Vancouver Coastal Health, November 2011 The information in this document is intended solely for the person to whom it was given by the health care team.