New birthing suites expect the motherlode

[attach]2725[/attach]Andrea Van Wieringen was quite impressed with the new facilities at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre where she’d be having her second child.

“It’s so new and … they use calming spa colours,” said the 31 year old realtor who just gave birth to her son, Jack. “When you’re in early labour or you’re waiting to get checked in for your C-section, you’re looking at a (faux) fire place, you’re watching TV. It’s great.”

Having opened its doors Sept. 12, Van Wieringen is one of the first women to give birth at the new home of the Women and Babies Program. Previously housed at Women’s College Hospital, the program specializes in high risk and multiple births, as well as neonatal intensive care. The new 11,150 square metre facility at Sunnybrook will handle an estimated 4,250 births every year.

“Our staff are thrilled with this new facility,” said Barry McLellan, President and CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. “This is the premier facility for high-risk births and neonatal intensive care in the country. It was designed with patients, families and staff, who came together to create an incredible environment to bring new life into the world.”

For women like Van Wieringen, the new facility has already made a difference.

“I have a 21 month old daughter who was born at Women’s College,” she said. “You were looking at these ugly ceiling tiles which were probably stained because the building is so old. (But at Sunnybrook) it was just a much brighter, larger room and they have these scenes on the ceiling that depict the sky, clouds, tree tops, which is totally unique. It really made the experience different,” she said.

Designed with input from families, the $197 million facility also features 20 labour, birthing, recovery and postpartum rooms, each featuring its own sink and tub, as well as three operative birthing rooms for women having caesarean sections. The neo-natal intensive care unit features a special private entrance for family and friends of patients.

Both Health Minister Deb Matthews and Don Valley West MPP Kathleen Wynn attended the opening of the new facility. But now that it’s operational, it’s also mother-approved.

“In terms of having a baby, I would totally recommend Sunnybrook,” said Van Wieringen.