New Mothers and Babies and The Credit Valley Hospital: An Introduction
The Credit Valley hospital program for obstetrics and newborn care has been designed to meet the needs of our mothers before they deliver, during labour and after they go home.While The Credit Valley Hospital welcomes the recent announcement by Premier Harris to enhance funding for new mothers and babies for hospital and public health services, the option "... to remain under hospital care for 60 hours after childbirth" cannot be guaranteed for mothers at all times.
At the present time, the capacity of our 30 bed obstetrical unit would not enable us to accomodate all requests to stay 60 hours given the current volume of births, approximately 4000 this year. The Ministry of Health has not approved any expansion of our hospital to allow all mothers and babies to stay for 60 hours.
The length of stay after delivery is based on individual needs. The majority of mothers are discharged after 24 hours following an uncomplicated vaginal delivery and after 72 hours for an uncomplicated Caesarean birth. Follow-up assessment and support is provided through a "hotline" telephone service, outpatient Postpartum Support Clinic visits and linkage with public health services for home and community supports.
The program is consistent with the belief that childbirth is a normal life event, and that following a brief hospital stay which permits women to give birth in a safe environment, most mothers and infants are healthy and can be cared for in their own homes. By sending those families who are ready to be discharged home at 24 hours, the hospital resources can be appropriately directed to those who have more complex health needs and to our rapidly growing community.
Please discuss individual needs with your physician or, if you have any questions
regarding the Obstetrics program at The Credit Valley Hospital, please contact Nancy
Hardman, Nurse Manager, Postpartum and Maternal Services, at (905) 813-3941.
D. Wayne Fyffe
Dr. Barbara Clive
President & CEO
Chief of Medical Staff
Support for New Mothers
The Credit Valley Hospital would like to ensure that you have access to the information and services you may require following your release from the hospital.
Listed below are some of the services offered in the Region of Peel for members of the community who have been cared for at The Credit Valley Hospital. The service, a brief description and a phone number are listed below.
Breast-feeding
Breast-feeding Helpline: a community health nurse will answer any questions related to breast-feeding. Home visits are available. (905) 791-7800 ext. 7474.
La Leche League: provides telephone service for women who need information and support on breast-feeding. Metro Phone Referral (416)483-3368.
Safety
The Credit Valley Hospital Emergency Workshop: program focuses on basic first aid for infants and toddlers. Subjects include choking, rescue breathing, seizures, falls and head injuries, bleeding, poisons, burns, prevention tips and The Emergency Medical System (EMS) (905) 813-3944.
Motherisk Clinic: provides information on chemical, radiation and drug exposure while pregnant and breast-feeding. (416)813-6780.
Ontario Regional Poison Centre: this 24 hour hotline provides information regarding actual or potential exposure to a toxic substance. (416)813-5900, 1-800-268-9017.
Parenting Information
The Credit Valley Hospital 24 Hour Hotline: inquiries in relation to the well being of mom and baby available to patients of CVH in the first week post delivery. (905) 813-2200 x 6909.
You and Your Baby: The Peel Health Department provides free informal sessions for new mothers and their babies on infant nutrition, play and development, and child safety.
Peel Health Department
Health Line Peel (905) 791-7800 x 7401
Peel Health Parent/Child Centre: a drop in play area for adults with preschoolers,
toddlers, and infants where children are encouraged to socialize with other children. No
charge.
Meadowvale (905) 567-4156
Central Parkway (905) 566-0144
New Mother Discussion Groups: this 10 week program provides new mothers with babies up to nine months of age with an arena to meet other new mothers in the community and facilitate discussion. (905) 844-9009.
Region of Peel Child Care Directory: Cost $5 (905) 793-4111.
Postpartum Adjustment Support Services Canada (PASS-CAN): this organization offers programs for the entire postpartum family including: Mother's Morning Out, Not Just the Blues, and WARMLINE. (905) 844-9009.
Mother's Morning Out: provides a program for mothers and their pre-school aged children. Baby-sitting is provided. (905) 844-9009.
Not Just the Blues: offered by PASS-CAN, this program helps the woman and family experiencing the impact of postpartum complications such as, postpartum distress, depression, postpartum panic/anxiety, or a diagnosed postpartum psychosis. (905) 897-6262.
New Parent Information Line (WARMLINE): this 24 hour information line provides new parents with one-on-one confidential sharing and emotional support. (905) 897-6262.
Preterm Parents' Network: this network lets you talk to someone who has been in a situation like yours, and offers an informal information and support session to learn more about preterm babies. (905) 564-7485.
Salvation Army Support Mom's Group. (905) 897-6262.
Fitness
Mississauga Parks & Recreation Pre and Post Natal Fitness (905) 896-5640
YMCA Mississauga (905) 897-9622.
Support Services
Community Homemakers: RN's and Homemakers provide personal care, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and personal companionship ideally suited for new mothers. (905) 275-0544.
Special Needs
Parents of Preterm Infants: a support group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month to share experiences and listen to speakers on topics of interest to parents of preterm infants. Baby-sitting is available with one week notice. (905) 564-7485.
Peel Infant Development Program: Mississauga Hospital program that provides assessment, individualized intervention, parent teaching, counselling and parent groups, in the home or office, for parents with children that are developmentally delayed or at high risk for handicap. (905) 564-7485.
Parent-to-Parent Link: trained volunteers bring together and provide support to parents of disabled children. Telephone support is provided. (416) 421-8377.
One Parent Families Association of Canada: self-help organization for single parents and their families. (416) 226-0062.
Multiples
Mississauga Parents of Multiple Births Association: a self-help group providing information and support for parents of multiples. Mary Parker (905) 829-9030.
Parents of Triplets, Quads and Quints Association: Parent support group providing information, assistance, and direction before and after multiple birth. Diane Myers (905) 826-0734.
Abuse
Assaulted Women's Helpline: trained staff will provide crisis counselling, emotional support, linkage to emergency shelter, information and referrals to other services. (416) 863-0511.
Healthline Peel: a community Health Nurse provides information on a variety of health issues. (905) 791-7800 x 7448, (905) 791-7800 x 7296, (905) 791-7800 x 7044.
Healthy Sexuality Clinic: birth control counselling. (905) 820-3663.
Bereaved Families of Ontario: offers self help groups and other services for various aspects of bereavement including telephone support and one-on-one meetings for bereaved families and children. (905) 507-2200.
Multicultural Groups
Multicultural Assistance (905) 273-7461
Chinese Community (416) 977-4026
Toronto Chinese Community Home Support Service (416) 585-2013
Chinese Community Centre of Ontario (416) 603-1917
Chinese and Canadian Intercultural Association (416) 591-6347
Muslim Community Info (416) 766-6311
Rainbow Society (905) 275-2369
Vietnamese Community Women's Support Group (905) 275-4682
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