A Guide to Giving Birth in Calgary: Peter Lougheed Centre (PLC)

Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary, Alberta

So, you're set to give birth at Peter Lougheed Hospital—let us tell you everything you need to know. Located at 3500 26 Avenue NE, Peter Lougheed Hospital opened in 1988 and has over 600 beds for the entire centre. Although it is an older hospital, the labour and delivery, postpartum, and NICU units were renovated in 2018, making them Calgary’s newest. You will find the Labour and Delivery, Postpartum, and NICU units on the 3rd floor.

Parking

The best place to park at Peter Lougheed hospital is in Lot 11 as it it closest to the West Entrance and the labour and delivery unit. There is access to this ground level lot from 26 Ave NE. If you think birth is imminent or you need immediate attention, you will see the Emergency department doors next to the South Entrance at the front of the hospital. There is parking in Lot 15 to the right of these doors. You can find a map of the hospital and parking here.

Parking Fees and Payment

Parking at AHS hospital lots costs $5.00 per hour, with a daily maximum of $15.00. We highly recommend downloading the AHS parking app in advance, allowing you to manage parking payments without needing to stop at the pay machines. The app can be downloaded here. The parking lot code for Peter Lougheed is 6012.

*Pro tip: Take a quick picture of where you parked so that you don’t forget after your baby arrives!

Arrival and Admission

Enter the Peter Lougheed Hospital through the West Entrance. After 9:00pm you will need to use the intercom on the wall to gain access. You will see the elevators that will take you up to the 3rd floor straight ahead to your right. Once you exit the elevator, follow the signs that say Maternity Triage (Unit 31). Upon arrival to the unit you will see a desk with a big sign that says Maternity Care Triage. Check in there, and a triage nurse will greet you, ask several initial questions, and may direct you to the triage area to decide whether you will be admitted or sent home depending on how your labour is progressing. Once you are in triage, your care team will assess your labour, check on your baby, then advise you if you will be admitted and moved into a labour and delivery room or sent home. Remember as long as you and your baby are well, you will only be admitted if you are in active labour. If you have a midwife, she may meet you at the hospital and will give you instructions for triage. If you were going to be admitted, your support person will be asked to go to the admitting area on the main floor next to the south entrance and do the necessary paperwork. They will need your Alberta health care or Blue Cross card.

Please note: Only one support person is typically permitted in the triage area and no children are permitted in this area.

“How many support people can I bring with me?”

Typically, you are welcome to bring 2 designated support people (doulas are included in this number) with you during your birth. These two people should remain the same throughout the course of your labour. If you are hoping for additional support people, bring this request up to your care team.

When choosing support people for your labour, think about choosing people who will take time to understand your birth plan, be in tune with your emotional needs and respect your preferences. Look for supporters who bring a calm, positive presence to ensure that your labour experience aligns with your wishes. Whether it's a partner, family member, friend, or doula, the right support team can profoundly impact your comfort and confidence during your birth.

Labour and Delivery

Peter Lougheed labour and delivery unit has 14 private rooms. In your room you will find hospital bed (which is very versatile and can help support various labour positions. (Check out this blog from Lamaze to see some of the ways you can use it.), a small couch that can be converted into a bed for support people, and the necessary medical equipment including a fetal monitor and a warmer for your baby. These rooms also have a private bathroom with a shower that you can use during labour. You will stay in your room for the duration of your labour and for the first few hours following your babies birth.

We highly recommend packing two bags for your birth. One labour bag that you will bring in with you while you are in labour and one for after your baby’s arrival that contains everything else. There is a small storage closet in each room for your things during your stay. Check out our blog A Guide to: Packing For Your Hospital Birth for a packing list and tips on how to pack your bag!

Cesarean Birth

If you have a cesarean birth, you will be moved to one of the two operating rooms located right on the unit. Once your cesarean is finished you and your baby will be moved to the post-operative area for the first few hours of your recovery. Here, your care team will ensure that you are both comfortable and doing well and can assist you with skin-to-skin and your baby’s first feed.

Note: Only one support person will be permitted to come into the OR with you. If you are having an unplanned cesarean, you will not be going back to your labour and delivery room so your support people will need to pack up your belongings and place them in a locker.

Postpartum Care

A few hours after your birth, you are typically moved to one of the two postpartum unit which is also located on the 3rd floor (Unit 32 and Unit 33 ). Most of the rooms on these units are semi-private and have two beds and one bathroom. There are curtains around each bed for privacy. Support people will have a chair to rest on, but not a bed. During your stay on the postpartum unit, your care team will assist you in feeding your baby and ensure that you are feeling comfortable.

If you and your baby are well, they will remain with you during your stay. This is called rooming-in. A bassinet will be provided in your room for the baby to sleep in.

Units 32 and 33 are locked area requiring visitors to use an intercom for entry. The visiting policy allows for 2 support people at a time. One support person may be able to stay over night but they may not have a comfortable place to sleep and if you have a roommate, they may be asked to leave during resting hours.

“How long will I stay at the hospital after giving birth?”

For an uncomplicated vaginal birth, you and your baby will typically stay around 24 hours and for an uncomplicated cesarean birth you will typically stay for 48 hours. Your care team will check in with younfrequently and ensure that you are feeling well and adjusting.

NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)

Also located on the 3rd floor of Peter Lougheed Centre is the NICU. As we mentioned this is Calgary’s most newly renovated NICU and has 12 private beds and 6 multi-birth beds. Each room has a chair and sleeper bench for parents. The NICU provides comprehensive care for newborns requiring extra medical attention including premature infants or babies born with medical conditions. If your baby is in the NICU, they will be cared for by a dedicated team of neonatologists, nurses, and specialized healthcare professionals.

Meal Options at the Hospital

Both the labour and delivery and the postpartum units have small kitchenettes where you will find ice, water, juice, tea and light snacks for the anyone in labour or who has given birth. Patients in postpartum will also be given 3 meals a day from the hospital. You can let your care team know if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies.

Support people can access other options at the hospital for purchase such as:

Market Cafe - which is located in the basement level near the south entrance. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and offers a variety of drinks, grab and go and hot meals.

Second Cup - Second Cup offers light snacks like baked goods and a variety of beverages. The are open 7 days a week from 6:30am - 8:30pm.

Or you can use meal delivery services like Uber, Skip the dishes or Door Dash but beware that these services will require you to meet them at the drop-off spot as they will not pay to park.

We also recommend packing snacks that you in enjoy in your labour bag for both yourself and your partner. Check out our recommendations here.

Bringing Baby Home

According to Alberta law, all infants must travel in an approved, rear facing car seat. The staff at the hospital will check that you have a car seat to being your baby home in, but they are not able to check that you are using it correctly or that you have it installed correctly in your car. Ensure that you do your research before your baby arrives and educate yourself on these topics. See Alberta Health Services How to keep your child safe in the car handout or check the manual that came with your carseat.

Once you are home, you should have an appointment with a public health nurse the following day. You can also access the Alberta Health Services Early Start Line (for babies under 8 weeks) where you can talk to a registered nurse 24 hours a day at (403) 244-8351.

Extra Support at Home

We recommend planning for support once you are home. Look at your support network and the things that will need to get done so that you can focus your energy on resting, recovering, and getting to know your baby. How are you going to plan for nutritious meals? Who will walk the dog? Who is taking care of household tasks? Talk to your friends and loved ones before your baby arrives or book professional support like a postpartum doula who can help with infant feeding and care, light household tasks and meal prep.

We hope this guide will help you feel more confident as you prepare for your birth at Foothills Medical Centre. Follow us on Instagram at @welcomebabyco for new blogs and posts on all things pregnancy, birth and babies!

Welcome Baby Co. is a Calgary-based company. We are happy to support all kinds of families through all kinds of birth and postpartum. Our goal is to prepare you for any scenario that may arise so that you can feel confident and empowered as you enter parenthood.

If you have any questions about Calgary birth doulas, Calgary postpartum doulas, breastfeeding support in Calgary or our Prenatal classes in Calgary, please contact us.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website/blog is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have.