Coming to the hospital

Overview

The St. Paul’s Hospital Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre is on the third floor of the Providence building. It is a large welcoming space with 16 private all-in-one labour, delivery, and recovery rooms. This creates a more home-like environment for birthing and postpartum care.

Your room will have a telephone, wi-fi and a private bathroom, as well as a sleeper chair for your support person. Your bathroom has a shower and a large bath with jets.

We encourage your primary support person to stay with you and your new baby throughout your hospital stay.

Get directions

When to call & when to come to the hospital

Labour can begin in many different ways. To learn more about preparing for labour and what to do in labour, read Baby’s Best Chance. It is available in several languages. Visit Healthlink BC to download a copy.

Call your health care provider and the Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre when:

Your contractions are regular and painful
Your water sac breaks
If the fluid from your water sac is yellow, green or red
You have bright red bleeding from your vagina
Your baby’s movements are less than usual
You are unsure and have concerns or other medical symptoms

Always call the Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre before coming into the hospital.

Phone 604-682-2344,62432

Pre-arrival checklist

- Arrange for someone to bring you to the hospital. Plan for parking.
- Arrange for your partner or support person to stay with you throughout your hospital stay.
- Arrange for child supervision and pet care during your hospital stay. Talk about the visiting guidelines with your friends and family.
- Make a list of important phone numbers (the Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre, your doctor or midwife, your support person, etc.). Keep the list somewhere easy to find.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home.
- If using a motor vehicle, have a Canadian motor vehicle safety standard-approved baby car seat put together. Practice with it so you know how to use it.
- Buy the things you will need when you get home:
  
  Sanitary napkins or maxi pads
  
  Newborn diapers & wipes
  
  Formula and equipment (if you are formula feeding)

Packing list

For a printable version of this list, visit Perinatal Services BC.

- Lip balm
- Hot and cold packs
- Hand-held massager
- Massage oil/lotion
- Music and headphones or speaker
- Refillable water bottle
- Snacks and drinks for you
- Required identification:
  
  BC Care Card (Medical Services Plan Card)
  
  Government issued photo identification such as driver’s license or passport
- Any items of cultural/spiritual significance
- Camera/video camera/smartphone
- Portable speaker
- Plastic sandals/slippers for post-birth
- Pajamas (front-opening for breast/chest feeding and skin-to-skin contact)
- Comfortable, supportive bra
- Housecoat
- Extra pillows
- Underwear
- Personal care products such as shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, hairbrush and hair ties
- Sanitary napkins or maxi pads. Bring enough for your hospital stay and your trip home
- Loose fitting clothes to wear home
- Diapers for going home (newborn size)
- Newborn sleeper, onesie
- Two receiving blankets
- A blanket to go home
- A baby car seat – Canadian motor vehicle safety standard approved. The car seat needs to be for a newborn and the right size for your baby. Please put together your car seat and learn how to use the car seat before taking your baby home.
- Pajamas
- Housecoat
- Change of clothes
- Slippers or shoes
- Snacks and food – there is a refrigerator for you to store food. Make sure that you label and date your food. Be SURE to take any leftovers home with you.
- Sleeping bag
- Pillows
- Bathing suit – for use in the shower or bath during labour
- Personal care products, e.g. shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant etc.
- Coins/cash for parking (may take credit cards)
- Large suitcases
- Large sums of money and/or credit cards
- Jewellery or other valuables

Cord blood collection

Before your delivery, let staff know that you intend to have your cord blood collected.

If you have a collection kit from Inception Lifebank, Healthcord or Cells for Life, our hospital lab staff will come to you and take the blood. The staff on the unit will call and arrange for this to happen.

If you have a collection kit from a company other than the three blood banks listed above, we will charge a $40 collection fee before the sample is drawn. This payment can be made at any point during your admission. Your support person can go to the cashiers’ desk and obtain a cashiers’ receipt. Hospital lab staff will then come to you and take the blood.

Cord blood retrieval is a personal decision that’s made possible through a service that is outside of the hospital. Please reach out to your collection kit company prior to coming to the hospital for your delivery if you have any questions.

Note: our intention is to honour your wishes to have your cord blood retrieved. However, each delivery is different, and it is possible that circumstances won’t allow us to take a sample.

Patient education resources

Having a planned C-section

Learn more

Overview Copy link to this section

The St. Paul’s Hospital Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre is on the third floor of the Providence building. It is a large welcoming space with 16 private all-in-one labour, delivery, and recovery rooms. This creates a more home-like environment for birthing and postpartum care.

Getting ready to come to the hospital

When to call & when to come to the hospital Copy link to this section

Pre-arrival checklist Copy link to this section

Packing list Copy link to this section

Cord blood collection Copy link to this section

Patient education resources Copy link to this section

Having a planned C-section Copy link to this section