Having Your Baby

Having your baby at an Osler hospital? Here are some frequently asked questions that expectant mothers have for our labour and delivery team.

Can I eat or drink while in labour?

You may eat and drink while you are at home in early labour. Having plenty of fluids is important, so drink clear fluids (water, apple juice, ginger ale, clear tea) or suck popsicles.

After you arrive at the hospital, please check with your nurse before you eat. Based on your progress in labour, the nurse will advise you about further eating or drinking.

When should I come to the Labour and Delivery Unit at the hospital?

Labour is different for every woman. It generally begins with irregular contractions that become longer, stronger and closer together. You should come to the Labour and Delivery Unit at the hospital:

when your contractions are regular at five minutes apart and last about 45 seconds each, over one hour
when the bag of water surrounding the baby breaks (ruptured membranes). This can be a little trickle of fluid where you are constantly wet, or a big gush of fluid. If in doubt, come to the Labour and Delivery Unit at the hospital to be assessed.
if you have soaked a pad with bright red blood. If this happens, come to the Labour and Delivery Unit at the hospital for assessment. When you are beginning labour you may have a pinkish fluid (sometimes called ‘show') or some dark brown spotting — this is normal and does not require a hospital visit. If you have had a vaginal exam in your doctor or midwife's office, you may also experience dark brown spotting. This too is normal and does not mean you need to come to hospital
if you notice a decrease in your baby's movement
if you have a fever, severe headache, vision problems or abdominal pain

Premature labour

Please come to the Labour and Delivery Unit at the hospital if you are experiencing any signs of preterm labour.

Preterm labour starts before 37 weeks of pregnancy and may include:

abdominal cramping
low, dull backache or thigh pain
pelvic pressure
vaginal bleeding
a sudden gush or slow leak of fluid from your vagina

Sometimes it is difficult to tell if you are in labour. If you're not sure, you can call and speak to a nurse for advice:

If your doctor is at Brampton Civic, call 905-494-2120 ext. 57975
If your doctor is at Etobicoke General, call 416-494-2120 ext. 33561

If you have any concerns and are unable to call, see your doctor or midwife at their office or come to the Labour and Delivery Unit at the hospital to be assessed.

What happens when I get to the hospital?

After registration, you will meet a nurse who will ask you some questions. Important things to remember include:

when your contractions started
what time your water broke and the colour of the water (if applicable)
when any bleeding started (if applicable) and whether you have any pain at the same time as the bleeding. Please put on a pad before coming to the hospital, so the nurse can assess the amount of blood.

The nurse may have your antenatal record, which comes from your doctor's office about four weeks before your due date. This record will answer some questions. If your antenatal record is not yet at the hospital, the nurse will ask questions about your health and previous delivery history.

When you are admitted to the Labour and Delivery Unit, we will assign you a nurse from this unit. If you have a birth plan, please share it with your nurse. Your nurse will:

help you with various breathing and relaxation techniques
monitor your blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature
monitor your baby's heart rate
keep you up to date on the progress of your labour
offer you clear fluids and ice chips
provide support and encourage you and your partner during birth and delivery

When am I going to deliver?

Pushing starts when your cervix is fully dilated (10 centimeters) and you feel the need to push. You may use several different pushing techniques. The nurse will help you with the position that is most comfortable and healthy for you and your baby.

If the doctor or midwife has any concerns about your baby's well-being or the progress of your labour, they may need to assist your baby's birth. The doctor or midwife may need to consider:

using a medication to make your contractions stronger
using forceps
using a vacuum
making a small incision (episiotomy) in the area between your vagina and anus
performing an urgent or emergency caesarean section (C-section)

What options do I have for pain relief during labour?

There are many options you can explore for pain relief during labour. They include:

Breathing

During contractions, breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth. Your nurse or midwife can help you with this.

Positioning/walking

If you can, walking is helpful. It may speed up your labour and helps to relieve backache. Other positions like standing, sitting, kneeling, leaning forward and/or sitting upright also help to relieve backache and speed up labour. Some people find rhythmic movement helpful and will rock back and forth, rub their abdomen, or even tap their fingers during a contraction.

Music

Music is a way of relaxing and providing distraction through your labour. Some people like soft quiet music, while others prefer quick-paced, energetic music. You may want to bring a variety of music that is familiar.

Massage

Massage is another option for pain relief. This can be done with light strokes over your abdomen or more firm pressure over your back, hips, legs, buttocks and arms. It is helpful to use a lotion to help the hands glide over the skin.

Imagery

This can help some women relax and distract from pain. You may already practice imagery when you are in a stressful situation or are having difficulty sleeping. Some people bring in pictures to focus on, while other people picture images in their mind.

Heat and cold

Heat can be used to relax muscles and to distract from pain. You can apply heat by having a bath or shower and can request use of a hospital tub for early labour relief. Please note you will not be able to give birth in the tub.

Warming gel packs may also be used. We ask that you not use a heating pad in the hospital.

Ice or cold packs can also be placed over the back, hips, neck or forehead to provide pain relief.

Narcotics

Narcotic analgesics or painkillers are often given in the form of a needle. You will usually feel relief within 20-30 minutes. Pain relief will last two to four hours and narcotic analgesics can provide good pain relief with low risk of serious side effects.

Disadvantages include:

pain not completely gone
dizziness
drowsiness
hallucination
nausea
vomiting

If you take narcotic analgesics, you will have to stay in bed as you may not be able to walk safely. Medications such as morphine can also cause a newborn baby to be sleepy. The drowsy effects can be corrected with an injection of a medication called Narcan. Although the disadvantages may sound upsetting, narcotic pain relievers are considered safe for both mother and baby. The side effects are usually easy to correct.

In addition, Nixroux inhalation is also available at Etobicoke General. If you choose this option, you will inhale gas through a mask to help relieve pain.

Learn more about epidurals.

How long do I stay in the hospital after giving birth?

If you and your baby are healthy, your stay is:

up to 24 hours after a vaginal birth
up to 48 hours after a C-section

What is skin-to-skin contact?

The first hour of birth is a crucial time for your baby's transition to life outside the womb. To help with this adjustment, we give all stable babies and mothers an opportunity for skin-to-skin contact (SSC) immediately after delivery.

With your consent, after delivery your health care providers will place your newborn on your bare chest immediately after birth. This supports mother-infant connection through sensory stimuli such as touch, warmth, and odour. Skin-to-skin contact may continue for at least one hour, or for as long as you wish. A longer period of SSC is recommended if your baby has not suckled by one hour after birth.

All stable babies and mothers can benefit from SSC immediately after birth, including those who do not intend to breastfeed. SSC:

calms mother and baby
helps stabilize the baby's heartbeat and breathing
keeps the baby warm with heat from the mother's body
enables colonization of the baby's gut with the mother's normal body bacteria gut, if she is the first person to hold the baby
reduces infant crying, thus reducing stress
allows the baby to find the breast and self-attach, which is more likely to result in effective suckling than when the baby is separated from his/her mother in the first few hours
reduces the need for medications during invasive procedures, such as a vitamin K injection
enhances mother-infant interaction
extends successful breastfeeding

reduces the mother's risk of postnatal depression

For more information on SSC, please ask your nurse. Babies who are not stable immediately after birth can receive skin-to-skin contact later when they are stable. If the mother is not stable or able to respond to her baby, the baby can be put skin-to-skin with the father or partner.

What do I need to know about my room accommodations? How can I get a private room?

In most cases, patients in active labour will have a private room in the Labour and Delivery Unit.

The Postpartum Unit has ward rooms, semi-private and private rooms. If you have OHIP coverage, there is a fee to upgrade to a semi-private or private room. Depending on your insurance coverage, there may also be an additional fee to upgrade from semi-private to a private room.

Private rooms cannot be booked in advance and are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please inform the registration clerk when you are admitted if you wish to have a private room.

Learn more about room options.

What if my baby has jaundice?

Jaundice is common in newborns. It usually begins 24 hours after birth and can continue until your baby is a week old.

If your baby becomes jaundiced, you may notice:

dry skin with a yellow tinge
the whites of the eyes becoming yellow
a decrease in both urine and bowel movements. It is important to note how often your baby is passing urine and stool

Prior to going home from the hospital, your nurse may check your baby's jaundice level through a blood test.

Jaundice can make your baby sleepy and difficult to wake for feeds. It is important to breastfeed your baby every two to three hours throughout the day and night until regular bowel movements are established. If at any time you think your baby is showing signs of jaundice, notify your nurse, midwife or doctor, or go to the hospital's Emergency Department to have the jaundice levels checked.

What if I want to circumcise my baby?

We do not perform circumcisions at Osler and they are not covered by OHIP. Please ask your baby's doctor for local recommendations at your visit.