Pediatricians

St. Paul’s Hospital Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre has a dedicated group of pediatricians to care for newborns.

Pediatricians attend 80 to 90 per cent of the births at the Centre. They care for babies delivered by caesarean section or babies who are born prematurely and form part of the care team along with your family physician, obstetrician or midwife.

If an obstetrician delivers your baby, a pediatrician will look after your baby while you’re in hospital. If a midwife or family doctor delivers your baby, they will care for you and your baby while you are both in hospital. If they have any concerns about your baby’s health, they will ask a pediatrician to see your baby. All the babies in our NICU are under the care of a pediatrician.

While a pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in looking after infants and children, the pediatricians at the Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre do not typically follow your baby once you are both discharged. If you don’t have a family doctor, we recommend you start looking for one while you are pregnant so there is someone in place to look after your baby once you leave hospital.

Visit the BC College of Family Physicians website for information on how to find a family doctor.

If your baby has an active medical issue at birth, the pediatricians at the Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre may follow your baby for a few weeks after your baby goes home. They offer urgent or short-term follow up once your baby has been discharged for things like weight loss or jaundice. If you have an urgent concern about your baby in the first few days after your baby is discharged, call the Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre at 604-682-2344, ext. 62432.