Maps & Directions       Share Your Story        Well Wishes

Donate Now  Emergency Department
mother and newborn baby

Obstetrics, Gynecology & Neonatology

St. Boniface Hospital has a rich history of service not only to the local community but to the greater community as well. The Obstetrics, Gynecology & Neonatology Program has been part of this service for many years and while expanding to meet health care demands, it has remained faithful to its core values – high standard of practice, integrity, caring, compassion, advocacy, diversity, collaboration and education.

Caring for over 12,000 persons and infants each year, this family-centered program provides a variety of services for parents and their newborn infants, including antenatal, birth, neonatal care and pediatric outpatient services. The program also offers gynecological and people’s health services.

Over 5,000 births occur annually, and persons labour and deliver in one of two areas on the same floor. After giving birth, they are transferred to another area on the same floor for the remainder of their stay in hospital.

The Obstetrics, Gynecology & Neonatology Program also offers high-risk obstetrical services, providing antenatal care and technology to people with complicated pregnancies. People who require hospitalization during their pregnancy will be on our ante-partum unit. During their stay, their health and baby’s health will be monitored on a daily basis.

Philosophy of Care

Our philosophy is to provide culturally sensitive and evidence-based family-centered care. We respond to the emotional, physical and spiritual concerns of each person.

We believe that pregnancy and childbirth are normal events. The person is the centre of the childbirth experience and is an active participant in their care.

We are grounded in the principles of caring, faith and respect.

We are responsible and accountable to people and their families.

We believe in utilizing teamwork and collaboration to address the health-care needs of people and their families.

We strive to improve outcomes of our care, to advance quality care and promote innovative practices.

We promote scientific research at the clinical level.

We provide leadership in health education

We work in partnership with people and their families to create a positive birth experience.

Thank you for choosing to have your baby at St. Boniface Hospital. Our family-centered program provides a variety of services for parents and their newborn children.

What is Family-Centered Maternity Care?

Family-centered maternity and newborn care is a dynamic process of providing safe, skilled, and individualized care. It responds to the physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs of the person and their family. In family-centered maternity care, pregnancy and birth are considered normal, healthy life events. As well, such care recognizes the significance of family support, participation, and choice. In effect, family-centered maternity and newborn care reflects an attitude rather than a protocol (Rush, 1997, p. 1).

You and your baby will remain together 24 hours per day unless you are not able to care for your baby (e.g., baby is sick or needs to be watched closely). You will get to know your baby better so that you are ready to care for them at home. Your support person is encouraged to stay with you and help with your care and your baby’s care.

Rush J. Family-centered Maternity Care Scoring Tool Project: Phase II: Obtaining Parent Input. Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Health, Institutional Services Branch, Maternal and Newborn Initiatives, 1997.

Health Care Team

Our health care team is here to provide you and your family with the best possible care we can offer. Please ask as many questions as you like and take an active part in your care. We want your stay with us to be both safe and satisfying.

Some of the members of our health care team include:

  • Doctors
  • Nurses
  • Midwives
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Lactation support nurses
  • Social workers
  • Spiritual care personnel
  • Clinical Ethicists
  • Dietitians
  • Doulas
  • Aboriginal workers
  • Physiotherapists
  • Pharmacists
  • Support Services (diagnostic imaging, laboratory, respiratory)

Patient Safety

We Care about your Safety

  • Before birth – brochure (July 2013)
    • Patient Identification
    • Falls Prevention
    • Fire Prevention
    • Preventing Infection
    • Medication Safety
  • After birth – brochure (October 2013)
    • Patient Identification
    • Falls Prevention
    • Baby’s Safety
    • Preventing Infection
    • Medication Safety
  •  

Hand Washing

Cleaning your hands is one of the best defenses against illness and helps to reduce spread of infections.

Five key times to wash your hands:

  1. Before you eat
  2. Before you take medications
  3. After you go to the bathroom
  4. Before you leave your room
  5. When you return to your room

Our goal is to also encourage visitors to clean their hands when entering and leaving patient rooms and the hospital.

Please do your part! It’s in your “hands!”

Bedside Report

As a way of keeping you informed and providing you with coordinated care, your nurses will be doing the shift-to-shift report right at your bedside. This is done so you may actively participate in your care and assist in setting goals to promote a healthy and satisfactory hospital stay. If you have visitors or family present during this time, you will be given an option of having them step out or be present during report in order to maintain your privacy and confidentiality. Please inform your nurse or the program manager should you have any questions or concerns about this practice.

Telephones and Televisions

Cells phones are allowed but we ask that they be used only in patient’s rooms, hallways or stairwells. You may be asked NOT TO USE your cell phone if you are close to certain medical equipment. Please respect this request.

A telephone and television rental service is available 24/7 through Hospitality Network. This automated service can be reached by dialing 3424 from the telephone in your room. Family members or friends may also activate the services for you from any outside telephone by dialing 1-866-223-3686. Rentals are available on a daily, 3 day, weekly or monthly rate. The rental fee must be prepaid by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) by following automated instructions. The telephone services allows for local calls, third-party billed calls or calling cards.

Pay phones are located on each unit near the visitor’s elevator.

Being Prepared for Your New Baby

Being well informed about the ways your body prepares for birth and what your growing baby will need have shown to make a big difference in how well your pregnancy and birth will turn out and how healthy your baby will be. The information on this website is meant to help you and your family to get ready for your new baby. It is important that you and your partner obtain all of the information you can, to ask questions if you need to and to be prepared in the best way possible to make healthy choices during your pregnancy and birth.

Links to Other Resources