Hospital adopts new approach for newborns, families

Bluewater Health has overhauled its approach to delivering babies by opening eight private birthing rooms.

Bluewater Health has overhauled its approach to delivering babies by opening eight private birthing rooms.

The move made earlier this summer allows expectant mothers to stay in the same room, together with their birth partner, throughout the entire labour, birth and baby’s recovery.

One of the renovated rooms is slightly larger to accommodate extended First Nation families and traditional ceremonies, the hospital said.

The room is decorated with indigenous art and enables traditional birthing customs on-site such as cedar baths and liquid smudging.

“We’ve been working with Bluewater Health for some time to achieve this result,” said Joanne Culley, an Aamjiwnaang infant program nurse. “It’s so important to have a safe and welcoming environment.”

The hospital is also looking into the creation of a volunteer indigenous advisory panel and is working with community partners to secure an indigenous navigator.