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Planning to Give Birth at BC Women's

If you would like to have your baby at BC Women’s, please read the following information.
Who is eligible?

Who is eligible to give birth at BC Women’s?

  1. Women living in Vancouver
  2. Women living outside of Vancouver who meet one of the following criteria:
    • are long-term patients of a doctor/midwife who practices at BC Women’s
    • have previously had a baby at BC Women’s
    • are experiencing a high-risk pregnancy and need the specialized services of BC Women’s
Who is not eligible to give birth at BC Women’s?
  • Women who live outside Vancouver and who do not meet any of the criteria above
Why are there criteria for giving birth at BC Women’s?
BC Women’s supports over 7,000 deliveries for women each year and is one of the busiest maternity care centres in Canada. We also provide the highest level of neonatal care in the province, so BC Women’s must retain capacity to support the most critically ill babies.

We are committed to providing safe, high quality care to all our patients. Having the criteria for delivery at BC Women's ensures that we are able to:

  1. Provide care for women living in Vancouver
  2. Provide care for women from anywhere across British Columbia who are having significant complications during their pregnancy

Important note:

If you are eligible, your doctor/midwife will pre-register you before 32 weeks of pregnancy.

Pre-registering

I think I meet the criteria for being accepted. Now what?

Only doctors/midwives who deliver babies at BC Women’s can pre-register women to have their baby here. Your doctor/midwife can let you know if they deliver at our hospital or not.

Your doctor/midwife sends a pre-registration form and your pregnancy records to us so that the hospital staff knows your pregnancy and medical history. This information is reviewed by BC Women’s Pre-registration Committee to determine your eligibility to give birth at  BC Women's. 

What if I don't have medical insurance? Read about how to apply for medical insurance.

1

See a doctor or midwife who delivers at BC Women's

You need to see a care provider (doctor or midwife) who delivers babies at BC Women’s. Your care provider needs to pre-register you as soon as possible after 12 weeks and before 32 weeks into your pregnancy.

If you do not yet have a doctor or midwife for your pregnancy, visit Find a Maternity Care Provider.


2What do I need to do?

  • complete the top part of the pre-registration form that your doctor/midwife gives you
  • ensure that you complete all sections marked with an asterisk to make sure it is processed quickly
  • return it to your doctor/midwife as soon as possible

3Your pre-registration form is reviewed

Our pre-registration committee reviews all pre-registration forms once a month to make sure they meet the criteria for being accepted. This review could take up to five weeks to complete. The committee is comprised of midwives, general practitioners, obstetricians and administrators.

4How will I know if I am accepted?

We will inform your doctor/midwife if you are eligible to give birth at BC Women’s. It can take up to five weeks for them to receive this information after you complete your form. You can check with your doctor/midwife if you have been accepted at your prenatal appointment. 

5What happens if I am not accepted?

If we are unable to accept your pre-registration, we will let your doctor or midwife know. They will then contact you and help you arrange to have your baby at one of our partner hospitals close to your home.

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SOURCE: Planning to Give Birth at BC Women's ( )
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