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Services
BC Women’s offers a range of services for you and your baby before and after birth. These services cover specialized health services and counselling to women in a variety of areas:
In addition, we also offer you a range of other services:
Many disabilities may have an impact on pregnancy and childbirth. If you have a disability, please contact our program representative, Dr. Kathy Greenberg at 604-875-2273 , and we will help you develop a plan for your care.
When Aboriginal women and families are at BC Women’s or BC Children’s, our First Nations Patient Advocate helps you get the information and support you need. We can help:
- Connect you with hospital and health care services
- Tell you about your rights and benefits
- If you have a complaint
- Escort you to any appointment with doctors at Children’s and Woman’s
- Connect you with an Elder for spiritual or emotional support
- Organize traditional ceremonies for you
- Provide clothing and toiletries for you
- Provide emergency clothing and hygiene care
- You with your healthcare team
- Connect you with Aboriginal and community services
The First Nations Patient Advocate is available Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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The Pharmacy provides medications and counselling when you are in the hospital. This department also provides medications and counselling if you are an outpatient, through the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy.
If you have questions about your medications, or how they may affect you or your baby while you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may talk to a perinatal pharmacist by appointment. Please ask your nurse to arrange for you to see the pharmacist.
You can fill your prescription at the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy on the main floor of the Ambulatory Care Building, Room K 1 -126.
The pharmacy is open Mon. - Fri. 9:00 am - 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm.
For more information, call 604-875-2205.
Physiotherapists can counsel pregnant women about exercise and pain management before and after the birth. With the help of a physiotherapist, you may relieve or prevent many of the physical discomforts that pregnancy can bring.
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Pregnancy and childbirth can be an exciting yet stressful time for women and their families. BC Women’s offers social work services to all women and families who are receiving care with us, whether as outpatients or while staying at the hospital.
Our social workers offer support, counselling, information, education, and assistance with planning your return home after your baby is born. They can also refer you to other hospital professionals, resources, and support groups, in your community. Some concerns you can talk to a social worker about are:
- lifestyle changes in your personal and family life during pregnancy and after the baby arrives
- financial concerns and practical supports
- alcohol or drug misuse or other dependency problems
- previous pregnancy losses or other recent losses
- issues that may arise if you are a new Canadian, including cultural differences
- relationship abuse or domestic violence
For families who lose their baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death, social workers offer support and grief counselling.
If you are thinking about placing your baby for adoption, a social worker will meet with you, discuss your options, and provide counselling and support throughout your pregnancy and after
your baby’s birth.
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Books and written materials for women and families are available through the Spiritual Care office. We serve people of many different faiths, and materials from your own tradition may be available. If you need help contacting your own minister or someone of your own faith or denomination, please speak to the chaplain.
Interpreters ServicesThe Provincial Language Service (PLS) provides both face-to-face and phone interpreting for women coming to BC Women's who speak limited or no English. We provide highly qualified and certified medical and community interpreters. All PLS interpreters meet and follow the standards for professional health care interpreting.
Interpreter services are available to help you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To book an interpreter ask your health care provider to call
- Local calls - 604-875-3402
- Long-distance toll-free calls - 1-877-BCtalks (1-877-228-2557)
Remember that family and friends still have a role in interpreter-assisted appointments. It is the same role a family member or friend would play when both parties speak English - one of supporting you.
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TranslationsA selection of our pamphlets have been translated in Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, or Vietnamese. Please ask your care provider for further information.
TTY machines are available for people who are hearing impaired. A fixed unit is located in the BC Women's Admitting and Assessment area and a portable unit is available through the main
switchboard (Room E400A).
We train frontline health care workers to respond to the needs of pregnant women who are
affected by violence. If you or your baby needs nursing and/or medical attention or observation for any reason, BC Women's has the facilities and staff to provide all necessary care.
If you need help or information, please refer to the Women Response Team or call 604-875-3717.
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