Hospital Programs

Fetal, Maternal, Newborn, and Family Health Services

Birthing Program
Women's provides a Triage/Assessment room, Labour and Delivery rooms for low-risk births, Single-Room Maternity Care, birthing areas for women with high-risk pregnancies or birthing complications, and a surgical program for births by caesarean section.

Women's Maternal Transport Team assists in the preparation and safe transfer of high-risk patients to Women's and also assists with their treatment closer to home.

Diagnostic Ambulatory Program
Women's Centre for Prenatal Diagnosis and Treatment provides diagnostic ultrasound, fetal assessment and treatment, and prenatal procedures.

Women's ambulatory services include: Diabetes Service, high-risk nutrition counselling, Perinatology, Breastfeeding support, Anaesthesia consultation, Special Client Clinic, and physiotherapy services. We offer specialized medical consultation services for both antepartum and postpartum women.

Family Practice Maternity Service
Women's provides maternity care for women whose family physicians do not attend births as well as women in special clinical settings such as the Sheway outreach program for substance-using mothers.

Fir Square Combined Maternity Care Unit
Women's provides the only unit in Canada (and only the second in the world) for pregnant women dealing with substance misuse. Detoxification and harm reduction techniques give their babies a chance at a healthy start in life while we teach these mothers how to care for their infants.

High-Risk Antepartum/Postpartum Program
Women's offers specialized care for women throughout BC whose pregnancies are at risk of adverse outcome. Services include: fetal surveillance and treatment; management of obstetrical, medical, and surgical complications of pregnancy; harm reduction for women with substance abuse; and support for women with disabilities.

Antepartum Home Care allows local women with specific pregnancy complications to remain at home with assessment, care, and teaching provided by our visiting nurses.

Our postpartum services support women and their newborns, utilizing a family-centered approach, through all phases of in-hospital postpartum care. Healthy infants are cared for in the same room as their mothers, with the emphasis on baby-care education and feeding support. Most women go home after one or two days with follow-up care and support from the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board "Healthy Beginning Program."

Medical Genetics Program
Women's provides consultative genetic health care services to BC families. Services include: evaluation and diagnosis of congenital anomalies and genetic diseases in fetuses, children, and adults; genetic counselling regarding recurrence risks, prognosis, and recent advances in testing and management; and education and support of families and health professionals.

Midwifery Department and Program
Women's provides midwifery services as well as mentoring and training for midwives.

Newborn Care
Women's Intensive Care Nursery provides all levels of intensive care for premature babies and babies with serious medical problems. In close partnership with our High-risk Antepartum Program and BC Children's Hospital. Women's operates British Columbia's major neonatal intensive care program.