"Honey, it's time!"

You`ve probably heard that line numerous times on television shows and in movies when a new mother-to-be tells her husband the baby is on the way. Followed, of course, by the most likely true-to-life scenario of a nervous man getting into the driver’s seat of the car, biting his lip and gripping the wheel with a steely intensity. Calm and determined on the outside - a nervous wreck and dripping with insecurity on the inside, while they drive to the hospital to await the new addition to the family.

Considering a trip to the hospital is probably one of the longest drives you`ll ever make, no matter what the actual distance, wouldn`t it make sense to choose your local healthcare facility over one requiring a long trip to another town or city?

Some people say it`s a ‘small town’ mentality that finds people from Alliston and surrounding communities going to larger centres for obstetrical services. Somehow the thought that ‘bigger is better’ can translate into a negative impression of the services available at a smaller hospital.

However, a closer look inside the Maternal Child Program at Stevenson Memorial Hospital shows that the organization has come a long way since reopening it`s birthing unit in April, 2008.

The unit opened with an expanded range of services and a lot of input from the public on what they would look for in their local hospital, including a Maternal Child Advisory Committee (MCAC ) that helps bring concerns from the community to the hospital.

"We have community members that make up a greater percentage of the committee to voice their opinions and make suggestions to meet all the needs of our growing and developing community," says MCAC chair Sylvia Biffis. "Our mandate is to strike a balance between meeting the needs of birthing mothers and working within the hospital`s means to ensure we address and accommodate those needs as best as possible."

Even though there are members of the committee that work at the hospital, Sylvia explains that they make sure "at least 50 per cent" of those members are people who have un-biased opinions representing the community.  The result of the cooperation between the community and the hospital has moved Stevenson up the ranks in terms of patient satisfaction in maternity and obstetrics - so much so that the Maternal Child Program scored 100 per cent in overall quality of care in independent surveys completed by patients.

That means Stevenson has raised the bar in terms of care for other similar sized hospitals in the province. "We are a level-one facility. We have the ability to provide exceptional care close to home," says Sherry Guchardi, Manager of the Maternal Child Program at Stevenson. “People don`t have to leave their community to have a baby."

A level-one facility, Sherry explains, the Program accepts “healthy, low-risk pregnancies pregnancies," that have reached a minimum gestation of 36 weeks and up.

The expanded range of services include 24/7 access to pain management, one-to-one nursing care, and breastfeeding support for new mothers.

"Before the birthing unit closed, the epidural service was not available all the time. Now, in terms of pain management, we have an anaesthetist on board 24-7.", Sherry says. "We have a great nursing staff, all of whom are fully trained and experienced labour and delivery room nurses."

Over the past year, the birthing unit at the hospital has seen around 300 deliveries. That`s close to one per day, with numbers increasing as more expectant mothers choose Stevenson as the place to deliver their child.

The feedback from patient surveys provides a personal insight from parents. “Our experience at SMH (our second child born here) was so very positive,” writes one new mother. "I couldn't of asked for better treatment or experience. All expectations exceeded,” added another.

The birthing unit takes a pro-active approach when dealing with expectant mothers - especially those who are having their first child. While it used to be a new mother would receive an information package upon leaving the hospital, mothers are now provided a new comprehensive booklet of information in the weeks prior to a birth allowing the birthing mom to get ready and informed for the new experience.

The commitment to patient health continues even after a new mother has left the hospital. The 48 Hour Post Partum Clinic offers a supportive setting in which both mother and baby can return for a check-up within a couple of days of returning home.

"The nurses will do a full assessment on both the baby and mother," Sherry explains. "If there is any concerns or the mom needs to come back for extra support or breast feeding issues, this clinic is available."

The Clinic is unique to Stevenson and especially helpful for mothers who do not currently have their own family doctor. A new service at the hospital also includes a breast pump rental program. Breast pumps can be rented for as long as needed and all it takes is a phone call to inquire about availability.

In additin, the hospital offers gyneacological services for women of all ages through a program headed by Chief Obstetrician/Gyneacologist, Dr. Glasine Lawson, with referrals through a family doctor or through the Hospital’s Well Women’s Clinic.

With the growing list of expanded services, it’s no denying that the program has come a long way since its reopening. The white knuckled ride to the hospital for new fathers will probably always exist, but at least it will be a little shorter if parents take advantage of the opportunities offered in their own.