October 1, 2020

1 year of JPCH: Bringing babies into the world with an innovative care model

The Mosaic Maternal Care Centre on the third floor of Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital (JPCH) cares for pregnant women, moms-to-be and families through all stages of maternal care.

The Centre also features an innovative model of care known as Single Room Maternal Care, where moms-to-be labour, deliver and stay with their new baby and supportive partner all in the same private room until they are ready to leave the hospital.

There were 4,109 babies born at JPCH from Sept, 29, 2019 to June 30, 2020 – one of them being baby Sullivan.

On April 29, Saskatoon parents Jana and Cleve welcomed their second child Sullivan, but it would be their first time experiencing the Single Room Maternal Care model.

Exactly two weeks before her due date, Jana woke up in the middle of the night after her water broke. Her and Cleve headed to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital shortly after and were placed in a private room in the Fetal Assessment Unit. Labour was still in the very early stages and contractions were sporadic, so Jana laboured back at home until contractions were more frequent. Later that same day, they returned to JPCH and Jana was placed in one of the 65 private patient rooms within the Maternal Care Centre.

Nearly four hours later, baby Sullivan made his entrance into the world as a healthy and happy baby. Jana said having their own private room the entire time made a significant improvement in her stress and worry, and it was even more appreciated during the pandemic.

“We were able to get settled and feel more comfortable, knowing that we wouldn’t be moving to a different room again. We were assigned a nurse, who stayed with us the whole time through labour and delivery. She monitored me regularly to ensure everything was going smoothly. We felt very well taken care of and supported,” Jana explained.

Jana also noted the incredible difference of having a dedicated place for Cleve to sleep, as each private room is outfitted with a pull out couch for a partner to sleep.

“It made such a difference being able to stay in the same room following delivery. I felt like I got so much more time to cuddle and get to know our new baby. It was such a calm and relaxing experience once he arrived. There was no need to get up right away and shower, or feel like we were being pushed out of the room. I was able soak in every single moment with our new baby boy,” explained Jana, who previously spent six years with Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation fundraising to help make the new hospital a reality.

Today, the family of four is doing great, as Sullivan recently turned five months old.

“We are very grateful that we had the opportunity to have access to JPCH for our son’s delivery and care afterwards. It truly is a state-of-the-art facility, allowing Saskatchewan kids access to the best health care possible. I truly hope that we do not need to use the hospital again, but it is reassuring to know that it is there should we or any other Saskatchewan family ever need it,” said Jana.

The Mosaic Maternal Care Centre is approximately the size of two football fields and has space to care for more than 6,000 pregnant women each year. There are three dedicated maternal operating rooms, which can accommodate twin and triplet deliveries.

The Centre also offers a variety of outpatient services to maternal patients, including consultations and clinics around cesarean sections, anesthesia in C-sections and diabetes in pregnancy. There is also an Assessment Unit for assessing pregnant and labouring women and a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit for pregnant patients at risk due to a condition with themselves or the baby.

“Childbirth is a life changing, monumental event that has a powerful impact on women and their families. Moving into Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital with Single Room Maternal Care has allowed our care team to provide care to all women in private rooms where they stay throughout their entire labor and birth experience. Having a private room where the patient doesn’t have to be moved and has the medical and nursing care come to them allows a family-centered approach to take precedent,” said Darcie Sparks, Clinical Manager of Maternal Services at JPCH.

With a rapidly growing Indigenous population in Saskatchewan, the Maternal Care Centre also offers mothers the support of an Indigenous Birth Support Worker, who have the knowledge in the history of Indigenous people and their birth practices.

“I hear from the patient that they feel welcomed, supported and not alone. With having an Indigenous Birth Worker who is accessible and has shared experiences and cultural knowledge is comforting and empowering for these women and all women of Saskatchewan,” said Raegan Stanley-Nippi, an Indigenous Birth Support Worker at JPCH.

A recent grant from Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation now provides Indigenous birth support supplies for moss bags, belly button pouches, tobacco pouches, and tobacco smudging.

Click here to donate towards enhanced maternal needs right here in Saskatchewan.