The Emergency Departments are experiencing high volumes of patients who need care. Please be prepared to wait. The most serious cases are treated first.
Not all health concerns need emergency care. You can also book a virtual visit or go to an urgent care clinic for these concerns. For life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
Thank you for your patience.
If you are having a baby, or supporting someone who is, our Childbirth Team is here for you. Each year, about 4,650 babies are born at Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN). We have one of the largest childbirth programs in southwestern Ontario.
The Marjorie Carroll Childbirth Centre at WRHN cares for people with low to moderate risk pregnancies. Our team includes doctors, nurses, midwives, and other specialists. They are here to support you through every stage of birth, from planning to recovery.
Most people stay in a single private room for labour, birth, and recovery. If you need a Caesarean birth (C-section) or a longer stay, we also have a unit and team ready to care for you. Our goal is to offer safe, family-centred care for all.
Childbirth services are located at WRHN @ Midtown. If you have questions, please email us at [email protected].
Need pregnancy care but do not have a family doctor? You will need a referral to see an obstetric provider at WRHN. A local walk-in clinic, doctor, or nurse practitioner can refer you.
If you are not a Canadian resident and do not have insurance, learn how to get pregnancy care and what it will cost.
The Childbirth Unit is on the fourth floor of WRHN @ Midtown.
The main entrance is at 835 King St. W. in Kitchener. Patients and visitors can use this entrance from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. If you arrive after 11 p.m., please enter through the Emergency Department.
If you are more than 20 weeks pregnant, you can go directly to the Childbirth Unit. You do not need to wait in the Emergency Department or go to patient registration.
When you come to WRHN, we want you to feel confident and supported through pregnancy and childbirth. The following resources can help you prepare:
The sections below guide you through what to expect when it is time to come to the hospital. Our care team is always here if you have questions or need support.
During pregnancy, there may be times when you need to go to the hospital. This could be because you are in labour or because you are having symptoms that need medical attention.
Where to go depends on your symptoms and how far along you are in your pregnancy. If you think you are in labour or have concerns about your pregnancy and are:
If you plan to have a midwife deliver your baby, please call them first and they will help you decide when to go to the hospital. Some may want to assess you at home or in their clinic.
You may also be able to call your doctor if you have concerns or need guidance on when to go to the hospital. Please know that if you call WRHN about a concern, our team will ask you to come to the hospital to get checked in person.
It is time to go to the hospital when you experience any of the following:
If your pregnancy is healthy and you are more than 37 weeks pregnant, it is usually best to stay comfortable at home during early labour. Rest, take a bath or shower, or go for a walk until labour becomes active.
Obstetrical triage is where people go for care when they think they are in labour or have concerns about their pregnancy.
It is like an emergency department for pregnancy care. Triage gives our team the chance to find out what type of care you and your baby need.
At WRHN, obstetrical triage is on the fourth floor, D wing in the Childbirth Unit. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are more than 20 weeks pregnant, go straight to obstetrical triage when you arrive at the hospital. Do not wait in the Emergency Department or go to patient registration. If you are less than 20 weeks pregnant, you should go to your nearest emergency department for care.
In triage, a nurse will assess you and your baby and discuss your care with your doctor. If all is well, you may be able to go home without seeing the doctor. If you have questions or concerns about your care, you can ask to see the doctor first.
If you have a health card, please bring it with you every time you visit WRHN.
When it is time to give birth, you will stay in the Childbirth Unit.
You will be admitted to the unit when:
You will labour and give birth in a private room. C-sections take place in a private operating room.
Pregnancy and childbirth are big life events. It is common to have many questions. If you need more information, please talk to your care team or email us. We are here to support you and help make your experience the best it can be.
If you do not have a family doctor, you can still get pregnancy care.
You will need a referral from a walk-in clinic, or from another doctor or nurse practitioner. They can send a referral so you can see an obstetric provider at WRHN.
WRHN offers other services to support your reproductive health.
This includes the Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic, which helps people whose pregnancy may be at risk and need extra care from a gynecologist. To learn more about services at WRHN and other supports in the community, visit the Reproductive Health page.
When you are in labour and giving birth, you will stay in a private birthing room.
After your baby is born, you may move to a different room until it is time to go home. You can choose from three types of rooms:
You may need to pay for some room types, depending on your insurance and if you are covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
Yes, you can choose the type of room you want for after your baby is born. There are three types: ward, semi-private, and private rooms.
You might have to pay depending on your insurance and if you are covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). For more details, visit the During Your Stay page.
When you pre-register for the childbirth program, you can select your preferred room type for your hospital stay. Please read the WRHN Childbirth Program Pre-Registration Package to pick your room.
You will stay in a private birthing room during labour and birth. After your baby is born, you may move to a different room, depending on what is available.
One hour after birth, you will be charged based on the type of room you choose — ward, semi-private, or private — even if you are still in the birthing room.
To learn more about room types and costs, visit the During Your Stay page.
If you are not a Canadian resident and do not have health insurance, you will need to pay for pregnancy and childbirth care at WRHN.
Visit the Bills & Insurance page to learn more about childbirth fees and what to expect for international patients without insurance.
Visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
Each patient can have two visitors or care partners at a time. Some areas have special rules:
Please follow your care team’s instructions about safety, illness, when to stay home, and any temporary changes to visiting guidelines or hours.
For more on safe visiting, visit the Safety Information page. If you have questions, talk to your care team.
All our childbirth, children and youth units are locked to keep patients safe.
When you arrive, pick up the phone outside the Childbirth Unit doors and tell us who you are. Team members will let in care partners and visitors based on our visiting rules.
After your baby is born, you, your baby, and your support person will all get matching armbands. These are checked often to make sure the right baby is with the right family. Always keep your armband on until you go home.
To help keep the unit safe:
All visitors must check in at the front desk when they arrive and leave. If someone follows you in and does not check in, please tell a team member. These steps help us make sure everyone stays safe and secure.
Yes, you can take photos or videos during while at WRHN to help capture this special time.
Please follow these rules to help keep everyone safe and respected:
If you have questions, please contact the Childbirth Team.
If your baby needs extra care after birth, they may be cared for in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The NICU has a team of doctors, nurses, and specialists who are trained to care for newborns who need more support. You can visit and stay involved in your baby’s care while they are in the NICU.
Yes, your baby can be cared for at WRHN if they are born early, depending on how premature they are and the level of care they need.
Our team specializes in caring for babies who are born at 32 weeks or later. These babies stay in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for extra support. If your baby is born earlier than that or needs more advanced care, we will arrange a safe transfer to a hospital with a higher-level NICU. We will continue to support you and your baby throughout this process.
To help make your visit better, WRHN offers discounted parking passes for patients and visitors at our hospitals. This includes special rates for patients and families receiving childbirth services.
