SECTIONS

Maternal Newborn

OVERVIEW

Windsor Regional Hospital's Family Birthing Centre (FBC) provides a family-centred approach to your childbirth experience where you are invited to play an active part in your birthing experience. We are committed to providing the best care possible including healthcare education and a warm and nurturing environment.

Approximately 3800 births take place at Windsor Regional Hospital's FBC every year. The FBC is located on the 2nd Floor of the Met Campus and includes six labour, delivery, and recovery rooms (LDR) and thirty labour, delivery, recovery, and postpartum rooms (LDRP's) where you may labour, give birth, and remain in the same room until you are ready to go home.

The unit also includes two fully equipped operating rooms that are available for high-risk births and/or C-sections.

Maternal Newborn Programs and Services:

OUR TEAM

Our health care team is made up of registered nurses, obstetricians, anesthesiologists, midwives, unit aides, unit clerks as well as all the professionals from support departments. We are a teaching institution affiliated with the Schulich School of Medicine, University of Windsor, St. Clair College, and other educational institutions; therefore, we provide learning opportunities and hands-on experience to a wide variety of students.

RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

The information in this section will help you prepare for your visit to the Family Birthing Centre. If you have any questions while you are here, please ask. We're here to help!

Visiting Hours

Labour & Delivery (FBC) - Women in labour are allowed 2 Essential Caregivers at a time. The Essential Caregivers may rotate with visitors in the waiting room. No children under the age of 14 will be allowed in the labour room. After delivery the general hospital visiting policy applies; siblings are allowed with parent/guardian accompaniment only.

OB Triage, Maternal Newborn Clinic & Women’s Health Clinic - 1 Essential Caregiver may accompany the patient.

More information on visiting hours and guidelines is available on our Patient & Visitor Information Page.

Room Accommodations

We regularly receive questions regarding the availability of private rooms (one patient room) or semi-private rooms (two patients in a room) at the Metropolitan site of Windsor Regional Hospital. Currently, only 31% of our patient rooms at the Metropolitan campus are private rooms. 69% are semi-private or ward.

We do our best to ensure that if you want a private or semi-private room that we try to accommodate that request. However, due to the infection isolation requirements of particular patients, for example, the available number of private and semi-private rooms is very restricted.

However, if you register at admitting for a private or semi-private room we will do our best to accommodate your request during your stay once a private or semi-private room becomes available. At that time you will be asked for a valid credit card to reserve your choice. Your credit card will not be charged if we are able to verify that you have third-party insurance that will cover your stay in a private or semi-private room.

Also, if for some reason you have not asked for a private or semi-private room but you are placed in one, you could be moved during your stay to a wardroom, once they become available, to accommodate the requests of those that want a private or semi-private room.

For example, on Family Birthing, we have 1 wardroom that can accommodate 3 patients, 5 semi-private rooms, 28 private rooms and 14 rooms that are flexible to accommodate private or semi-private.

If you do not ask for a private room in Family Birthing but receive a private room please be advised, just like anywhere else in the hospital, you could be required to move to a semi-private or wardroom in order to accommodate the requests of other patients. We accommodate those that register for private rooms in order of time the request is received. If you are asked to move from a private room that you have not registered for, you can register for a private room at that time but you will be taken in the sequential order of your request. A valid credit card will be requested prior to the move being made.

As a result, if you wish to have a greater chance to have a private room throughout your stay at Windsor Regional Hospital, please register for one at admission.

Infant Feeding

Windsor Regional Hospital promotes and supports breastfeeding as the optimal choice for infant feeding. It is important to put newborns skin-to-skin with their mothers as soon as possible after birth to promote good latching and breastfeeding success. Nurses in the family birthing centre will assist mothers and their newborns with the initiation of feeding. Lactation consultants are also available to assist with breastfeeding as needed.

The links below offer additional information for mothers who are breastfeeding:

Information about Medicines and Illnesses when Pregnant or Breastfeeding
Business: 1-800-436-8477

Windsor/Essex County Health Unit
https://www.wechu.org
Breastfeeding Helpline: (519) 258-2146, Ext. 1350
Breastfeeding Clinics: (519) 258-2146, Ext. 1350 (call for times and locations)
Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes: (519) 258-2146, Ext. 1340

La Leche League Canada
http://www.lllc.ca/get-help
1-800-665-4324

Hearing Screening

Infant Hearing Screening is provided in the hospital before you go home or in the Maternal-Newborn Follow-up Clinic according to the Ontario Infant Hearing Program.

Smoking Cessation Program

Quitting smoking is one of the best things to do for you and your new baby. Programs are available to assist you upon admission to the hospital. If you are interested in quitting right now, visit the Smoker's Helpline online or contact them at 1-877-513-5333.

Skin-to-Skin Contact

It is important for your baby to remain “skin to skin” on your chest or partner’s chest for the baby’s transition to the new environment after his or her birth. This is promoted following delivery and throughout your stay. This promotes bonding, healing, and provides an opportunity for frequent breastfeeding.

Circumcision

Although circumcision is no longer viewed as medically necessary, many families choose to have their newborn male circumcised for religious or personal reasons. If you are interested in arranging for a circumcision, ask your physician prior to coming to the hospital to help you arrange this procedure. Circumcisions are done either while you are in the hospital or as an outpatient procedure. This procedure is no longer covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) and there is a fee for both the hospital and physician. Proof of payment is required before the procedure.

Period of Purple Crying

Windsor Regional Hospital's Family Birthing Centre is pleased to be participating in an initiative called "The Period of Purple Crying" a new way to understand your baby's crying. The Period of PURPLE Crying® provides educational information about why babies cry and give appropriate action steps that you need to know.

The letters in the word PURPLE describe the properties of normal infant crying:

P for Peak of Crying - Crying peaks at around 2 months, then decreases at around 3 to 5 months;
U for Unexpected - Crying comes and goes unexpectedly, for no apparent reason;
R for Resists Soothing - Crying continues despite all soothing efforts by caregivers;
P for Pain-like Face - Infants look like they are in pain, even when they are not;
L for Long Lasting - Crying can last as much as 5 hours a day, or more;
E for Evening - Crying occurs more in the late afternoon and evening.

Some things you can do to help soothe your baby:

Carry, comfort, walk, and talk with your baby. This encourages you to increase contact with your baby, reduce some of the fussing, and attend to your baby's needs.
If the crying is too upsetting, after you have put your baby in a safe place, it is okay to walk away. You can take a few minutes to calm down and then go back and check on your baby again.
Never shake or hurt a baby.

Period of Purple Crying video.

Photos and Videos

Camera and videotaping equipment cannot be used during the active process of childbirth. You are welcome to take pictures before and after this time.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Network (PAIL Network)

Peer-Led Support services for families who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy or the death of a baby. Education services are provided to healthcare professionals and the general public.

Toll-Free: 888-303-PAIL (7245)

www.pailnetwork.ca

Car Seat Safety

Please bring a CMVSS (Canadian-approved) infant car seat to the hospital to take your new baby home the day of discharge. Your discharging nurse will review the proper placement of your new baby in the infant car seat. Please ensure you have properly secured the base in the rear-facing position in the vehicle where the baby will travel home following discharge prior to coming to the hospital.

Watch for car seat safety clinics in the local newspaper. Certified inspectors will assist with car seat installation. Clinics are offered FREE of charge. For more details contact (519) 258-2146 x1350.

For more information visit the Government of Canada's Guide to Buying a Car or Booster Seat.

Lullaby Program

Windsor Regional Hospital celebrates each new birth by playing 30 seconds of Brahms' Lullaby over the hospital's public address system from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. It will serve as a reminder to all that the miracle of birth happens every day in our facility.

Additional resources for expecting or new moms

The following sites contain useful information for new or expecting mothers.

Women's Health Matters
Public Health Agency of Canada's Healthy Pregnancy
Expecting and Connecting - An Ontario Government funded Midwifery- Led Postpartum Home visits Program within Windsor - Essex County. Includes access to services by a Registered Midwife and Lactation Consultant

FAQ's

What should I bring with me to the hospital?

What To Bring For Mom:

reusable water bottle
health insurance card
private health insurance documentation, if applicable (such as for a private room).
copy of your birth plan.
cord blood collection kit, if you plan to store your baby's cord blood.
clothing to wear home (items that fit you in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy)
personal hygiene products
maxi pads/maternity pads
breast pads
breast pump and breast pump kit

What To Bring For Your Baby:

package of diapers
4-6 receiving blankets (used to support the baby in the car seat)
several sleepers
hat (bonnet)
socks or booties
CMVSS approved car seat (with instruction booklet)
appropriate baby clothes for discharge

How long will I stay in the hospital after giving birth?

The length of your stay depends on how you and your baby are feeling. Mothers giving birth vaginally usually stay in hospital 24 hours after your baby is born. Mothers giving birth by Caesarean are generally in hospital 48 hours after your baby is born. Early discharge may be discussed with your doctor or midwife.