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When to Come to Hospital

Here is what you can do at home to cope with “early” labour pains (contractions):

  • Have a shower or bath to help you relax
  • Have your partner/friend rub your lower back during a contraction
  • Try some deep slow breathing during a contraction
  • Take a walk with your partner/friend
  • Change positions often such as walk, sit, and lay down
  • Have a light meal such as tea, soup and toast and drink fluids
  • Empty your bladder (pee) often
  • Try to nap or rest
  • Watch TV or a movie

Come to the Obstetrical Triage unit if you:

  • Think you are in active labour
    • Contractions come about every 3-5 minutes for 1 hour
    • Contractions last about 1 minute
    • Contractions hurt so much that it is hard to speak or walk
  • Are having bright red bleeding from your vagina
  • Notice a decrease or change in your baby’s movements
  • Cannot cope with your labour pains
  • Think your waters are broken
  • Or your health care provider advises you to come in

** If you are GBS positive, click here for more information: Strep-B-in-pregnancy.pdf

If at any time you have questions or concerns, please call your doctor or your midwife during regular business hours.

What to Bring to Hospital

Preparing ahead of time is a good idea. Please bring the following:

  • MB Health card, private health insurance cards, Social Insurance Number
  • Comfort items while you are in labour like lip balm, lotion, music
  • Slippers
  • Nursing bra
  • Underwear
  • Personal toiletries/items (shampoo, toothbrush & paste, deodorant, hairbrush)
  • “Going-home” clothes (loose & comfortable)
  • Baby sleepers
  • Baby blanket
  • Infant car seat

Parking

  • Pay parking is available 24 hours a day.
  • Public parking is available in the hospital parkade across from the Emergency entrance, as well as in our south parking lot near the Forgan South Entrance.
  • Street meter parking and time-limited free parking is located on various city streets around the hospital. Various other paid lots are available in the neighbourhood.

Allow time to find a parking spot, getting into the hospital and if required, returning to your meter in time. For more information, please click here: Parking – St Boniface Hospital

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Admission

Admissions for birth are in the Obstetrical Triage unit, located on the third floor of the main hospital, room E3004. The St. Boniface Hospital front entrance is located at 409 Taché Ave. (east side of main hospital) and is open 6am-9pm daily. If you arrive at a time outside these hours, please enter through the front entrance and press the security call button in the vestibule to gain entry.

In the Obstetrical Triage unit, you and your baby will be assessed by a nurse, doctor or midwife to see if you are ready to be admitted. If not, you will be sent home with a plan for follow-up care.

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Preferred Accommodation

The Postnatal unit has a combination of private and semi-private rooms. They are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis, so you may not get your preferred accommodation right away. Booking rooms in advance is not available. There is a charge for private rooms and semi-private rooms, which may be covered by private insurance providers. Ask your care team about preferred accommodation.

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Support Person

  • You may have 1 or 2 people with you to provide support in labour, but they must be the same 2 people for your entire labour.
  • Family and friends will not be allowed to visit you until you have been transferred to the Postnatal unit.
  • Children under the age of 14 may not visit unless they are a sibling of the new baby.
  • General visiting hours are 10am-8pm daily.
  • A support person may stay overnight to help care for you and your baby.

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Epidural Anesthesia

Please click here to view a fact sheet about epidural anesthesia: Epidural During Labour: What you need to know