Family Birthing Centre

There are several important things to know before you arrive at the hospital for your delivery. Check out the tabs below to learn more and be well prepared.

A healthy pregnancy

Congratulations, you've just found out that you are pregnant! 

To have a healthy pregnancy, it is important to be well-informed and to make the best possible choices for both you and your baby. Here's a guide to help you during your pregnancy and after your baby's birth.

Resource: 

• Public Health Agency of Canada : Your Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy 

Prenatal information sessions

During your third trimester of pregnancy, we invite you to attend a prenatal information session. Your partner or a loved one is welcome to attend.

Goal of the session: 

• Provide a quick overview of what to expect during your stay at Montfort.
• Learn about the Montfort Postnatal Home Care Program.
• Discuss the early days with your newborn.
• Learn about the three key elements of successful breastfeeding.

Dates of the online information sessions:

In French, by Chantal Bourbonnais or Sylvie Gamache	In English, by Erin Chartrand
Wednesday, March 13, 2024, from 4 to 5 p.m.	Tuesday, March 12, 2024, from 4 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024, from 4 to 5 p.m.	Tuesday, April 16, 2024, from 4 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, May 8, 2024, from 4 to 5 p.m.	Tuesday, May 14, 2024, from 4 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024, from 4 to 5 p.m.	Tuesday, June 11, 2024, from 4 to 5 p.m.

*Please note that these are information sessions, not prenatal classes.

To participate in an online information session, you must register in advance by clicking here.

If you have difficulty registering for an online session, please contact the Telemedicine Service at 613-746-4621, ext. 4319.

Concerns about my pregnancy

Who should you contact if you have concerns about your pregnancy? 

Less than 20 weeks pregnant

• Please contact your doctor or midwife, or go to the hospital emergency room. 
• During your pregnancy, your doctor or midwife will discuss with you the importance of fetal movement counts. 

More than 20 weeks of pregnancy

• Go to the Obstetrical Assessment (Triage) Unit, at the entrance to the Family Birthing Centre, 2B105. 
• The health care professionals there will assess you and your baby. Then they will discuss your treatment plan with you. 
• If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact your doctor or midwife first. If necessary, you can contact the Triage Nurse at 613-746-4621, ext. 3708. 

Prenatal classes

Prenatal classes (group, private, online) are great opportunities to learn about what to expect during your pregnancy. Prenatal classes are offered at several locations in the community.

Resources :

• Best Start by Health Nexus : Prenatal Education Program
• Ottawa Public Health: Virtual Prenatal Class
• Eastern Ontario Health Unit: Prenatal Classes
• Ottawa Childbirth Education Association
• Prenatal classes Outaouais
   

Breastfeeding

Exclusive breastfeeding is important for your baby's optimal health and development.  

• In-person and online information sessions are available at several community health centers in the area. 
• A lactation consultant will be available to answer your questions.
• To register, call 613-722-4000 ext. 440

Resources :

• An educational sheet developed by the Family Birthing Centre's professionals is available if you wish, to familiarize you with exclusive breastfeeding and the basic principles of successful breastfeeding.
• Best start – Health Nexus: My Breastfeeding Guide 
• Public Health Agency of Canada: 10 Great Reasons to Breastfeed your Baby
• Public Health Agency of Canada: 10 Valuable Tips for Successful Breastfeeding

Smoking

Tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke during pregnancy pose risks to you and your baby. 
Group and individual sessions are offered for parents who are expecting a newborn. 

Resources :

• Montfort offers a smoking cessation program. Health care workers will inform you about our program and support you, if you wish to quit smoking. 
• Ottawa Public Health: Smoking Cessation Programs offered by Ottawa Public Health: Call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line ̶ 613-580-6744 or TTY: 613-580-9656, or visit Services in Ottawa to Help People Quit Smoking
• Eastern Ontario Health Unit: Tobacco Cessation Programs and Services
• Remote assistance for smokers: 1-877-513-5333
• Best start - Health Nexus: Creating a Smoke Free Environment for Your Children (video)
• Pregnet 

Birthing plan

A birth plan developed by the Family Birthing Centre professionals is available if you wish, to familiarize you with the different options available to you during labor and delivery. You can print a copy and complete it to discuss with the care team upon admission.

Personal belongings to bring

Here are some items that we suggest you bring with you to the hospital.

For a printable version of this list, click here.

For the person giving birth:

• Up-to-date list of all your medications, vitamins and supplements
  • Click here to use a list template. Download the file to fill it out and print it.
• Reusable water bottle 
• Support kit: massage oil, tennis balls, wooden roller (massage technique)
• ''Maxi" sanitary pads (one bag)
• Health insurance card 
• Entertainment: cell phone, chargers, tablet, books, magazines, etc. 
• Lip balm, hand cream*, etc. 
• Favorite pillow
• Snacks 
• Birth plan, if applicable 
• Pen and notepad 
• Pyjamas, robe and slippers with non-slip soles 
• Loose, comfortable underwear, nursing bra, nursing pads 
• Toiletries and personal hygiene items: soap*, shampoo*, tissues, hair dryer, etc. 
• Clothing for discharge from hospital (approximately fourth month of pregnancy size) 

*Montfort is a fragrance-free environment. Please avoid scented products.

For the accompanying person:

• Sleeping bag or blankets and pillow
• Cell phone or camera (and charger) 
• Change of clothes and toiletries 
• Food and snacks 
• Reusable water bottle 

For the baby:

• Newborn or size "1" diapers (one bag) 
• Alcohol and fragrance free wet wipes
• Pyjamas
• Blankets
• Clothing for discharge (depending on the weather) 
• Regulation car seat that meets Canadian road safety standards. It is essential that you know how it works before your baby is born. Bring it to the hospital on the day of discharge. 

Do not bring: jewelry, large sums of money or valuables. Montfort is not responsible in case of loss or theft. 

Doctor for your newborn

Before the birth, it is essential that you have found a doctor who will take care of your baby (family doctor or pediatrician). An appointment should be scheduled within 48 hours of your newborn's discharge from the hospital.

Resources :

• Residents of Ontario : Find a doctor or nurse practitioner
• Residents of Québec : Québec Family Doctor Finder

Car seat

A properly used car seat can save your baby's life. Be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions and follow all age, height and weight specifications.  

How to use a car seat:

• Place your baby in the seat in the back seat, face back.
• Car seat straps, belts and harnesses should fit snugly.
• Make sure the harness straps are at your baby's shoulder height or a little lower.
• Check that the harness straps are not twisted or folded.
• Fasten the buckle.
• Close the chest clip on the sling and place the clip at your baby's armpit level.
• Tighten the harness straps on your baby's shoulders. To check that they are tight enough, you can:
  • Place a finger between the strap and your baby's collarbone and pull it up. The strap should be tight on your finger;
  • Try to pinch the strap over your baby's shoulder with your thumb and index finger. If you can't pinch it, the fit is tight enough.
• Make sure the handle of the car seat is in the position recommended by the manufacturer.

Resources:

• Ontario's Ministry of Transportation: Choosing a child car seat
• Ottawa Public Health: Child Passenger Safety
• Eastern Ontario Health Unite: Car Seat Safety

 

Early labor lounge

At Montfort, we have a great resource for persons who are in early labor, but not quite ready to give birth: our Early labor lounge. 

What is the Early labor lounge?
The Early labor lounge is a space that the pregnant person and her support team can use during the early stages of labor. It is a relaxing, home-like space with low lighting, a birthing ball, comfortable rocking chairs, a television, and a therapeutic bath nearby. It allows you to manage contractions in privacy and safety. 

Please note that this area is not considered an outpatient visit or an admission. During your stay in the Early labor lounge, you will not receive any nursing/medical care or assessment.  

If you have any questions or need to be reassessed, please present yourself to the obstetrical emergency unit (triage).

Who can use the Early labor lounge?
The lounge is available to any Montfort patient in early labor. It can provide space for persons who are in labor too early to be admitted to the hospital.

What is the purpose of the Early labor lounge?
Being admitted to the hospital too early in labor, can sometimes changes hormones change and slow the progress of labor. The idea behind the Early labor lounge is to create a comfortable space to allow the onset of labor to continue as naturally as it would at home. We can then process to the admission when active labor has truly started. This reduces the risk of a cesarean delivery.

Montfort is proud to offer this space to ease the discomfort of early labor.

 

When you arrive at the hospital for your delivery, go to obstetrical triage in 2B105. The team will be able to assess you and assign you a room, if it is the right time.

Your hospital stay is usually 24 to 48 hours for a vaginal birth, and 48 to 72 hours for a caesarean birth. Women who are under the care of a midwife, have had a vaginal birth and have not experienced any complications are discharged approximately two hours after the birth. 

Pain relief

There are several methods to help you cope with pain during labor and delivery. To familiarize yourself with the methods offered at Montfort, we invite you to consult our brochure "Pain Relief during Labour and Delivery - What are my choices?''

Delivery by caesarean section

Whether planned or unplanned, recovering from a C-section takes more time. You may plan to stay in the hospital for 48 to 72 hours following a C-section. During your stay, the care team will teach you how to care for your scar.

An information guide developed by the professionals at the Family Birthing Centre is available if you wish, to familiarize you with what to expect before, during and after the caesarean section.

Ressource :

• The Caesarian - Patient Information
• The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: Caeserean section (C-section)
• Precare | C-Section ERAS: videos and guide 

Breech delivery

Breech babies (buttocks down) can be born by caesarean section or vaginally. It is possible to reposition a breech baby by attempting an "external maneuver version''. The ideal time to attempt a version is between 35 and 36 weeks of gestation.

For more information on breech delivery, visit the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.

After the birth of your baby, there are many resources and programs that can help you adjust to this new reality, both during your hospital stay and when you return home.

Feeding the newborn 

Breastfeeding

Your milk is all your baby needs for the first six months. You can help your baby get off to a good start by using these techniques from birth:     

• Have skin-to-skin contact
• Make sure your baby latches on well
• Watching for signs of hunger
• Learn to express colostrum and breast milk by hand
• Breastfeed your baby as often and for as long as he or she wants.

Breastfeed your baby as often and for as long as he or she wants.

• Generic breastfeeding resources: 
  • Your healthcare provider
  • Exclusive Breastfeeding - Montfort patient information document
  • Best start - Health Nexus: Breastfeeding Matters
  • Public Health Agency of Canada: Ten Valuable Tips for Successful Breastfeeding
  • Breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding resources in Ontario:
  • Bilingual Online Ontario Breastfeeding Services
  • Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-797-0000 or ATS1-866-797-0007
  • Ottawa Public Health: Breastfeeding Resources in Ottawa 
  • Eastern Ontario health unit
• Breastfeeding resources in Québec:
  • Naissance Renaissance Outaouais (in French only) 
  • Info-Santé 8-1-1 - Nourri-lait : 819-561-4499

Commercial formulas

Some families may consider using infant formula, either exclusively or as a supplement to breastfeeding. This decision may be made for medical or personal reasons.

Our nursing staff will provide education on how to prepare, give and transport infant formula.

For more information on infant formula, visit the following Best Start resources by Health Nexus:

• Safely Preparing Infant Formula for your Baby (video)
• Infant Formula: What You Need to Know
• Infant Formula: Informed Decision Making

Safe sleep environment for your newborn

As a new parent, you need to create a safe sleeping environment for your baby by following the Canadian guidelines for cribs and bassinets. 

It is recommended that you share a smoke-free room with your newborn for the first six months.

The safest way to think about creating a baby's sleeping space is to consider the ABC's - putting your baby Alone, on its Back, in an approved Crib or Cradle.

Resources: 

• Public Health Agency of Canada: Safe Sleep for your Baby
• Parachute: Bed time

Newborn care

For more information on caring for your newborn, please refer to the document Daily Care of the Newborn.

Please consult a health care professional if your newborn presents any of the symptoms listed on this list. 

Here is a series of videos on newborn care produced by Ottawa Public Health:

• Newborn Behavior
• Diapering Your Baby
• Bathing Your Baby
• Jaundice in the newborn

Resource: 

• Public Health Agency of Canada: Your guide to postpartum health and caring for your baby

Your baby's crying 

Parents know that their baby cries sometimes. A baby's inconsolable crying can be very disturbing and frustrating for sleep deprived parents. An educational sheet developed by CHEO professionals is available if you wish to better understand and cope with your baby's crying.

Newborn examinations

• The Ontario Newborn Screening Program can screen for at least 29 diseases. This screening is mandatory and the sample will be taken from the baby's heel.
• A hearing screening program for your baby will be offered in the community clinic following discharge. You will fill out a referral form while in hospital and the program will contact you. For community services in Ottawa and Prescott-Russell, visit Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre or call 613-688-3979.
• A routine blood test is done on all newborns before they are discharged from the hospital to determine their bilirubin levels. The doctor may order another blood test after discharge, especially for babies who are at risk for jaundice.

Circumcision

The Canadian Paediatric Society does not recommend routine circumcision for newborns. The FBC does not perform this procedure. 
Parents who wish to receive information about circumcision are invited to discuss it with a nurse during their hospital stay.

Resources :

• Gentle Procedures Clinic: 1-888-795-3023
• Eastern Ontario Health Unit: 613-933-1375

Care for the person giving birth

For more details on the care of the person giving birth and the signs and symptoms to follow closely, refer to the document Personal care after giving birth. 

Please consult a health care professional if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Heavy vaginal bleeding, 1 full pad soaked in 1 hour for more than 2 hours;
• Pain, redness, warmth, swelling (perineum, caesarean wound, breasts or lower limbs)
• Purulent discharge from the perineum or caesarean section wound;
• Fever (38.0C/ 100.4F);
• Bleeding from the C-section wound;
• Persistent "baby blues", anxiety and difficulty coping with daily life and care of the baby;
• Emotional instability, insomnia, suicidal thoughts or fear of harming the baby;
• Severe headaches;
• Upper abdominal pain;
• Sudden change in vision.

Resources:

• Public Health Agency of Canada: Your guide to postpartum health and caring for your baby 
• Postpartum Recovery (video of Ottawa Public Health)  
• Postpartum Mental Health (video of Ottawa Public Health) 

Proof of birth

All births at Montfort Hospital must be registered with Service Ontario within 30 days of the birth, regardless of where the parents live.  

You can do this by:

• Internet, by visiting www.ontario.ca/page/register-birth-new-baby;
• In person, by visiting the Service Ontario office at 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa.

Newborn Health Card

For Ontario residents:

• Be sure to fill out and give your newborn's health insurance card application to your nurse before you leave the hospital.
• A temporary health card for your newborn will be given to you before you leave the hospital. 
• You will receive his or her official health card in the mail approximately eight weeks later.

For Quebec residents:

1. Contact the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) to obtain and complete a registration form.
   • Régie d'assurance maladie du Québec, www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en or 1-800-561-9749
   • The RAMQ may ask you for proof of birth from the hospital. Be aware that a child under one year of age who does not yet have his or her own health insurance card can receive health care in Quebec by presenting a parent's health insurance card.
2. You must obtain proof of birth from Montfort Hospital to apply for Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits.
   • Quebec Parental Insurance Plan, www.rqap.gouv.qc.ca
3. Since your child was born outside of Quebec, you will need to apply for the Family Allowance from Quebec Retirement.
   • Quebec Retirement, www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/en/
4. A birth certificate issued in Ontario can be inserted into the Québec register of civil status if the parents request it.
   • Directeur de l'état civil du Québec

Proof of birth from Montfort 

Proof of birth issued by the hospital may be required in the following situations:

• Parental leave
• Reason for absence from work or school
• Claim for private insurance plan
• Passport application, at the request of Service Canada, an embassy or a consulate

To obtain a proof of birth :

• Call the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Service at 613-746-4621 x 2905 or email infoprivee@montfort.on.ca.
• This service is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except on statutory holidays.
• A $30 fee applies. You can pay by check or online; information will be sent to you.
• Processing time is less than 30 days.
• An extra $30 fee applies if the proof is required immediately.

Please note: The proof of birth issued by Montfort Hospital is not a legal document, nor is it a substitute for a birth certificate issued by the province of Ontario.

Montfort Postnatal Home Care Program

Are you going to give birth at Montfort Hospital with a family doctor or obstetrician? Are you a resident of Ontario? Is your pregnancy going well without complications?  

You may be interested in the Montfort Postpartum Home Care Program offered by the Montfort Family Birthing Centre (FBC) team. 

Confirm with the FBC team that you meet the eligibility criteria.

What is the program? 

After your delivery, you may choose to return home within the first 24 hours (or 36 hours if delivered by C-section) of your child's birth and receive postpartum care at home. 

Participants in the program benefit from: 

• Information session during pregnancy
• Delivery at the Family Birthing Centre with a family doctor or obstetrician 
• Return home within 24 hours of birth for vaginal delivery or 48 hours for caesarean delivery and receive postpartum care in the comfort of your home for the first week 
• A visit from an FBC midwife to your home within 24 hours of discharge from the hospital to ensure the well-being of you and your newborn 
• Follow-up and support from a midwife during the first week after your delivery 
• Two to three additional home visits arranged with you, depending on your needs (newborn care, your well-being, breastfeeding support)
• 24/7 pager access to midwives for the duration of your care 

Interprofessional Collaboration 

Midwives work in collaboration with your doctor. During the first week, you will receive home visits from the midwife. After the first week, all follow-ups will be with your doctor. 

Interested in this program? 

Talk to your birthing physician.
Come and meet us by participating in one of the prenatal information sessions offered online by Montfort.

Prenatal Information Sessions 

For more information and to register for an information session, click here.

Montfort's Newborn Club

A Newborn Club membership is a unique way to celebrate the birth of a child.

Your $50 donation allows you to show your appreciation to the staff of the Family Birthing Center (FBC) for the excellent care and services provided to mother and baby. It also allows you to have your baby's name and date of birth inscribed on the wall of the Newborn Club, located at the FBC, and to receive a souvenir certificate.

For more information or to donate, visit the Montfort Foundation.