Welcome to our Center!

LA PASSION DES NAISSANCES!PAVILLON DE NAISSANCE

Revised by: Mélanie Guérin, nurse, B.Sc., Perinatal Clinical Support

Design: Communications Services

To Understand and to Know Us Better

Parents’ Guide to Babies in Intermediate Care

Welcome to the Birthing Pavilion at Anna-Laberge Hospital!We are aware that the transfer of your baby may be a time of instability for you. Therefore, we wish to help you with making a smooth adjustment during this new situation. Your baby will be staying with us receiving necessary care such as tube feedings, monitoring surveillance, or simply just to gain weight in preparation for the big day of going home. This guide has been prepared to help you become familiar with the Birthing Pavilion, the services that are offered, and to help you make a smooth transition during these new circumstances. Rest assured that during your stay with us, you will be able to bond with your baby and participate in his/her care.

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Going homeIn preparation for your baby going home, you will need to provide the necessary clothing for your baby, seasonally appropriate, and his/her car seat. Before leaving, we will help you with the car seat adjustments. As the Big Day arrives and you are preparing to take your baby home, a hospital follow-up appointment will be scheduled according to the pediatrician’s recommendations. In addition, your regional CLSC will be advised of your baby’s discharge and they will communicate with you, within a short period of time, to assure a follow-up for your baby.

The transfer of your baby to our center is a positive step in his/her life and one step closer to going home to be amongst family.

To obtain more information, or to contact the Intermediate Care Nursery of the Birthing Pavilion at Anna-Laberge Hospital:

24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 450-699-2425, extension 2573

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Your baby’s arrivalWhen your baby arrives to our Intermediate Care Nursery, the nurse in charge of your baby’s care will receive a detailed report from the transport team nurse and she will consult the baby’s chart to familiarize herself with his/her daily habits and routine. With this information, the nurse will adapt a care plan suited to your baby’s needs.

All babies transferred from another hospital center will have a painless routine bacterial culture swab taken; this is used to test for the presence of possible bacteria. Your baby will then be placed in a bassinet or incubator, according to his/her needs, in protective isolation, awaiting the results of the test. This may take 48-72 hours.

Please note that you are responsible to provide diapers and clothing for your baby since they are not supplied by the hospital.

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Who will be caring for my baby?Your baby needs you; therefore, it will be possible to actively take part in his/her care, such as: feedings, bathing, diaper changes, and of course, tender loving moments. You can cuddle your baby skin-to-skin (kangaroo style) as often as possible, even if your baby needs to be cared for in an incubator.Every day, the nurse, in collaboration with the pediatrician, will evaluate your baby’s progress and will adjust his/her care plan. It will also be possible to meet with the pediatrician if you wish.

We invite you to take note that the nurses’ change-of-shift report times are at 7:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 11:30 p.m. During these periods, we ask that you would allow us to exchange pertinent information concerning our babies, in a confidential manner.

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Your routineYou are always welcome to remain, during any time of the day, with your baby and to participate in his/her care. If at times you are unable to stay with your baby, you can contact us by telephone. If your baby’s condition permits, the grandparents, brothers and sisters, and any significant persons are more than welcome to visit in the designated room adjacent to the Intermediate Care Nursery. Of course, please remember that hand washing is mandatory.

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Baby’s feedingsDuring your baby’s feedings, you will be helped and supported, whether it is with breast-feeding or with bottle-feeding using commercial infant formula preparations.

Anna-Laberge Hospital has been “Baby Friendly” certified since 2007 and we actively promote maternal breast-feeding. If needed, an electric breast pump is accessible for your use. A designated freezer is available to store your pumped breast milk. With returning home in mind, the necessary information regarding buying or renting a breast pump will be provided as needed.

If you have chosen not to breast-feed, a commercial infant formula preparation will be supplied for your baby’s needs. The formula brands may differ from one hospital center to another because the hospital does not promote any commercial infant formula preparation company.

Mommy, if you want to spend the night, it is with great pleasure that we can offer a place for you to sleep in the reserved area called “L’Entre-Deux.” Please note that if the department is extremely busy and the rooms are being occupied to full capacity, we will not be able to permit the use of this courtesy accommodation. To help respond to your needs, a kitchenette supplied with a refrigerator, toaster-oven, and a microwave are available to use at your disposal.

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