Women's Hospital HSC Winnipeg: A Tour
Winnipeg was blessed with a stunning new birthing hospital in December of 2019. Unfortunately with the pandemic that soon followed, combined with a lack of WRHA produced photos, most people have never seen the inside of this gorgeous Women’s Hospital at 665 William Ave, part of the HSC Health Sciences Centre.
I wanted to put together a quick guide of what to expect when coming to Women’s Hospital for my clients, and for any of you who may be curious!
All photos included are my own unless otherwise noted. Hopefully I can update soon as birth professionals are welcomed back into our Winnipeg hospitals!
Women’s Hospital HSC at 665 William Ave in Winnipeg, Manitoba
As you drive up, the first thing you will notice is the covered entrance for drop-off. Labouring individuals can be dropped off under the canopy if they don’t want to or don’t think they are able to walk from the parkade to the front entrance.
If you choose to have both support person and labourer walk in from the parkade, then you will proceed further up Sherbrook (right hand side of this photo) and turn into the underground parkade. The parkade is connected to the hospital via stairs and elevator, and is climate controlled. I highly recommend to my clients to leave any postpartum related items (talking about that bulky carseat too!) in the vehicle until after baby is born.
Front entrance doors at Women’s Hospital HSC Winnipeg
Through these doors you will right away present at the front desk information area and also the current Covid-19 screening queue. All visitors and patients for Women’s Hospital must go through this screening area unless you are coming in via ambulance.
Covid-19 Screening point at Women’s Hospital HSC in Winnipeg
After a quick screening, you are IN. The lobby level of this hospital is a gorgeous space for companions to sit while while waiting outside triage (currently birthers need to attend triage alone), to grab a bite to eat or a coffee, or just get a little bit of breathing room for a bit during a longer labour.
After making it past the screening point, you will proceed to Triage. Triage is on the first floor, and is “hiding” behind the main elevator bank. In the above left hand photo, it would be located to the right of the visible elevator. From the screening point, you will walk straight, and then turn left and will see the sign. The photo below shows the view from before the main elevator bank (Pre-screening in this case).
Triage at HSC Women’s Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Currently the labouring person needs to attend triage on their own for both labour and planned inductions or cesareans. The support person may wait in the lobby level, or return to their vehicle, go grab coffee, etc while they wait for an update. Once the birther is almost ready to be moved to the labour floor, the support person will generally be welcomed in, and you will all make the trip upstairs together. In rare scenarios, one support person may be approved to join the labourer in triage.
Triage rooms are private, which is a huge improvement from the previous old hospital! Each also contains their own washroom (differences would be stretcher bay if coming in via ambulance). Triage also contains a labour lounge for if you come into triage at a very busy time and they are not able to assist you right away.
Labour and Delivery floor at Women’s Hospital HSC in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Your next step once you are leaving triage with established labour or for your planned induction or cesarean birth is to head upstairs to Labour and Delivery. Typically the birther won’t see this entrance as they will use an elevator bank inside the ward. But for those of us entering afterwards (which sometimes includes your support person), this is the view you will see!
At the end of that long hallway is the actual entrance to the Labour and Delivery floor, where you will press the intercom to be security buzzed in. Here you will also find the “Family Lounge” that is typically empty under the current restrictions. In ordinary times this can be a good place to eat out of sight of the birther, to make phone calls, or just take a breather before heading back in.
“Family Lounge” at Women’s Hospital
Once onto the labour and delivery floor you will typically remain in the same room until after baby is born and you are ready to move to the Mother Baby or Postpartum unit a couple hours post birth. While there used to be a little bit of a feeling of Russian Roulette whether you would get a “good” room or not, all rooms at the new Women’s Hospital are wonderful, spacious and well equipped spaces to give birth.
Every room has a large window to let in daylight if you would like. They also offer a full private bathroom complete with tub and shower for labouring, a large closet for your personal items, a mini fridge for snacks or beverages, a sleeper couch for support person, as well as a nice tucked away space for all medical equipment until it is needed.
Image via parkin.ca shows labour room at Women’s Hospital HSC prior to opening. Large bathroom in room to the left.
Labour tub at HSC Women’s Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Source unknown
Below is a collection of image of labour and delivery rooms in use at Women’s Hospital HSC. You can see how the large room offers space to move when wanted, as well as lots of room for all support people and medical staff needed.
Patients may labour in the tub or shower, but cannot give birth in there. Don’t worry though, most providers are comfortable working with you to find other options if birthing on your back isn’t appealing to you.
After your birth, you will remain in your labour and delivery room (or recovery if you have had a cesarean birth) for approximately two hours as you and baby are assessed. They take care of most of the standard postpartum checks so that you can settle in a little bit more after you are in your new room.
Once it’s time to move to postpartum, you will move floors with baby and support person again. Your postpartum room at Women’s Hospital is where you will stay for the remainder of your hospital stay, and contains a private washroom with shower, large storage closet including a safe, mini fridge, sleeper sofa, cozy chair, and of course- nice bright windows to let the sunlight in.
Image via parkin.ca - Postpartum (Mother Baby Unit) room at Women’s Hospital HSC in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Doesn’t that just make you so happy compared to the dark old rooms offered at the old hospital? I know that this increased space and light makes a remarkable difference in how both birther and support person can feel during labour and postpartum period.
The labour and postpartum floors at the new HSC Women’s Hospital also contain refreshment centres with a microwave, ice/water machine, tap and a fridge containing some basic food options (Think jello and popsicles, not fries and sandwiches). Some of these facilities may be closed under the current restrictions.
Postpartum room in use at Women’s Hospital Winnipeg Manitoba
That wraps up my quick tour for now! Stay tuned another day for a look at the stunning NICU unit.
Still feeling a little overwhelmed? Working with an experienced birth doula is an excellent way to reduce fear surrounding the birthing process. As a doula I have experience navigating common pregnancy concerns, birth coping, relaxation techniques, and of course— knowing what to expect with your hospital birth. Find out more about how a doula can make your birth experience a more positive one by visiting my doula information page here.
Have you given birth at the new hospital? Leave your feedback and experience below so other’s can benefit!