Inpatient Unit: 5 North B

The Inpatient Unit – 5 North B supports pregnant individuals who need to be admitted to the hospital prior to giving birth, as well as birthing parents and babies after delivery.

Gynecology inpatient services provides care for individuals after gynecology surgeries or procedures.

What we do

Gynecology services

Gynecology is a medical specialty focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of affecting the internal (female) reproductive organs and health conditions. A gynecologist is a specialist physician who assesses and treats gynecologic problems. Our inpatient gynecology unit provides care to patients following gynecological procedures or surgery.

Obstetric services

Rooming-in

Eastern Health promotes a patient-and family-centred approach to care, which is facilitated by rooming-in. Rooming-in is the practice of keeping the birthing parent and healthy newborns together, 24 hours a day, in a system of combined parent-infant care for the duration of the hospital stay.

Rooming-in has many benefits for both parent and newborn; it promotes bonding between parent and baby; helps the parent learn the baby’s hunger cues more quickly; and provides comfort to both parent and baby.

Caring for your baby

Having a baby is an exciting experience, but it can also be overwhelming. Our staff are here to support mothers and help them learn what they need to know to care for their newborn. A lactation consultant or nurse will assist with breastfeeding and our nurses will teach new parents how to bathe their newborn. We invite you to visit Health Information: Infant (ages 0-1) for more information on how to care for an infant.

Always wash your hands before handling a baby!

Special care should be paid to hand washing as this is the best way to prevent the spread of germs. Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 10 seconds and dry thoroughly or use an alcohol-based hand rub, applying it to the palm of one hand and rubbing all over and in between fingers until hands feel dry.

Breastfeeding support

Eastern Health is committed to promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding. For information about and a schedule of drop-in breastfeeding support groups, please see Breastfeeding Support.

Designated support person

A new parent needs as much help and reassurance as possible in the early days following a birth. For this reason, and to help every new family to get to know their newborn, we welcome the presence of a designated support person who can stay with the birthing parent and assist them in hospital after delivery.

The support person (often the partner, close family member or friend) is needed to provide physical and emotional support to the birthing parent, as well as to assist in the care of the newborn. The designated support person is not considered a visitor and they may be present at any time. For more information, please see Eastern Health’s family presence and family visitation policy.

Visiting the unit

Our visiting policies have been developed with the birthing parent and baby’s safety and wellbeing in mind. Please see visiting a health-care facility for the most up to date information regarding a support person for labour and delivery patients.

For the safety of our patients and newborns, any visitor who has been in contact with or who has symptoms of any infectious disease, including a cold, flu, vomiting or diarrhea, chicken pox, or any other childhood disease is not permitted to visit.

Who we see

We provide care to individuals who need to be admitted to the hospital prior to giving birth and for birthing parents and babies after delivery. We also provide care to patients following gynecological procedures or surgery, who need to be admitted.

Our team

Our team is comprised of the following health-care professionals:

• Obstetricians
• Gynecologists
• Family practice physicians
• Medical residents
• Surgeons
• Nurses
• Anesthesiologists
• Social works
• Psychologists
• Physiotherapists
• Laboratory technicians

How to access this service

Individuals over 20 weeks pregnant who have a pregnancy-related issue may proceed to the caseroom without an appointment. From the caseroom, patients may be transferred to the 5 North B Unit before or after delivery.

Individuals are admitted to the unit by consultation from the emergency department or directly under the care of a specialist.

Where we are

Health Sciences Centre
5 North B Unit (5th floor)
300 Prince Philip Drive
St. John’s, NL
A1B 3V6

Hours of operation

Individuals and their babies receive care 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

How to reach us

Women’s Health Inpatient Unit – 5 North B
Telephone: 709-777-7423

Frequently asked questions

What do I bring to the hospital?

Please see Before, during and after your hospital stay for detailed information on how you can prepare for your hospital stay.

Can my support person stay with me throughout my delivery?

Please see Visiting a health-care facility for the most up-to-date information regarding visiting a health-care facility.