Frequently Asked Questions

You may be referred by your family physician or a walk in clinic. You may also self-refer by calling our clinic directly.

Ideally you should be referred as soon as possible in your pregnancy. This allows us time to process your referral and complete any testing that may be time sensitive. Unfortunately, secondary to our high volumes, even with an early referral we often are unable to see you until you are in the 2nd trimester of your pregnancy. If you self refer to our clinic, please also book an appointment with your family doctor or a walk-in clinic in order to have them manage your pregnancy while awaiting your first appointment at the Burnaby Maternity Clinic. Many tests in pregnancy are time sensitive, and therefore we recommend contacting your family physician/walk-in clinic as soon as you become pregnant.

Your first visit with the clinic will involve reviewing your medical history and assessing your pregnancy. You will be required to complete routine antenatal forms at this visit. Relevant lab tests and ultrasounds will also be ordered at this visit. If you have had any blood work or ultrasounds completed prior to to this visit, please have them forwarded to the clinic. The visit may take 30-45 minutes. You may also have a complete physical exam, or depending on timing may have this scheduled for the following visit. If you are over 25 years old and it has been more than 3 years since your last pap smear, a pap smear will be offered as part of your complete physical.

A first trimester ultrasound for dating is recommended between 8-13 weeks after your last menstrual period. At 18-22 weeks a detailed ultrasound is recommended. Given the delay in ultrasound booking, we recommend that both of these ultrasounds be ordered by your family physician or a walk-in clinic while you await your first visit with the Burnaby Maternity Clinic. Once you are seen at our clinic for your first visit, we will arrange any further necessary ultrasounds.

Your appointments will be scheduled monthly until 28 weeks, then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly until you deliver.

Please contact the Burnaby Maternity Clinic for any questions or concerns during office hours. After 20 weeks gestation, please contact the birthing suite at 604-412-6293 for any urgent or emergency concerns.

Please contact the birthing suite (604-412-6293) if: • Your water breaks • Your contractions are every five minutes and lasting 45-60 seconds and are strong enough that you cannot walk or talk through them • You have not felt your baby move • You notice a reduction in your baby’s movements • You have any unusual discharge or leaking • You experience any vaginal bleeding • You have sudden onset of abdominal pain • You have a severe headache, dizziness or double vision • You are unable to eat or drink longer than 24 hours because of illness • You have any other urgent concerns

Our physicians work closely together as a team. When you go into labour, the clinic doctor on call will take care of you during labour and delivery. This may not be the same physician that you have seen for your appointments. If you require a forceps delivery or cesarean section an obstetrician will be involved with your care.

The average postpartum stay following a normal vaginal delivery is one to two days. After a cesarean section, you may stay for up to three days. After discharge, you will return to the care of your family doctor. If you do not have a family doctor, the baby and you will be referred to the Mosaic clinic or a postpartum midwife for 6 weeks of postpartum and newborn care. If you are a Burnaby resident, the Mosaic clinic will continue to care for you and your baby until you are successfully attached to a family physician. All babies should be seen in person by a physician, nurse practitioner, or midwife within 5 days of discharge from hospital. If you are not scheduled for an appointment by that time, please contact your care team and/or bring your baby to a walk-in clinic.

In British Columbia all newborn babies have a blood sample drawn after 24 hours of age and submitted to the BC Newborn Screening Program. For further information, please see the parent information sheet.(http://www.perinatalservicesbc.ca/our-services/screening-programs/newborn-screening-bc)