LGH Foundation officially opens new birthing centre

By Ian Howarth, October 31st, 2012

The birthing experience, long and cold, clinically choreographed experience, just got a lot more homey and welcoming with the official opening of the new Nick Di Tomaso Birthing Centre at the Lakeshore General Hospital.
The second floor obstetrics ward hallway is now a snappy, colourful palette of blues, yellows and greens. The laminated wood flooring in each of the 10 birthing rooms gives an at-home feel for the women, family and visitors. Each of the rooms is twice the size of regular hospital rooms and is equipped to handle all aspects of birth except emergency surgery or C-section. To ease the discomfort to labour each room features a roll-in shower and a whirlpool room to further ease and smooth contractions.
Mimi Hurtabrise, dressed in her own show of colorful hospital wear to complement the newly re-modelled birthing centre, said the re-do gave the ward “a homey atmosphere.” “It's a more spacious area,” she said. “A lot more room for the mothers.” OB-GYN Dr. Stephanie Krackovitch was equally impressed. “The patient atmosphere had changed,” she noted. “The bathrooms and showers in the rooms are a big deal. Before women would have to use bathrooms in the hallway.” Along with 10 birthing rooms are 15 post-partum rooms done in equally warm colours and up-to-date equipment. The LGH had 1,700 births between April 2011 and March of this year.
While the women seem to have been nicely taken care of, at Monday's official opening it was new dad Sean McCann, a DJ/producer with 92.5 The Beat, who spoke eloquently about the dedicated nurses and doctors of the second floor maternity ward. “My wife and I are so proud to have had our baby here,” said McCann, who lives in Laval and is now the proud father of 22-day-old Daniel. “Even before my wife Heather gave birth we could call the hospital anytime and they would answer our questions,” he said. “We felt the LGH was the right place for us. We got the best level of care and this new centre should make it even better.”
Di Tomaso, who had been the director of the LGH Foundation since 2010 and a tireless, longtime LGH volunteer, has a reputation as a quipster and took advantage of his microphone time to remind people “I was once a baby.” But in a more serious moment, he confessed to being moved by the honour of having the birthing centre in his name. “I'm humbled and proud,” said Di Tomaso. “I do this in honour of all the volunteers I have worked with over time.” It was the wish of the Eric T. Webster Foundation that contributed $1.2 million that the birthing center be named after Di Tomaso. The LGH Foundation, founded 45 years ago, has raised millions to help the LGH upgrade medical equipment and improve doctor and patient services. n