Maternal Child - Mother & Baby - Combined Care

Having a baby is both an exciting and anxious time in your life. To help you prepare for this event Maternal Child Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is proud to offer Mother Baby Combined Care during your stay at the hospital. Giving birth and becoming familiar with your baby’s needs are important milestones in your life.

Labour & Delivery

Upon arrival to the Labour & Delivery area your nurse will assess your labour and provide support throughout your labour and delivery process. Once you are in active labour you will be admitted. Your support person is welcome and encouraged to actively participate in giving you emotional and physical care. Your needs are important and an individualized plan of care will be coordinated to suit your needs. Client choices are respected, but must be safe and within hospital policy.

A range of pain relief options are available, ranging from whirlpool baths, relaxation techniques, positioning, narcotics, nitrous oxide (laughing gas). A referral to an anesthetist may be necessary; this is determined by your care provider.

We encourage you to make informed choices about your care during labour and birth. After you give birth, you and your baby will be transferred to the Maternal/Newborn area where Combined Care is provided. A Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery provides care for ill or premature infants.

Combined Care - means that a nurse cares for a mother and her baby at the mother’s bedside. There is no nursery where healthy babies are kept apart from their mothers.

Health Canada (2000) and the World Health Organization have shown that healthy mothers and healthy babies should not be separated unless absolutely necessary while in hospital. Being together increases your comfort level and competence in caring for your baby. This strategy is used around the world to develop beginning parenting skills and mother-child closeness.

To assist you and your support person in adapting to this new role as a parent your baby will remain with you at your bedside. A Registered Nurse, assigned to care for you and your baby, will be available to help you. She will teach you how to care for yourself and your baby. She will also monitor you and your baby’s health while in hospital. Your care will be individualized based on your unique needs.

During your stay you will learn:

“Caring for your baby” – diapering, bathing, and cord care.
“Feeding your baby” – infant hunger cues, positioning, how to feed your infant, and how to tell if baby is getting enough food/is full or content.
“Keeping your baby safe” – recommended sleeping position, when to seek medical attention, car seat safety, and where to get help following discharge from hospital.

With your consent, your nurse will link you to appropriate community service agencies when you go home from hospital.

Rest

You are encouraged to rest while your baby is sleeping, day or night. Your support person is not considered a visitor and is encouraged to participate in baby care/learning. In some cases, your support person may be able to stay overnight with you and your baby. If the support person stays overnight, he or she is expected to support the new mother by helping with baby care and providing emotional support. Pyjamas or athletic pants must be worn by the support person when staying overnight.

Safety & Security

For safety reasons we ask that you do not carry your baby in your arms in the hospital hallways. A crib is provided for your baby; the baby may be pushed in the crib in the hallways. Your baby may be carried in arms in your own room.

Other measures include:

Unique security procedures while on the Labour & Delivery and Maternal Newborn units.
All staff wear hospital photo identification badges and should introduce themselves to you. Always check for photo identification before giving your baby to a hospital staff member

Newborn babies are never left alone while in hospital. If you are leaving the unit because of medical needs a hospital staff member will care for your infant. If you need to leave the unit for personal reasons, please ensure that your baby is not left alone. Your baby must remain on the unit for safety and security reasons.

Feeding your Newborn

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre promotes breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for babies.

Breast is best!

The Canadian Institute of Child Health, Health Canada, and the World Health Organization recommend that all newborns be exclusively breastfed. Nursing staff will assist you in learning how to feed your newborn.

We encourage parents to evaluate both breastfeeding and formula feeding before making an informed decision about feeding. How you choose to feed your baby is your choice! Only you can make the best choice for your newborn.

For more information see the following websites:

“Birth is not only about making babies, birth is also about making mothers, strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength”– Barbara Katz Rothman

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