Preparing for birth
Learn how to prepare for birth if you are planning to give birth at a Vancouver Coastal Health hospital.
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 want to know what matters to you and encourage you to take an active and informed role in your care.
Our approach
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Person focused
We believe that being caring is at the heart of what we do, caring for our patients, their families and care partners, our colleagues and ourselves. We value you and your lived experience as a person first, and a patient second.
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Family centered
Our philosophy of care is family-centered, which means we encourage you and those closest to you to remain together as much as possible. VCH honours your wishes about who you want with you during your labour and birth. You are encouraged to have one support person stay with you after you give birth. Your baby will remain with you unless higher medical support is required.
While your other children are welcome to visit their newborn sibling, we cannot safely accommodate them to stay overnight in the hospital. You will need to make childcare arrangements for any other children while you are in hospital.
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Inclusive care
We believe in fostering a culture of belonging where we can bring our whole selves to VCH. We are committed to reconciliation and learning, and providing the best care informed by the history and culture of Indigenous peoples. We are actively working to create a community where we dismantle attitudes, practices and processes that impact people based on their race or ethnicity. We strive to provide respectful and safe care to all persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, political or religious beliefs, marital status, age, education or economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability.
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Safe and evidence-based care
We believe in staying curious, always open to innovative ideas and ways to improve health care. We are committed to continually improving the delivery of perinatal services and use the most recent research and best practice guidelines in the development of VCH policies and procedures.
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Acting with autonomy
We encourage all patients to take an active and informed role in their care. The B.R.A.I.N acronym is a helpful tool to think about how you want to make decisions during your labour and birth:
- B - Benefits: What are the benefits of this test or procedure to me and my baby?
- R - Risks: What are the risks of this test or procedure to me and my baby?
- A - Alternatives: Are there any alternatives to this test or procedure?
- I - Instinct: What do I think about this test or procedure? What feels right about it? Is there someone else I can ask?
- N - Nothing: What might happen if I choose to do nothing or decide to wait and see?
Tips for labour and birth planning
Labour and birth preparations are important to start thinking about before you come to the hospital. A few ideas to consider are:
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Take prenatal classes
Prenatal classes are courses led by a trained childbirth educator to help educate parents on what to expect – both physically and emotionally - during childbirth and the early days of parenting. For a complete list of prenatal classes in your area, talk to your family doctor or Nurse Practitioner.
If you have any questions or concerns during your pregnancy, you can also contact a Public Health Nurse working with your local Prenatal and early years program.
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Write down your birth plan or wishes
A birth plan is a list of your hopes, preferences, and wishes for your labour and birth that you can share and review with your health-care team at the hospital. It can help to improve communication so everyone knows what to expect.
Things to consider include how you’d like to be addressed, preferred birthing positions, how you might cope best with labour pain, whether or not you want pain medication in labour, and your preferences if you need medical assistance. Download the guide, including a template for a Birth Plan.
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Identify your support people
Research shows support people can reduce your chances of some complications, like a caesarean section. We honour your wishes about who you want with you during your labour and birth. Having support people with you can provide a sense of safety and allow you to better express your needs.
Your support can come from your partner, spouse, a family member, friend or a doula. They can bring you water, hold your hand, and provide encouragement during labour. If you need support with English, we recommend that your support person arrive with a support person who can provide English language translation. Language interpreter services are available upon request. Please advise our team if you require an English translator.
Learn more about doulas at HealthLink BC – Doula Support During Childbirth or Indigenous Doulas on the Doula Services page on the First Nations Health Authority website.
What to bring to the hospital for birth
You will need to provide a piece of photo ID, and Personal Health Number (B.C. Care Card) to the admitting clerk. If your birthing care provider gave you some papers from their office, please bring these with you to give to the nurses at the hospital.
A standard stay in the hospital is one to two days for a vaginal delivery and two to three days for a Caesarean section delivery.
Plan to bring the following items with you
- Toiletries and self-care items
- Medications and medical devices you are on
- A change of clothes
- Chargers and adapters for personal electronic devices
- Extra pillows and sleep linens
- A CMVSS-approved infant car seat
- A few snacks and drinks
- A package of pre-moistened baby wipes
- Comfortable non-slip footwear
- A few baby outfits and blankets
Pregnancy resources
Find more information and services about pregnancy and postpartum to help keep you and your baby healthy before and after birth.
Learn more