This guide was specifically created to help ease the minds of parents who know they will end up in a Calgary NICU, and to provide information for those who have unexpectedly landed there. As a doula I love to work with families who are high-risk and have been told to expect a NICU stay. If you are hoping to find support of someone who has been there, please reach out.
Part I and III are linked via the titles below, or continue on to read part 2!
What is the difference between a Level 2 and Level 3 NICU?
What does a day in the NICU look like?
What do Calgary’s NICUs look like?
GUIDE TO CALGARY’S NICUS: PART II
Guide to Calgary’s NICUs: Part 2
The typical birth experience: You go into labour, you excitedly tell those close to you that the time has come, your body moves into the waves of active labour, your care providers reassure you that all is well and you excitedly welcome your baby into your arms. After a short time you find your new normal with a fantastic new being accompanying you wherever you go.
The NICU birth experience: There are thousands of scenarios for those of you entering the NICU. Maybe you knew of a medical complication before labour, and were dreading the day labour would arrive not knowing what the outcome may be. Maybe labour started at a point where you, or baby, were not ready. Maybe something unexpected came up during your labour which caused “typical” to turn into “atypical”. Or maybe you were not in labour at all, but something drastically changed in which this baby must be born. Regardless of where you started, there was a point where you knew that what was happening was no longer “normal”. There was less excitement, and more worry. There wasn’t the same amount of reassurance. And rarely, did your baby come to your arms before anyone else's. And the worst part. Your new normal didn’t include being accompanied home by your little one.
While you can find lists on lists of “What to bring to the hospital” to give birth, there isn’t exactly a Pinterest list of “What you should bring back to the hospital when you leave but your baby is still there.” So hopefully the following section will provide some insight on what is provided by our fabulous tax dollars, and what you should bring (assume this is post maternal discharge).
What should I bring? What is provided?
Breastpumps - Provided
Snappies- Provided
Attachments- Bring
Every NICU in Calgary has double electric breastpumps available to mothers. Some have more than others (1 pump/mom), while other NICUs you have to roam the halls (or ask your nurse) to find one. In postpartum you will be given one pack of accessories (flanges, connectors, valve & membrane, tubing and suction cups) for the pump - KEEP THESE. They are worth $70, and you don’t want to happen to throw it away and need to buy another one.
Outfits- Provided or Bring
Sheets/Blankets- Provided
If your baby is born before 32 weeks there is a good chance your babe won’t be in clothing closer to that age. Nurses need frequent direct access to check IVs, breathing gear, probes and take temperatures therefore clothing gets in the way. But it is an exciting step once your baby is able to be in clothing! They provide outfits but you are welcome to bring your own as well. Make sure they are labeled as they can get lost in hospital laundry. They will set your clothing aside for you to take home to wash. The best clothing for the NICU has snaps and not zippers (access for cords). Blankets (swaddles, sheets etc) are also provided - again if you bring your own make sure they are labeled as they can easily get put in with hospital laundry.
Diapers- provided
Soothers- provided
Gowns for skin to skin/blankets for mom- provided
Pillows- Provided/Bring your own
Food/Drink- Bring your own
Pillows are provided, though if you are somewhere where you intend to stay overnight (ACH or just about to be discharged) bring your own. ACH also has a shower in the family room, so bring toiletries if you intend to use that. Remember to bring cameras, cell phones, chargers, computers (all Calgary hospitals have free wifi), notebook if you want to take physical notes and anything that will help your stay feel more like home.
Tips and Tricks for each hospital
(Note that these tips and tricks are from parents who have been in the NICUs, therefore policies and practices may have changed. If you find a piece of misinformation here please feel free to contact me so I can correct it)
Applicable to all Calgary NICUs:
At most of the hospitals you can ask a nurse that you like to be your baby’s primary nurse, this means that when they are scheduled they will be assigned your baby. This helps your baby have more consistency and for you to form a bond with your baby’s caregivers.
You can contact your nurse via phone 24/7 to get an update on your baby.
A month parking pass is worth the money ($80/month vs. $14.25/day). You may have to request a letter from the NICU to bring to the parking office to qualify.
If you have a credit card, you can pay for parking at the station when you exit.
Some of the NICUs host a monthly or weekly coffee meetup. This is a great opportunity to meet other parents who can relate.
Each NICU has access to (or its own) kitchen, so to save money you can bring your own meals and keep them in the fridge. A microwave is also available to reheat.
No food or open drinks are allowed at the bedside, so bring food in a container that can keep in the fridge (or a covered mug/bottle for the bedside).
If you want to keep track of what has happened, take a daily picture of the whiteboard at your baby’s bedside - you won’t regret it later on (believe it or not, you do forget the details).
Foothills Medical Centre
Alberta Children’s Hospital
The Ronald McDonald House provides housing for families whose children are admitted and live further than 45km from the hospital (access for this service must be made through a referral at the hospital and is dependent on availability, there is a small cost associated).
The Family Resource Centre (on floor 2) can help with meal vouchers or parking if you are low income. You can also find phone chargers there if you have forgotten yours! And a washer and dryer in case you need it - just bring your own detergent.
There are more food options at Market mall just a block away! (And rumour has it a grocery store is being built just across the street!)
You can take advantage of the Beads of Courage program, which provides beads for significant events which your child goes through. (http://www.beadsofcourage.ca/)
South Health Campus
Some meals are occasionally provided for parents, ask your nurse if there are any meals available (believe they are provided by Made for Momma)
Street Parking is available for free, but might require some effort to find.
Additional food options can be found across the street in the mall complex.
The cafeteria on the main floor is open 24/7
The bedside chairs fold flat, you can ask for bedding if you want to nap/sleep .
If there is space, when mom is discharged she can request to stay as a NICU lodger (you will not have a nurse or meals) and you will receive a room until they need the space. You may be requested to leave the room with short notice or in the middle of the night, so minimal luggage is ideal- you can move to baby's bedside until the morning if you wish.
You can get a free YMCA pass to the YMCA in the hospital while your baby is in the NICU.
Rockyview General Hospital
Since it is not listed on the elevator, the NICU is located on floor 6.
Rockyview is the only NICU with the hand washing station inside of the doors (just in case you are transferring somewhere else and are searching for the hand washing station).
The chairs in the parents’ lounge recline, so if you need somewhere to put your feet up, head there!
The best bathroom is to the right of the elevators (towards labour and delivery).
Peter Lougheed Centre
You will have access to a washroom with a shower, and a small kitchenette and lounge with a TV.
They occasionally have meals available for moms (but your nurse will have to access them for you).
Who can come and when? (Visitor Policies)
All NICUs ask that visitors (parents included) are well and do not present with a fever, cough or flu-like symptoms. This is to protect not only your baby, but also neighbouring babies. What might just be the sniffles to you could be a respiratory disaster for a fragile child. RSV season runs from Nov-March, and during this time visitor policies may be more restricted. Typically no children under 16 are allowed in the NICU unless they are a sibling of the baby. All visitors must sign in and out.
Foothills
Parents are allowed to come and go 24/7. Parents may name 5 people who they would like to allow to visit during their stay (these cannot change, siblings are not included in the 5). The parents can indicate whether these 5 support people can come and go without the parents being present. All visitors must be up-to-date on their vaccinations (including the flu vaccine).
ACH
Parents are allowed to come and go 24/7. As the rooms are larger, they allow 3 people in the room (sometimes more). A parent must be present in the room with a visitor (this seems to be nurse dependent, you can sign saying you give consent for someone to visit without you there).
South Health Campus
Parents are allowed to come and go 24/7. Other visitors are allowed during the day (some exceptions for the night). Two people are allowed at the bedside at a time, a parent doesn’t have to be present (but does have to give consent in advance).
Rockyview General Hospital
Parents are allowed to come and go 24/7. Other visitors are allowed during the day (some exceptions for the night). Two people are allowed at the bedside at a time, a parent doesn’t have to be present (but does have to give consent in advance).
PLC
Parents are allowed to come and go 24/7. Parents may name 5 people who they would like to allow to visit during their stay. These 5 people can come and go at will without a parent present.
