When you get to the labour and delivery unit, staff will take you to a room where a nurse will see you.
Depending on what is happening you will either:
- go to a birthing room
- go to an antepartum room (for patients waiting to have their babies but not in active labour)
- be sent home
All birthing rooms are private rooms where you will labour, have your baby (vaginal births) and stay for about an hour after the birth.
Your care team
The safety and health of parents and babies is our priority and our teams will treat you with expertise and respect.
We do not guarantee that physicians and staff of any specific gender will be available to you and your baby.
Special situations
If you are having twins, you will labour in a birthing room. When you are ready to deliver your babies, staff will take you to an operating room in labour and delivery.
After the birth, you will go back to the birthing room for about one hour before you move to the maternal/newborn unit.
C-sections
If you have a cesarean section, your babies will be born in the operating room in labour and delivery and you will recover in our recovery room. You will stay with your babies unless there is a concern with either.
Our teams use a safe surgery checklist to improve patient safety and ensure effective communication between your surgery team and you. When you go into the operating room, your surgical team will be discussing the checklist to make sure they are ready.
Coping with labour
We have several different options to help you during labour. Your care team will discuss these with you as you progress in labour and your nurse will answer any questions you may have.
Walking, showers and position changes
You can:
- walk around
- take a shower
- have a massage (from your partner or nurse)
- change your position frequently
- listen to relaxing music
- use a birthing ball
Laughing gas (nitrous oxide or entonox)
Laughing gas is available as needed. It is often used at the end of labour, before you begin pushing.
Pain medicine
Pain main medicine must be ordered by your health care provider. We may also give you a medication to stop nausea that the pain medicine may cause.
Epidural analgesia
Epidurals are available for mothers once they are in active labour and must be ordered by your health care provider. An anesthesiologist will give the epidural and nursing staff will care for you afterward.
Regional anesthesia (spinal)
This type of anesthesia is used for C-sections. It is a one-time injection in your back by an anesthesiologist, and you will be awake for the birth of your baby.
General anesthesia
General anesthesia is used if there is a medical or special reason for you to be asleep for your C-section. In these cases, an anesthesiologist gives the medication through your IV and you will not be awake for the birth of your baby.