Having a Rouge Valley baby means you, your baby and your family will be welcomed to a life-changing experience at both of our hospital campuses, in east Toronto and in west Durham.

We know having a baby is not a procedure. It is a special time in your life.

Our physicians, nurses and staff will help you make this a memory to cherish.

Our nurses are cross-trained in labour and delivery, post partum and special care nursery, and have the flexibility to adjust staff and schedules depending on the area(s) of greatest need -- while providing a continuum of quality care for mothers and newborns.

Excellent community links are in place with referrals for postpartum follow-up to community nurse affiliates in the region. The Healthy Babies/Healthy Children program (Region of Durham) will serve to enhance this collaborative role.

Regional Centre for Advanced Level II Neonatal Care

We have an advanced Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), located in our new Birthing and Newborn Centre at Rouge Valley Centenary.
As such, Rouge Valley provides a full scope of services for babies with complications, focusing on the care of mothers and infants greater than 30 weeks gestation at our Rouge Valley Centenary hospital site.
Rouge Valley accepts maternal and neonatal transfers from hospitals.

Labour & Delivery Unit

Improvements in equipment and material in Labour and Delivery Rooms have made preparation for birth easier and more efficient, while maintaining the family-friendly atmosphere.

Enhanced Rooming In

Enhanced Rooming In provides a better opportunity for mother and baby to bond, being together throughout their hospital stay. This program is centred on the needs of the family. The physician examines the baby at the mother's bedside. This approach gives mothers and partners a greater sense of confidence in caring for their babies. It also results in greater success with breastfeeding and other aspects of baby care.

Fathers or coaches are welcomed throughout the hospital stay and encouraged to participate in caring for the new infant. Nurses support the new family during their transition from hospital to home.

Back To Sleep Program

• Newborns are positioned on their backs to sleep to allow free breathing.
• Babies are loosely bundled to allow free breathing
• No bumper pads or stuffed toys are put into the bassinet, to prevent breathing difficulty
• Babies sleeping on their backs reduces the incidence of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
• This approach is taught by Maternal Newborn Services caregivers to new mothers, partners and grandparents
• Recommended by Health Canada, the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Canadian Child Health Institute

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The long list of services we provide includes:

• Preconception counselling, diagnosis of pregnancy, prenatal teaching and care, childbirth and postnatal teaching and support
• Neonatology support with a Level II, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Maternal Newborn Registration Clinic B a visit which helps to plan for educational needs and service links including Social Work, Prenatal Classes, Sibling Classes, Breastfeeding Classes, Prenatal Tours, Diabetic Education and Nutrition Counselling
• Growing Healthy Together Program on-site - prenatal nutrition and support program for pregnant women to reduce low birth weight - Joint project with Health Canada, Babies Best Start, Public Health, FoodShare, Rosalie Hall, Westhill Community Centre, YWCA
• Birth Companion Program - Babies' Best Start staff matched with isolated women to support them through pregnancy and child birth
• Regional Genetics Program available on-site
• Non Stress Testing Clinic on site
• Full range of post discharge follow-up services including New Mother Support Clinic, telephone follow-up, Breastfeeding Clinic, Hostel Rooms for discharged mothers with babies in the NICU, Neonatal Hearing follow-up
• Links with Babies Best Start re: the Post Partum Lay Home Visiting Program
• Home phototherapy program in conjunction with Home Care
• Satellite neonatal follow-up clinic with Women's College Hospital
• Family Beginnings Newsletter published quarterly

Contact numbers for expecting parents

• Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering: (905) 683-2320 ext. 1201
• Rouge Valley Centenary: (416) 284-8131 ext. 7332

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