Hospital opening new delivery room
CHR UNIT BIGGER AND FAMILYFRIENDLY
Maria Fitzpatrick, MLA for Lethbridge-East, had a sneak peek at the new Labour Delivery Room (LDR) Unit at Chinook Regional Hospital on Friday.
“It looks way different than when I had my children and I think that really speaks well for the hospital; the way we’ve progressed; what our government has been able to do to make it better for new mothers coming into the hospital to delivery their children,” she said.
The new unit is larger and offers more privacy.
“In our current unit we have four beds that have to share a bathroom which is very difficult, especially with pregnant women. So we’re going to have one bathroom in each room,” said Fabienne Morton, manager of the obstetrical suite at CRH.
Last year, more than 2,300 women gave birth at the hospital.
“When you are dealing with that many deliveries, knowing that you have the space to deal with it, I think is important,” said Fitzpatrick. “And the units are set up so they are familyfriendly, it’s not just you’re in a room by yourself and they bring the baby into you — the baby can be there in the room with you and I think that makes a difference.”
The LDR is connected to the neonatal unit. “So that if there’s a problem, it’s through the door and they’re in the best place in the world where they can be,” said Fitzpatrick.
And caesarean sections will also be preformed in the obstetrical suite. “We’re able to able recover mom, support person and baby in our recovery area,” said Morton, adding it will provide huge improvements in bonding and breast feeding.
“Right here, you’ve got the best facilities in the province and you’ve got the best medical attention and medical care,” said Fitzpatrick. “We’ve got incredible staff here and to have this facility to assist them in the job that they’re doing, I think we’re really fortunate,” Fitzpatrick added.
The new unit is slated to officially open on Nov. 1, after staff have had time for their simulation training.
Once expecting mothers get a chance to tour the hospital, Fitzpatrick feels a they’ll be less stressed about the due date.
“I think when they see this facility and all that it offers, I think it will take a lot of worry off of them,” she said. “You take the worry off and you’re going to have less stress in the actual delievery.”