Medical Associates of Port Perry Ontario Canada, Doctors

Obstetrical Care

Frequently Asked Questions

Delivering Physician

We are unique in Port Perry that we are one of the few centres remaining where physicians attempt to deliver our own patients. That said, no physician can be available all the time. Should your physician not be available, we have an on call system for a back up physician.

The Hospital

The New Life Centre at Lakeridge Health Port Perry follows a family centred model of care. It is unique in that we try to accommodate you in a private room where you can be assessed, labour, deliver and stay post partum with your baby all in the same room. Your partner is welcome to stay with you. Our nursing staff is exceptional and an advantage of a smaller centre is that your experience tends to be much more personable.

Affiliation with the University of Toronto and Queens University Family Practice Training Programs

Some of the physicians supervise final year residents in rural family medicine training programs. You may be asked if you are willing to have one of these residents involved in your prenatal care and/or labour and delivery.

Options for Pain Control

There are many options for pain control. Most importantly, do not underestimate the value of having a good supportive person(s) at your labour. They make a huge difference. Our nurses are also a wonderful support. Positioning can also help (being upright, in general, is much better than lying down).  The shower, massage, birthing ball, rocking, etc.. can also help. We have nitrous oxide (laughing gas) available. It can work extremely well for some people. Depending on your stage of labour, narcotic drugs may also be an option. Epidural is a great form of pain control. That said, not everyone will qualify for an epidural. There is such a thing as too early, too late, and too fast for an epidural. An epidural needs to be placed when labour is well established (usually greater than 4cm dilated if it is your first baby). If an epidural is placed too early, it can slow or even stop labour. It is also meant to help you with the first stage of labour which is dilation to 10 cm. It is thus not optimal to put an epidural in at 9 cm or when you are pushing (although occasionally it still may be indicated). Sometimes, we see people progress rapidly and  dilate too quickly to be able to benefit from an epidural. If takes time for an anesthetist to arrive, place the epidural, and wait for the epidural to take effect. It is also important to be aware that physicians often have multiple duties and thus cannot always be immediately available. In summary, we cannot guarantee an epidural but will certainly try our best to accommodate you should you wish one and it is clinically appropriate. If it is not an option, we will work with you on other forms of pain control.

Number of People in the Delivery Room

There are no absolute rules about the number of people who can attend your labour/delivery. In general, we would recommend one good support person whether this be your partner, family member or spouse. You may choose to have a second support person also available. If the situation demands it (ie. we are concerned about you or your baby and need your attention), we may choose to ask extra family members to leave. Your primary support person will be permitted to remain with you. With respect to C-Section delivery, just one person is allowed in the operating room with you. In the rare instance of a medical emergency, even your partner may be asked to leave.

Lamaze Classes/Breast Feeding Information

Lamaze classes are highly recommended. Studies show that women who have attended Lamaze classes tend to report lower pain scores in labour and also tend to have better labours. It makes sense that understanding what is happening to you results in less anxiety and better coping skills when the time comes. It is also a great opportunity for your partner to feel part of the experience. If your partner cannot attend, a family member or close friend can substitute. Having a good support person in labour is essential. 

We have three options with respect to Lamaze Classes in Port Perry.
i. Hospital Based weekly (usually Monday) night sessions X 6 sessions
ii. Hospital Based Weekend (Two Days)
iii. In home Lamaze

One of our physicians, Dr. Kerri Best, also provides breast feeding consultations if you are interested. This is usually booked around 36 weeks; ask us for a referral.