What you should know for planning a Hospital birth?
If you choose to have your baby in a hospital setting, the midwives of Northern Midwifery Care have hospital privileges at the University Hospital of Northern BC (aka PGRH) & GR Baker Hospital in Quesnel. The Hospital offers regular information sessions, so for further information please call 250-565-2000 and ask for the Prenatal Registry.
If you have planned a hospital birth, your midwife and doula will either meet you at the Maternity Unit for an assessment or if she has assessed you at home, she will accompany you to the Hospital where you will be admitted to your labour and delivery room. All labour rooms are private. No one-- only your midwife and whomever you invite, will come into your room. A Registered Nurse will be called when delivery is imminent. The Nurse is responsible for the care of your baby. Your midwife and doula will remain for a minimum of two hours following the birth of your baby. If things go normally, like most births do, the baby is given to you immediately and is left with you for the first hour following birth, unless there is a concern. We encourage skin to skin contact and will support you with beginning breastfeeding.
There are medical procedures that occur after birth with your permission, such as the administration of Vitamin K and erythromycin eye ointment. These we do when the baby has finished breastfeeding. At the same time we usually do the newborn physical examination, weigh, and measure the baby. Usually following the birth, everyone is tired, so we limit our teaching to what is normal and what to expect for the next 24 hours.
If you have chosen early discharge, we make our first home visit within 24 hours of the baby's birth to reassess you and the baby, including another complete physical exam of the baby. At that time, we do further teaching regarding breastfeeding and what is normal for you and baby over the next 48 hours. At that visit we will do the newborn screening test and weigh the baby. Our next home visit is when the baby is 3 days old. A further visit is made when the baby is 5 days old. If everything is within normal limits at that visit, you will be invited to bring the baby back to the office for the baby's two week checkup. At that visit we will do another complete physical, including measurements and weighing the baby.
If you choose to stay longer in the hospital, you will be transferred to a postpartum ward where the awesome nursing staff will provide your care. Following discharge from the hospital, the midwife will visit you at home. Our Hospital has great labour and delivery rooms with deep en suite jacuzzi tubs.
For a hospital birth you will need:
- Car seat, for when it's time to go home. Be sure you know how to use it!
- Parking money
- Extra clothing and blankets to take your beautiful baby home! Keep in mind the season.
- Phone numbers of family and friends
- Car filled with gas
- Optional Items that you may like to bring include massage oil, music, hot water bottle, heat pack and gatorade or similar beverage
