Family Birthing Centre

Health care providers are working in groups to provide 24 hour care all year around, including holidays and vacations.

In Brantford and Brant County, obstetricians, general practitioners and midwives provide maternity care in a normal pregnancy, while complicated cases are usually referred to an obstetrician. It is best to discuss your individual situation with your family doctor.

The information gathered during your pregnancy will be recorded on a special ante-natal form. That way, any nurse, doctor, midwife, or other health care provider who reviews your prenatal record can be brought up to date about your pregnancy.

The Family Birthing Centre provides excellent care to families with newborns and children. We work in partnership with families and care for them in a supportive manner. To help us serve you better, please see the lists below:

For Mom, please bring:

• Feminine pads with maximum absorbency for heavy flow
• Underwear, three to six pair
• Personal care products
• toothbrush and toothpaste
• soap
• brush and comb
• shampoo and conditioner
• body lotion
• moisturizer for lips
• Supportive or nursing bra
• Nursing pads
• Food for labour coach e.g. drinking boxes, chocolate bars, fruit etc.
• Money for vending machines and Tim Hortons
• Nightgown or alternate clothing suitable for nursing
• Lightweight housecoat and slippers
• Icepack, hot pack, or hot water bottle
• Paper, pen, address book, phone numbers

Optional

• Pillow - identified by a bright pillowcase
• Watch with a second hand
• Popsicles, Freezies
• Socks

For Baby:

• Package of newborn diapers
• Baby wipes
• Barrier cream e.g. petroleum jelly
• Clothing
• Receiving blanket

For Baby, at time of discharge, a car seat is required.

You are welcome to take pictures before and after your baby's birth but during the birth, you are not permitted to use your cellphone, camera or video equipment.

To protect the privacy of BCHS staff, please ask for permission before taking their picture or including them in your video.

The  neonatal intensive care unit is where health care teams monitor and care for premature babies and medically unstable full term babies. This is a quiet environment for our most at risk newborns to help them rest, grow and get better. The clinic is equipped to deal with almost all medical conditions in babies born at 32 weeks or later.

Registered nurses and pediatricians work together to provide special care for our youngest patients and their parents. They keep close watch on the baby's condition, develop care plans, answer parent's questions and eagerly watch the babies in the NICU grow stronger every day.

This department sees children who need more urgent pediatric consultation in an acute care clinic. This allows community physicians, midwives and nurse practitioners to refer acutely ill children to the pediatrician on-call at the hospital.

Children are also referred from the Emergency Department. Once a referral is sent and accepted by the pediatrician on-call, an appointment is booked. If further testing or treatment is needed when the child and their family arrives, it will be provided in a timely fashion.

PARS Referral Form

The Bilirubin Clinic or Bili Clinic is for newborns who may have significantly elevated levels of bilirubin which can lead to jaundice or cause lasting health problems. That's why newborns are screened for bilirubin levels and those with significant levels are sent to the Bili Clinic. Doctors and nurses in the clinic check your baby's weight and well-being and provide community resources for feeding your baby and other support.