ACCESS

The St. Paul’s Hospital Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre is located on the third floor of the Providence Building. Please see the map below for how to access this.

During business hours (8:00AM-8:00PM) it can be accessed through the main entrance or the Thurlow entrance.

After hours (8:00PM-8:00AM) you can access the Maternity Unit via the Thurlow Street entrance. When you arrive in the car park please call the unit on 604-682-2344, 62432 and a member of our staff will come to meet you at the entrance. Please only use this entrance if you are being accompanied by another adult. If you are coming alone, please enter through the Emergency Department.

You can call the maternity unit to speak with one of our nurses 24/7 in the event of an urgent or emergent concern (604-682-2344, 62432)

 

WHAT TO EXPECT

It is a large, bright and welcoming space with private single-room labour, delivery and postpartum rooms. This provides for space for birthing people and their support people to move around, feel comfortable and provide a home like environment for your birth and stay after birth.

All rooms have the following amenities:

– Private bathroom with toilet, bathtub and shower

– Small fridge to keep any food or drink you bring with you

– Sleeper chair for the birthing support person(s)

We have different birthing equipment that can be brought into the rooms like birthing balls, peanut balls, birthing stools etc. Our family-centred program strongly encourages the primary support person to stay with the new mother and baby throughout their hospital stay.

The maternity ward is staffed by friendly and specially-trained obstetrical nurses, they can answer your calls when you have concerns and are the first faces you will see when you present for care.

As well as our doctors, other staff that work in the maternity centre include obstetricians, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, social workers, breastfeeding medicine physicians, lactation consultants and more. You may see some of these people as well during your journey.

While a family physician or midwife will attend your labour and delivery, there is always an obstetrician on call to attend in case of emergency. If your baby needs extra care, there is a six bed neonatal intensive care unit which is staffed by specially-trained nurses and a pediatrician twenty-four hours a day.

Please see this detailed handbook called Having Your Baby at St. Paul’s Hospital for more information. More information: www.providencehealthcare.org/maternity-obstetrics-pregnancy-childbirth