Patient guide to labour and birth
Welcome to the Vancouver Coastal Health labour and birth patient guide. We want to ensure you and your family feel supported every step of the way.
This guide is for people who are planning to have their baby at a Vancouver Coastal Health hospital and for their families and caregivers.
This guide is designed to help you understand each step of your labour and birth journey, as well as getting ready to go home. Click on the sections below to learn what to expect and how to prepare along your journey.
If you have questions not answered in this guide, please direct them to your pregnancy caregiver or any member of your health-care team.
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Preparing for birth
Learn how to prepare for birth if you are planning to give birth at a Vancouver…
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Coming to the hospital for childbirth
Learn when to come to the hospital if you think are you in labour and what to b…
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During labour and birth
Learn what to expect during labour and birth (delivery) if you give birth at a …
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Baby is born
Learn what to expect during labour and the birthing process.
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Leaving the hospital with your baby
What to expect after the baby is born and as you prepare to leave the hospital …
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Recovery after birth
After giving birth, get as much rest as you can and give yourself time to heal…
Supporting you throughout your care journey
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Our health-care teams
Made up of perinatal-trained registered nurses, registered midwives, family physicians, obstetricians, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and a perinatal social worker; together we provide high-quality, individualized care and support.
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Our model of care
Our goal is to support you and your family throughout your birth experience in an environment which is person-focused, family-centered, inclusive, safe and evidence-based. We encourage you to take on an active and informed role in your care.
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Our services
Maternity services out of five hospitals across the region provide perinatal care and support for pregnant people and their families before, during, and after childbirth.
We want to make sure your time with us is as easy and worry-free as possible. If you or your loved ones are in the hospital to have a baby, we also have different patient and caregiver services available to help you along the way. These can include language interpretation, help with health information and navigation, support from Indigenous Patient Navigators, and care from spiritual and cultural advisors from different faiths.
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