Obstetrics Unit
The Woman & Child Health Program Obstetrics Unit was part of the Hospital's $4.5 million self-funded redevelopment project in 1997. The unit provides a homelike environment to make the birthing experience more relaxed and comfortable.
The Woman & Child Health Program unit has ten rooms in total. Eight of these rooms have birthing beds, which means that a mother stays in that room for labour, delivery, recovery and post-partum (LDRP). This is a family-centred concept of labour and delivery. The mother's partner or any support person she chooses may remain with her during her Hospital stay. The new mother will care for her baby in her room, with assistance from the nursing staff.
There is no nursery in this unit. Babies are cared for by their mother and family and will only leave their mother if a test needs to be done or if there is a clinical need to more closely observe the baby.
Visiting Hours are designed to allow the mother adequate rest periods, opportunity to bond with the newborn, and time and energy to learn about caring for their new baby. Visitors are welcome during regular hospital visiting hours from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Unlike other units in the hospital, siblings under 12 are allowed to visit.
Antenatal Clinic
Having a baby is one of life's greatest moments. Here at the Ross, we want you and your family to have the best experience possible. To ensure this, we offer the Antenatal Clinic to all of our expecting families. Registered Nurses at the clinic are experienced Obstetrical Nurses who work on the Unit. Between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, all patients come to the clinic. Whether this is your first baby or your seventh, the information provided is invaluable.
Our patients have commented:
"Even though this was my third time giving birth in the hospital, I received a lot of information that I didn't know before, which helped me better prepare myself."
"The clinic is very helpful in regards to what to bring, hospital policies and what to expect."
"It made me comfortable and at ease."
Our clinic appointments are one hour in length and focus on your stay, options for pain relief, community resources and handouts. At the end of your appointment, you will enjoy a tour of our unit. Best of all, the appointment is for YOU; it's tailored to your needs, concerns and questions.
Please call 324-6111 extension 4215 to arrange for your appointment.
For more information about our mother and baby care, download our Woman and Child Program Booklet.
Download our "Preparing for Your Baby" booklet.
Programs & Services
There are a number of programs and services offered to expectant mothers in the community. These include the following:
Breast Feeding Clinic
The Public Health Unit offers breast feeding support. Call 705-324-3569 for details.
Midwifery
A local group of midwives were recently granted privileges to practice at the Ross Memorial Hospital. At Ross Memorial, we see this as a positive event for local families, as the addition of Midwives will allow us to provide a full range of services, care givers and options for birth events in our community.
Families who choose a Midwife as their primary care giver will now be able to choose to have their birth experience at the hospital. Through this partnership with midwives, we help to ensure that families who choose this option also have quick access to additional medical resources should the need arise.
The practice of midwifery has been taking place in the province of Ontario for approximately 30 years. It became a regulated health profession in Ontario in 1993 with the proclamation of the Midwifery Act. According to the College of Midwives, their philosophy is based on respect for pregnancy as a state of health, and childbirth as a normal physiologic process and a profound event in a woman’s life. This philosophy fits well with Ross Memorial Hospital’s Family Centered Maternity Care approach.
Prenatal Education
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit offers prenatal education information through their website at http://www.hkpr.on.ca/.