CVH Prepares Families For Birth
| With almost 4,000 births over the past
year, babies are big time at The Credit Valley Hospital! |
| With a focus on individual needs, the program fosters the
best use of resources. Based on a family centred philosophy, care focuses on using adult
principles of learning. Our families can work together with their nurse to identify their
learning needs and develop a learning plan to assist them through their early days of
parenting. Cultural differences must be considered and respected. Our program starts with a visit to the Maternal Child Services for a PRE-REGISTRATION INTERVIEW. It is highly recommended early in pregnancy, (within the first 12 weeks) patients attend a one half hour pre-registration interview with a registered nurse who will complete an assessment and nursing data base. This information will help facilitate mother's admission to the Labour and Delivery Room. At this time, the nurse will invite a Family Interaction Assessment Tool. If the psychosocial assessment warrants further family support, your physician is contacted for referral to the appropriate multidisciplinary team member. At your interview, arrangements are made for appropriate laboratory or imaging tests (i.e. ultrasound) ordered by your physician. To familiarize patients and families with the Obstetrical Unit, patients are booked for a 36 week class which includes a tour of the hospital. How We Prepare Our Families For Those Early Days Postpartum (After Birth) To best accommodate all of these bundles of joy, a 24/74 hour length of stay was implemented in 1995. The length of stay for mother and baby delivered vaginally is 24 hours and for a mother and baby delivered by Caesarean birth is 72 hours. In order for our mothers and newborns to take advantage of a 24 or 72 hour discharge, certain criteria must be met. The patient must be without medical complications or any factor which would require a lengthened stay. The patient must be adjusting to both the physical and emotional changes of the early postpartum period appropriately. To ensure ongoing support to our families who are discharge at 24 or 72 hours, the following programs have been put in place:
|
| PRE-DELIVERY CLASS | This class is a significant component for
pre-admission teaching to familiarize families with the anticipated hospital stay.
Families attend this class at 36 weeks of pregnancy. Education includes such topics as a
baby bath demonstration, infant safety issues as well as the support resources available
in our community upon discharge. A tour and video of the obstetrical area is included. These classes are available Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Class time- 1 hour. No cost. |
| POSTPARTUM SUPPORT | |
| LACTATION CONSULTANT SUPPORT | Patients who have delivered on the postpartum unit and having problems with breastfeeding have the opportunity to have a visit by the Lactation Consultant to assist with a breastfeeding plan. |
| 24 HOUR FOLLOW UP TELEPHONE CALL | All Obstetrical patients, discharged home on the 24/72 hour discharge program receive a follow up telephone call from a postpartum nurse. This unique service affords a n opportunity for mothers to ask questions regarding problems such as sleep patterns, feeding, diapering or comforting the newborn. |
| HOTLINE | This specialized service offers families the
opportunity to call the hotline for expert parenting advice on a 24 hour basis. This
service is available for vaginal births for up to five days and for Caesarean births up to
seven days. |
| POSTPARTUM
CLINIC
|
For patients who go home in the 24/72 hour program, an appointment is
made on discharge for both mother and baby to attend the Postpartum Clinic. The family return to the clinic for a half hour appointment, one on one, with a nurse two days after discharge. The nurse further assesses the family's physical and emotional adjustment. Teaching is reinforced and extended where appropriate. Breastfeeding assistance is provided for breastfeeding difficulties. Family support resources are reviewed with the patients. In 1997, Credit Valley Hospital developed a partnership with the Peel Health Department to provide this service. By doing this, our families have the opportunity to be exposed to many beneficial support programs that the Peel Health Department has for ongoing support for our families. Example: Breastfeeding Helpline and home visits, if required. Many classes are available for ongoing mother and tot programs |
| EDUCATION
FOR OUR FAMILIES: |
| THE CREDIT VALLEY HOSPITAL Childbirth Preparation Program |
| Our Childbirth Preparation Classes include something for everyone in the family. We encourage partners as well as siblings to play an active role in our classes. We have classes to meet the needs of the fist time family as well as experienced parents. All classes are conducted by trained registered nurses. |
| EARLY PREGNANCY CLASSES: | These classes are designed to educate the patient on changes in pregnancy, to understand the physiological reasons for change, also healthy life style choices for nutrition and exercise are promoted. These classes require couples to register early as they are focused on the first trimester. This program involves two, 2 hour classes. |
| POSTPARTUM AND PARENTING CLASSES: | These classes are designed to increase the couples' awareness of the changes that will occur in the postpartum period and to address adjustments to parenthood. The focus is also on newborn characteristics, jaundice coping strategies and unexpected outcomes. The purpose is to make the couple more informed, therefore prepared. The classes are held in the mid-trimester, allowing time for discussion and preparation. This program involves two, 2 hour classes. |
| BREASTFEEDING CLASS: | For our couples considering breastfeeding, this two hour class provides an insight into breastfeeding. It includes a presentation of the physiology of lactation, availability of support systems and the preliminary "how-to's". For couples unable to make the choice regarding breastfeeding, the class is designed to assist with the informed choice. This class is 1 hour. |
| LABOUR AND BIRTH CLASSES: | These classes teach the stages and phases of labour as well as coping strategies with an emphasis on relaxation and physiological breathing. Also covered in these classes are interventions, unexpected outcomes and Caesarean Sections. The immediate postpartum care in Labour and Delivery and immediate newborn care is also presented. This program involves 4, 2 hour classes during the last trimester of pregnancy. |
| REFRESHER CLASSES: | This series is designed for the experienced parents expecting a second or later baby. Classes will review labour and birth as well as comfort measures in labour to include a review of relaxation and breathing techniques. This series involves 3 classes, 2 hours. |
| SIBLING CLASSES: | This class is designed to help prepare for the arrival of a new brother or sister. This ninety minute class includes a story time and sibling video, family tour of the maternity unit, parents discussion group, newborn visit and discussion of a healthy newborn as well as play time with child's favourite doll or bear. |
| Program Fees |
Basic series (8 classes)
|
$125 |
| or | |
| Early Pregnancy - 2 classes | $30 |
| or | |
| Postpartum and Parenting - 2 classes Labour and Birth - 4 classes |
$100 |
Weekend Series
|
$100 |
| Breastfeeding | $20 |
| Refresher | $60 |
Sibling
|
|
| * A $10 coupon is issued when registering for a full
Basic Series. This coupon can be used towards any other class of your choice. Please call Maternal Child Services, Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 4:00 813-3941. Book early not to be disappointed. |
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