A Guide to Giving Birth in Calgary: South Health Campus
South Health Campus Hospital in Calgary, Alberta
South Health Campus, Calgary, Alberta
So, you're set to give birth at South Health Campus—let us tell you everything you need to know. Located at 4448 Front Street SE, South Health Campus is Calgary’s newest hospital, with the first phase opening in 2013 and being fully operational in 2016. It is one of the smaller hospitals in Calgary with 323 beds for the entire centre. The maternity unit in this hospital is called Family Maternity Place (Unit 76) and it is the only combined Labour and Delivery and Postpartum unit in our city. This means that patients labour, deliver and recover all in the same room and are guaranteed a private room for their entire stay. You will find the Labour and Delivery, Postpartum and NICU units on the 7th floor.
Parking
South Health Campus has underground heated parking available. The best place to park is in Lot B, which is located off of Front Street. Park in P1, the green “Forest” Section. You will find doors into the hospital on this level. Take the elevator up the main floor.
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 South Health Campus is 6481.
*Pro tip: Take a quick picture of where you parked so that you don’t forget after your baby arrives!
Arrival and Admission
Upon entering the main building, you will follow the signs to the “Inpatient Elevators T2” across from the YMCA Wellness Centre as these are the elevators that will take you up to Family Maternity Place on the 7th floor. When yo get off the elevator turn left and go through the doors to unit 76. Upon arrival to labour and delivery you will see a desk in front of you. 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.
“How many support people can I bring with me?”
Family Maternity Place does not limit the amount of support people you are able to have. 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
As we mentioned, South Health Campus has a combined labour and delivery and postpartum care unit. Because of this, you will labour, deliver and recover in the same room and all of the rooms are private. In your room, you will find a 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 chair, a bench under the window that can be used as a bed for support people, and all the necessary medical equipment including a fetal monitor and a warmer for your baby. These rooms also have a large private bathroom with a shower that you can use during labour. If you have a midwife, you also have the option to bring a birth pool.
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 caesarean birth, you will be moved to one of the operating rooms of the 3rd floor of South Health Campus. 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.
A few hours after your birth, you are typically moved back up to Family Maternity Place on the 7th floor. You will likely be moved back to the private room that you were in before you went down for surgery and this is where you will spend the rest of your recovery time at the hospital.
Please note: Only one support person will be permitted to come into the OR with you.
Doors to the operating rooms at South Health Campus.
Postpartum Care
Because South Health Campus has a combined labour and delivery and postpartum unit, if you had a vaginal birth, you will remain in the same room that you gave birth in for the remainder of your stay. A few hours after your baby’s birth, your care team will help you to the bathroom to freshen up. At the same time they will also freshen up your bed and room for you.
If your baby is 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.
“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 your frequently and ensure that you are feeling well and adjusting.
NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
Also located on the 7th floor of South Health Campus Hospital you is the NICU. 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 you and your baby will be cared for by a dedicated team of neonatologists, nurses, and specialized healthcare professionals.
NICU, South Health Campus
Meal Options at the Hospital
Family Maternity Place is equipped with a small kitchen where you will find ice, water, juice, tea and light snacks for the anyone in labour or who has given birth. One of the nice things about delivering your baby at South Health Campus is that they also offer a room service menu for paitents from 6:00am - 7:00pm. You are able to call down and order your breakfast, lunch and dinner when you would like them. They have quite an extensive menu and can cater to many allergies or dietary restrictions.
Support people can access other options at the hospital for purchase such as:
The Market Cafe - which is located on the main level (Mainstreet) by Prairie Parkade Entrance. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and offers a variety of drinks and fresh food.
The Good Earth Coffee House - Good Earth offers light snacks like baked goods, sandwiches and soups along with a variety of beverages. The are open Monday - Friday 6:30am - 10:00pm and Saturday and Sunday 6:30am - 8:00pm.
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.
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, recovery 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 you can 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.