Family Birthing Centre

The birth of a child is a unique experience. In a warm and peaceful setting, the Family Birthing Centre (FBC) team provides high-quality family-centred care and support during pregnancy through delivery and up to 2 weeks postpartum.

Our team will be pleased to assist your family during this memorable event. Every year, we welcome over 450 families and their newborns at HGH Family Birthing Centre.

Features of the Family Birthing Centre

  • 5 appointed rooms equipped for labour, delivery and post-partum
  • 3 standard patient rooms
  • Spacious rooms with private bathrooms
  • Therapeutic baths and showers to help with pain management
  • Overnight accommodations for father or other support person
  • Secure environment with an electronic infant protection system

Our team follows guidelines and standards of practice through the More Ob Program, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the Champlain Maternal Newborn Regional Program.

How to access our services?

  • We accept women for pregnancy follow-up. Ask your family doctor for a referral to the HGH Family Birthing Centre Antenatal Clinic.
  • If you do not have a family physician, you may call the Obs Clinic at 613-632-1111, extension 52003 for an appointment.

Important COVID-19 Information

Due to the COVID-19 situation, we have made changes to our regular processes. Please review the following information to help you prepare for the birth of your baby. We are here to provide expert and loving care to keep everyone safe.

What to expect when you arrive at HGH to give birth?

1 – At the hospital entrance, we will verbally screen you for symptoms and exposure to COVID-19.

  • You will have to wear a mask and wash your hands.
  • Your support person will not be permitted to accompany you until you are admitted to the hospital.

2  – At the entrance of the Family Birthing Centre, a nurse will perform a second and more detailed screening.

  • In the triage room, we will assess your condition to determine the stage of labour. If you are in early labour, we may ask you to go home until you are further along. This is normal practice.
  • If you are progressing in active labour, we will admit you to the hospital. This is when we will call your support person to join you.
  • Your support person will also be screened at the hospital entrance. If the screening result is satisfactory, they will be directed to your room.

About your support person

Your support person cannot accompany you to pregnancy follow-up appointments and ultrasound exams.

Only one support person will be allowed during labour and throughout your hospital stay.

Your support person must:

  • Be healthy and able to pass the screening questionnaire with satifsfactory results.
  • Wear a mask – their own or we will provide one.
  • Wash their hands.
  • Restrict as much as possible their movement within the unit and outside the hospital.

What to bring

  • Please ensure that you bring everything you and your support person will need for the duration of your stay. Remember to bring your car seat with you when you come to the Family Birthing Center. Please check the detailed list of items to bring in the section below.
  • Bring a cooler with enough snacks and drinks, as you will not be able to leave the room. Every room is equipped with a small refrigerator where you can keep food items refrigerated.
  • The hospital will provide drinking water and meals at mealtimes for the support person.

Visitors and children

Visitors, including your own children, are not allowed.

Special procedures

Caesarean Birth – To protect your newborn’s health and your own, strict protocols have been developed for operating rooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your support person will be permitted to enter the operating room only if security measures can be respected.

Induction of Labour – Patients who are having an induction will be allowed to have their support person join them when they have been admitted to hospital.

While we continue to recognize the importance of parents’ presence following the birth of a baby, we need to face the very real concern of COVID-19 infection being passed on to our fragile patients and their health care professionals. Precautions prior to handling baby will be recommended for parents to decrease possible transmission to baby.

Thank you for your patience and collaboration as we navigate through these challenging times.

About The Program

Pregnancy follow-up appointments at HGH Obstetrical Clinic

  • From the start of your pregnancy to the 28th week, appointments are scheduled every four weeks.
  • From week 28 to 36, follow-up appointments are scheduled every second week, and then every week until delivery.
  • For your first appointment, it is very important that we receive your present pregnancy medical history from your family doctor, including all lab, ultrasound and IPS results.
  • During your first appointment, a nurse will explain the process for the upcoming weeks, including hospital pre-registration and the signing of consent to treatment.
  • The Family Birthing Centre and the Obstetrical Clinic physicians and nurses work as a team and you will most likely meet all of them during your follow-up appointments.
  • On delivery day, the physician on call will assist you.

Admission to your room

  • When the time comes and you’re in active labour, you’ll be admitted to your room, where you will stay for labour, delivery and post-partum stages.
  • Up to two persons can accompany the whole time.

Length of stay

  • Women giving birth vaginally usually stay between 24 and 48 hours after the delivery of the baby.
  • Women giving birth by caesarean section usually stay between 48 and 72 hours after the birth of the baby.

What to bring

HGH is a scent-free hospital. Please do not bring or wear perfume or scented products.

  • For the expecting mother:
    • Health Card
    • List of all your medications, vitamins and supplements
    • Reusable water bottle
    • Support kit: massage oil, tennis balls, wooden rollers (massage technique)
    • Maxi sanitary pads with wings or Depend-type absorbent underwear
    • Entertainment: cell phone and charger, tablet, books, magazines, etc.
    • Lip balm, moisturizer, etc.
    • Pillow
    • Snacks
    • Birth plan, if applicable
    • Pen and writing pad
    • Pyjamas, bathrobe and non-slip slippers
    • Loose and comfortable clothes, nursing bra and nursing pads
    • Personal care products: soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, , etc.
    • Clothes for going home (approximately four month pregnant size)
  • For the baby:
    • Diapers for newborn or size 1 (one bag)
    • Wet wipes without alcohol or perfume
    • Pyjamas and hat
    • Blankets
    • Infant clothing for going home – suited for the weather
    • Infant car seat – make sure you are familiar with the use and the installation of the car seat before the baby is born. Bring it to the hospital on departure day.
  • For the father or support person:
    • Pillow
    • Cell phone and charger, camera
    • Change of clothes and personal care products
    • Food and snacks
    • Reusable water bottle

Please do not bring jewelry, large amount of cash or valuables. HGH is not responsible in case of loss or theft.

Support programs and services during your hospital stay

  • Help with breastfeeding is provided by nurses trained by the Champlain Maternal Newborn Regional Program.
  • Newborn registration with the Registrar General of Ontario – HGH staff will complete the Notice of live birth within 48 working hours following delivery. To complete the process, parents must also fill out an online form with Service Ontario. The nurses will assist you in this process.

After you leave the hospital

  • Our community partners, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit or the CLSC, offer programs designed to help families make healthy choices. The Health Unit offers the program Healthy Babies, Healthy Children. CLSC follow up with phone calls and visits within a few days after giving birth.
  • You may call us at 613-632-1111 extension 52011 if you have any worries or questions in the two weeks after giving birth and while you are waiting for an appointment with your physician.

Visiting hours at the Family Birthing Centre

Note: Due to the CODIV-19 situation, all non-essential visits are suspended until further notice.

Telephone

To book an appointment at the OBS Clinic: 613-632-1111, extension 52003

For labor and delivery questions: 613-632-1111, extension 52001

Fax

613-636-6231

Address

HGH Main Campus
1111 Ghislain Street
Hawkesbury, ON K6A 3G5


Resources and links

Breastfeeding

  • To download the Guide to breastfeeding for women and their families published by he Best Start Resource Centre, visit Breastfeeding Matters.
  • For breastfeeding information, support and answers to frequently asked questions, visit La Leche League Canada.

Car seat

  • Using the right child car seat is the best way to prevent serious injury to children in collisions. For information to help you find the right child car seat for your child’s height, weight and development, visit Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

Drop-in centre for parents

  • Meet other parents of children under the age of 6 in an informal setting to discuss breastfeeding, parenting and safety issues, child development and much more. For the times and locations of the program put on by Eastern Ontario Health Unit, visit Watch Me Grow.

Help to quit smoking

  • MyQuit.ca is a program designed by ex-smokers and healthcare professionals to help smokers quit or reduce their tobacco use with a tailored approach based on their individual needs. The program offers one-on-one and group sessions, telephone coaching and online support. For more information, call 1-877-376-1701 or visit MyQuit.ca.
  • For proven, free and personalized tools to help you quit successfully call 1-877-513-5333 or visit Smokers’ Helpline.
  • For information on local smoke cessation programs, visit the Eastern Ontario Health Unit’s website.

Prenatal classes

  • To enrol in prenatal classes offered by Eastern Ontario Health Unit, visit EOHU Prenatal Classes.
  • The Eastern Ontario Health Unit also offers an online prenatal course: A New Life.

Safe sleep

Smoke-free home

  • For tips on how you can quit smoking and information on how to make your home and your car 100% smoke-free, visit Healthy Canadians.

Referring a patient to HGH Family Birthing Centre

  • Please send a referral letter, including the patient’s current pregnancy medical history and all lab, ultrasound and IPS results.
  • Fax the letter and reports to 613-636-6231.

Family Birthing Centre team of physicians

 

The Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH) provides more than 40 specialized medical clinics for residents of Prescott-Russell and surrounding region. For a list of clinics, departments and services, visit Refer a patient.