Mother and Child Unit (Maternity)

A few hours after you have delivered your baby, you and your newborn will move to the Maternal Child Unit. You will remain here until you are discharged home. 

See our Postpartum and Newborn Resources to help you transition to life with a newborn.

The Maternal Child Unit is located on Level 2 of the North tower.

The unit has private, semi-private and standard rooms. When possible, your room will align with your preferred accommodation request. 

What to Expect

While on the Maternal Child Unit, your health care team may include physicians, midwives, lactation consultants and nurses.

Our team will help you care for yourself and your baby. This includes:

• feeding your baby
• addressing your physical and emotional needs
• ensuring you are ready for the changes you may experience in the first few weeks after the birth of your child.

During your stay, we will work with you to develop a discharge plan. The goal is to get you and your baby home as soon as it is safe to do so. The average hospital length of stay postpartum is:

• Vaginal birth: 24 hours after delivery
• Caesarean birth: 48 hours after delivery

When Will I Go Home?

For our general discharge criteria, please click here.

When it is time for you to go home, we will give you after care instructions, tell you what to watch out for, and discuss any appointments you need for follow up. 

It is very important to make an appointment with your baby’s care provider within the first 24-48 hours of going home.

Visiting the Mother and Child Unit

Once transferred to the Mother and Child Unit, a patient may have two individuals present at the bedside during visiting hours, and one support person/Essential Care Partner (ECP) stay overnight.

We are unable to accommodate children/siblings overnight on our unit.

We suggest you limit the people visiting you and your baby to your partner, your parents and your children. This is an important time to focus on your care, rest, recovery and learning how to take care of your new baby. 

For general information about ECPs and visitors, see our Maternal & Child Program page.

Postpartum and Newborn Resources

Register your newborn's birth here.

Mother

• Postpartum Guide Booklet - Best Start
• Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: Postpartum
• What to Expect in the First 3 Months
• Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorder

Newborn

• Normal Newborn Behaviour
• How to Bathe your Newborn
• Safe Sleep - Best Start
• Car Seat Safety - Halton
• Newborn Screening Ontario

Newborn Feeding

• Breastfeeding Clinic at Joseph Brant Hospital
• Breastfeeding Matters Booklet - Best Start
• Getting Enough to Eat - Breastfeeding
• What to Look for when Breastfeeding
• Halton Baby Friendly Initiative
• Signs that Feeding is Going Well
• Infant Formula: What you Need to Know

For access to mother and newborn resources in French and 17 other languages, please click here to visit the Best Start website.

Adapted with permission of Ottawa Public Health. For educational and non-commercial purposes only.