Delivering Your Baby in the qathet Region
Our community offers various services to help you before, during, and after the birth of your child.
Giving birth is a natural, healthy process shaped by both choices and circumstances. This section offers planning information and resources to help you prepare for labour, birth, and welcoming your baby into the world.
Preparation
- Discuss your birth preferences and plans with your doctor or midwife before labour begins.
- Understand the roles of each member of your birth team.
- Ensure you have plenty of help and support during your first days with your child.
- Give yourself time to regain your strength and bond with your baby.
Birth Planning
The best approach to birth planning is to discuss your hopes, wishes, and plans with your doctor or midwife. A formal, written birth plan is not necessary, but it can be a useful way to communicate your plan with your labour nurse or another doctor/midwife if your caregiver is not on call.
A birth plan includes deciding where you would ideally like to deliver your baby:, at home (option only available through midwifery care and may change at last minute if complications arise) or in your local hospital. It can include the types of comfort measures you want available (massage, warm baths, music, etc.) and the options you prefer for pain relief.
Things to think about:
- Who do I want to be part of my personal support team during labour and delivery, and in the first days after?
- What do I hope my birth experience will be like? How will I prepare myself for the unexpected during labour and delivery?
- What do I need to bring to the hospital?
- Depending on the time of day, how will I get to the hospital?
- Will my other children come to the hospital? Who will care for them at home or at the hospital?
- Have I purchased enough baby supplies, including a certified car seat, ahead of time?
- Do I plan to breastfeed my baby?
Questions to ask your health care provider:
- What will the atmosphere and environment be like during my labour and delivery?
- Who will make up my delivery team?
- Under what circumstances might I require induced labour, fetal monitoring, caesarean section, episiotomy, or other medical assistance?
- What are my comfort measures and pain relief options?
- How many support people (family, friends) may be present at the birth? Can my other children stay with me during delivery?
Hospital Births
At the qathet General Hospital (qGH), the nurses, doctors, midwives, and staff are dedicated to making this experience safe, supportive, and memorable for you and your family. qGH offers excellent maternity care services, including labour and delivery. For more information and a virtual tour of the maternity ward, visit Maternity Services at qathet General Hospital.
Frequently asked questions about giving birth at the qathet General Hospital
Yes, call the maternity ward at 604-485-3211, ext. 4387 to arrange an in-person tour or call the Maternity nurse directly at 604-208-6260.
Yes, there are pull-out beds available. Having a support person stay is encouraged!
This sometimes changes so call the maternity ward at 604-485-3211 for the most current visiting hours.
Only the person that is admitted as a patient is provided with a meal. If the person who has given birth is discharged before the baby, then the one parent will be ordered a companion tray while the baby remains admitted.
A typical stay for a vaginal birth is 24-48 hours. A typical C-section stay is 48-72 hours. This can vary depending on the birth experience and how the birther and newborn are doing after delivery and postpartum.
Yes, you can. The hospital offers gowns that can be worn as well. A hospital-provided gown is only required if a C-section is happening.
The hospital will provide diapers for baby, newborn size only, as well as personal hygiene pads and a peri-bottle to help provide relief when using the toilet after birth. You can bring comfortable, loose-fitting clothing, a pair of sandals for the shower, toiletries, warm pajamas/outfits for baby, chapstick, slippers, your favourite pillow, and plenty of snacks, and cell phone charger. You must bring a car seat (not the base, that remains in the car), that a nurse will check before you leave with your baby. If there are any questions about whether the base is installed correctly, the fire department assists with checking the correct installation.
Comfort measures may ease labor pain directly or indirectly by soothing and relaxing you. Here are some examples:
- Create a calm environment: Dim lights, peaceful surroundings, soft music, privacy, and warmth.
- Increase physical comfort: Walking, slow dancing with a partner, pelvic rocking, positioning pillows for comfort, sitting and swaying on birth ball (a large physiotherapy ball), lifting up the abdomen and/or rocking in a rocking chair.
Walking with a Partner
Walking with a Doula
Slow Dancing
Rocking on a Birth Ball
Kneeling and Resting on a Birth Ball
Standing and Resting on a Birth Ball
Doing Pelvic Tilts
Climbing Stairs
- Use touch: Massage, stroking, cuddling, counter pressure against the lower back or acupressure.
- Apply heat (with or without water): Deep tub bath, shower, heating pad on groin or back, heated blanket.
- Apply cold: Ice pack on lower back, cool cloth to wipe face.
Home Birth
Midwifery Services
For those planning a home birth, local midwives offer personalized care and support throughout the birthing process. If you are interested in birthing at home, speak with your midwife about your wishes. In general, this means if you have no pre-existing or pregnancy complications, are at term (37–42 weeks), are pregnant with one baby, and your baby is head down when you go into labour, a home birth is a safe option for you. A Registered Midwife and Second Birth Attendant attend every home birth and bring equipment and medications to handle common obstetric complications.
The Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) and the Society of Obstetricians of Canada (SOGC) both recognize the safety of planned home birth and support a client’s right to choose their place of birth.
Contact qathet Midwifery Care for more information and to discuss your options.
Useful Home Birth Links
Doula Services
A doula provides emotional and physical support to you before, during, and after your pregnancy and childbirth. Doulas aren’t medical professionals. They don’t deliver babies or provide medical advice or medical care. Doulas assist and advocate for the birthing parent.
Local Doula Services: Ask your maternity health provider about local doulas for referral information.
You can also check qathet Birth Collective or Find a Doula in BC.
Doulas for Aboriginal Families: This grant program provides Indigenous families living in BC up to $1,200 of coverage for doula support with each pregnancy. Visit Doulas for Aboriginal Families – BCAAFC for more information.
Breastfeeding Support
Contact Public Health Nursing at 604-485-3310 – all public health nurses have taken the Douglas College Breastfeeding Course and can provide breast/chest feeding support.
Please email hello@qathetmidwifery.com if you would like to meet with a local lactation consultant.
- Virtual support Sunshine Coast | La Leche League Canada – Breastfeeding Support and Information (lllc.ca)
- To learn about tongue tie, a condition present at birth, that restricts the tongue’s range of motion and may interfere with breastfeeding, click here. You can connect with your midwife or Primary Care provider for assessment and referral.
What is available to you, your partner and your family to support your labour, delivery and recovery at qathet General Hospital?
Hospitals Out of Town
