The birth of a child can be one of life's most rewarding experiences. We care for you in our specialized antenatal, birthing, and postpartum rooms.

We take pride in working with you and your family to make your Labour, Birth and Postpartum experience a time you will remember and treasure. Our specially trained Registered Nurses will make every attempt to provide a supportive care during your birthing experience, as outlined in our Promise Poster.

Services & Procedures

Select one of the following:

Pre-registration appointments

Tours of the Childbirth and Children’s Centre

Preparation for Breastfeeding Class (during pregnancy)

Umbilical Cord Blood Retrieval Program

Childbirth Centre Obstetrical Triage Assessment Line

Obstetrical Triage Assessment Unit (OAU)

Care Providers

Our Childbirth team includes specially trained nurses, family doctors, obstetricians, anaesthetists, midwives, lactation consultants and paediatricians to support deliveries from 32 weeks of pregnancy to term.

Select one of the following:

Obstetricians

Family Physicians

Midwives

Baby’s Doctor

Paediatric Hospitalist

Anaesthesiologists

Lactation Consultants

Frequently Asked Questions

Select one of the following:

I think I am in labour, what should I do?

What should I bring with me to the hospital?

Will my baby stay with me after birth?

What type of room will I have?

How long will I be in the hospital?

Resources

For more mother and baby resources please visit the Health Links section or talk to your nurse.

Services & Procedures

Pre-registration appointments

All women planning to birth at Markham Stouffville Hospital must pre-register by 20 weeks gestation. Please call 905-472-7374 for your pre-registration appointment. This appointment will take place in the core Annex building located at 11 Butternut Lane, adjacent to Markham Stouffville Hospital.

Tours of the Childbirth and Children’s Centre

You are invited to join us for a tour of the Childbirth and Children’s Centre before your baby is born.

Tours are offered every Monday and Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m., except on holidays. These sessions must be booked in advance by calling (905) 472-7374. Please arrive in the hospital auditorium ten minutes prior to the start of the tour. The Auditorium is located by turning right immediately after entering through the main entrance of the hospital.

Preparation for Breastfeeding Class (during pregnancy)

We encourage all women who are planning to breastfeed to attend our breastfeeding class taught by a lactation consultant. This class offers more detailed information regarding breastfeeding than what is offered in traditional prenatal classes. It provides an in-depth review of what to expect in the first few days and beyond when you have established breastfeeding.

If you did not sign up for this class at the time you pre-registered for childbirth, you can call the Patient Education Secretary at 905-472-7374 and leave a message indicating that you would like to book a Breastfeeding Class.

We recommend attending this class at approximately 36-38 weeks of your pregnancy. The classes are held in the hospital auditorium. There is a nominal fee to attend and the fee is payable at the time of registration (prior to attending the class).

Umbilical Cord Blood Retrieval Program

If you are planning to participate in a private umbilical cord blood retrieval/storage program, a hospital administrative fee is charged. This fee is separate from the fees you will pay the private company coordinating the retrieval and storage of the cord blood. When you are admitted to the hospital, you will be asked to pay this administrative fee at the Childbirth Centre nursing station.(Only MasterCard, Visa or debit card are accepted.)

Childbirth Centre Obstetrical Triage Assessment Line

Any time after 20 weeks of pregnancy when you think you are in labour or have any obstetrical concerns please call our Childbirth Centre Obstetrical Triage Assessment Line at 905-472-7366.

You will speak to an experienced obstetrical nurse who will review your current concern and relevant pregnancy and medical history. She will discuss your progress with you and advise you if it is time to come to the hospital.

If you are unsuccessful reaching the Childbirth Centre Obstetrical Triage Assessment Line at the above number, call 905-472-7383 and ask to speak with a Registered Nurse.

If you are under the care of a midwife, please call her directly and together you will decide whether it is time to come to the hospital.

If you have non-pregnancy related concerns, or are less then 20 weeks pregnant please call your doctor or go to the emergency department. For all emergencies dial 911.

Obstetrical Triage Assessment Unit (OAU)

If the nurse instructs you to come to the hospital for assessment after speaking to you on the Obstetrical Triage Assessment Phone Line, you will be seen in the Obstetrical Triage Assessment Unit (OAU) located in the Childbirth Centre.

The purpose of the OAU is to provide assessment of a woman in labour or a woman presenting with concerns related to the pregnancy after 20 weeks. It will also prevent unnecessary admission to hospital. Initially you will be assessed by an experienced obstetrical nurse who will be available to hear your questions and concerns. The initial assessment done by the nurse will be reviewed with the on call physician.

When you pre-register for childbirth at MSH, you will receive a Labour, Birth and Postpartum Plan to complete. This will assist you in planning your birth experience with us. It also assists us to determine whether we have met your needs. Please complete the plan prior to your hospital admission. We encourage you to review it with your physician or midwife during prenatal appointments. Please bring the completed plan with you to the hospital and the nurse will review the information with you and your partner before birth during the postpartum period and also prior to returning home.

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Care Providers

Obstetrician Practice Patterns

An Obstetrician is a specialist who provides pregnancy and birth care to women with low or high risk pregnancies. A family physician, midwife or Paediatrician cares for your newborn infant immediately after birth. An Obstetrician is on call 24 hours/day, and readily available for patient management in the hospital.

During any 24-hour period, the Obstetrician on-call will be responsible for the care of all women admitted to the Childbirth Centre at Markham Stouffville Hospital. Under this on-call schedule, your labour and birth care will be the responsibility of the physician assigned to in-hospital duties on that day. This pattern of practice is now well established in numerous centres across Ontario and has proven to be both safe and effective.

To contact one of the obstetricians at Markham Stouffville Hospital seach “obstetrics” in the search area to the left of the screen.

Family Physicians

Family physicians are primary caregivers in normal births and provide complete care and advice for healthy women during pregnancy, labour, birth, postpartum and also provide newborn care. If complications arise, the family physician may consult an Obstetrician or Paediatrician to become involved in your care.

The following is a list of Family Physicians who have obstetrical privileges at Markham Stouffville Hospital:

Dr. Tom Filosa 905-471-9999
Dr. Andrew Patterson 905-640-3100
Dr. Jeff Weissberger 905- 471-9999

Midwives

For more information on midwives visit the midwives section.

Baby’s Doctor

Be sure to arrange to have a doctor for your baby prior to delivery. This may be a family doctor or a Paediatrician. Talk to your doctor/midwife about the option that is right for you. If you are under the care of a midwife, normally she will also care for your baby after delivery until 6 weeks of age. If your Paediatrician or Family Doctor does not have admitting privileges at the hospital, a Paediatrician will assess your baby in the hospital and provide you with a report to take to your baby’s doctor after discharge.

The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends that a health care provider see your baby within 48 hours of discharge, if your hospital stay was less than 48 hours. If your length of stay was greater than 48 hours, it is recommended that a health care provider see your baby within 5 – 7 days of discharge.

Paediatricians and Paediatric Hospitalist

A Paediatrician is a specialist in newborn and child care. There is a Paediatrician on call 24 hours/day – 7 days/week. A Paediatric Hospitalist is a Paediatrician that is hospital based and does not have an outside office.

Paediatric Hospitalist hours at MSH:
Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The following is a list of Paediatricians at Markham Stouffville Hospital:

Dr. Ho-Yin. Lau 905-940-0112
Dr. Kevin Lee 905-305-1700
Dr. Larry Pancer 905-471-7787
Dr. Padmini Turlapati 905-471-8074
Dr. Richard Wong 905-940-0112
Dr. Munesh Singh (Pediatric Hospitalist)
Dr. Deepa Grewal
  

Anaesthesiologists

Anaesthesiologists are specialists who provide epidural/spinal pain management for vaginal and c-section births. They also may administer general anaesthesia for C-Section births if indicated. An Anaesthesiologist is on-call 24 hours/7 days per week.

Lactation Consultants

A Lactation Consultant is available to assist you with breastfeeding while in hospital Monday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

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Frequently Asked Questions

I think I am in labour - what should I do?

If you think you are in labour, please call the Childbirth and Children's Centre Obstetrical Triage Assessment phone line at 905-472-7366 and speak to a nurse so that we can plan for your arrival. If this line is busy, please hung up and call 905-472-7383 and your call will be directed to an experienced obstetrical nurse who will review your current concern and relevant pregnancy and medical history. She will discuss your progress with you and advise you if it is time to come to the hospital.

If the nurse instructs you to come to the hospital for assessment after speaking to you on the Obstetrical Triage Assessment Phone Line, you will be seen in the Obstetrical Triage Assessment Unit located in the Childbirth Centre.

You will be assessed by an experienced obstetrical nurse and this assessment will be reviewed with the on call physician.

What should I bring with me to the hospital?

Towels, washcloths, patient gowns, infant gowns, baby blankets (2 per infant) and baby feeding supplies for those bottle-feeding will be provided by the hospital. All other supplies are no longer provided by the hospital.

Personal products that you will need to bring with you:

Please remember to bring your copy of “Caring for yourself and your baby” (Blue Book given to you at pre registration) with you during your hospital stay, as the nursing staff will be referring to it in their postpartum teaching.

Will my baby stay with me after birth?

In keeping with the philosophy of Family Centered Care, nurses care for mothers and babies in the same room, this is known as combined care. With your baby in the room with you, there are more opportunities for you to get to know your baby and for your nurse to teach and assist you with baby care. Mother and baby will room together for the length of stay (unless baby has been admitted to our Special Care Nursery).

What type of room will I have?

You will labour and deliver in one of our private, specially-equipped birthing rooms. If you have requested a private room following your birth, (and have private insurance or provide payment for the private room fee) every attempt is made to allow you to remain in your birthing room until discharge.  However, the increased birth volumes that we are experiencing may not make this possible. Should we need to transfer you during your postpartum stay, we will move you to another room in the Childbirth Centre - to one of our ward rooms, to a semi-private room or to one of our two private rooms. Please note: If you are moved to a semi- private or standard room, one individual (significant other) may stay with you from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., but unfortunately cannot stay overnight. If you are in a private room, your significant other may stay overnight.

How long will I be in the hospital?

Most women who have an uncomplicated birth choose to leave the Hospital within 24 - 48 hours of delivery, while those experiencing a Caesarian Section prefer to go home within 48 – 72 hours.  The length of hospital stay is determined by discharge criteria, which includes physical readiness and confidence in self care and infant care. Our specially trained nurses will ensure you and your baby are meeting this criteria prior to discharge home.

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