COVID-19 Obstetrical Information

Updated: July 7, 2022

Dear patients and families,

We know that many pregnant patients are worried about COVID-19 and how the virus might affect their health and their baby. Your Maternal, Newborn and Paediatric Care team at North York General Hospital (NYGH) is working very hard to decrease risks to you and your baby during your pregnancy, and to provide you the information that we currently have about COVID-19 and pregnancy.

Feeling Unwell?

If you are feeling unwell with a fever (greater than 38 degrees Celsius), have a cough, difficulty breathing and/or are concerned that you may have had exposure to COVID-19, please proceed to book an appointment at the NYGH Assessment Centre.

If your concerns are not related to COVID-19 and you are less than 20 weekspregnant or you have a medical concern for which you would normally go to the Emergency Department, please go directly to the nearest Emergency Department.

When asked about symptoms of COVID-19, its important you please answer all of the questions as accurately and as truthfully as possible. Your care will not be compromised in any way if you have symptoms or if we suspect you may have COVID-19. By answering honestly, your health care team can ensure that everyone is prepared to provide you and your family with the best care that is safest for you and your baby.

Pregnancy Concerns?

Please use the instructions below if you have any pregnancy related concerns and you are more than 20 weeks pregnant (even if you are in self-isolation or quarantine at home).

If your concerns are non-urgent during regular business hours:

  • Please contact your care provider for your pregnancy to discuss the next steps in your care.
  • As many providers have reduced their office hours in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, if you are unable to reach your provider, please contact North York General’s Birthing Suites 416-756-6441 and a nurse will complete a telephone questionnaire and discuss the next steps in your care.

If your concerns are urgent or they occur after regular business hours:

  • Please contact North York Generals Birthing Suites 416-756-6441 and a nurse will complete a telephone questionnaire and discuss the next steps in your care.
  • If you are a patient of a Midwife, please page your midwife.
  • Advice may include:
  1. staying home
  2. seeing your family physician
  3. booking an appointment at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre or visiting the Emergency Department or
  4. coming to the Birthing Suites for an assessment

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, go to the Emergency Department, regardless of how far along you are in your pregnancy.

Entering and exiting the hospital

If you are coming to NYGH, please note that because of COVID-19 and to keep patients and families safe, our entrances and exits have been restricted and we have implemented a self screening and mandatory masking process upon entry.

7 days a week Enter and Exit:

  • 6:00 AM-9:00 PM
    • South Lobby, ground level by the parking garage
    • West Lobby, Level 1 facing Leslie Street
  • 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM
    • South lobby, ground level by the parking garage.
    • Press buzzer on intercom located next to the public entrance door.
    • Security team will remotely unlock to provide access to the hospital.

Upon entry to the hospital, you and your visitor(s)/ECP(s) will be directed to complete a self-screening process. If you are a visitor/ECP, and you answer yes to any of the statements of the self-screening sign, please do not enter the hospital.

Once entering, please sanitize your hands at one of the self-screening stations and take a mask from one of the self-serve dispensers (please note – there are appropriately-sized masks for adults and children). The mask is to be worn over your mouth and nose, at all times.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or you answered yes to any of the questions on the self-screening sign and you are instructed to come to L&D, upon arrival to the unit, please push the intercom button located on the wall outside the doors to the Birthing Suites and inform us that you have symptoms. We ask you to please clean your hands and we will escort you into the unit.

Visitor/essential care partner (ECP) policy within L&D, Triage, the Post Partum Unit (2W) and Out Patient Clinics

  • Patients will be allowed up to two (2) visitors/ECPs who are feeling well, at the bedside at any time during their stay in L&D, Triage, on Post-Partum and in our outpatient clinics.
  • Visitors/ECPs may switch out at any time, as long as there are no more than 2 at the bedside at a time
  • Children are also permitted to visit in all of our clinical areas (except NICU, whereby only children 5 years of age and older are permitted).
  • Children at the bedside are in addition to the 2 adult Visitors/ECPs
  • All children visiting who are under the age of 14 year old, must be supervised by an adult (this must not be a patient)
  • No children are permitted to stay overnight in the hospital
  • There will be unlimited “in and out” privilege for visitors of patients in L&D and on 2W.
  • Please bring all of the belongings that you and your support person might need for the duration of your stay. Please refer to our Updated Visitor Policy Information Sheet for the Maternal and Newborn Program, for further details.

Some important facts we want our patients to know, if they have COVID-19:

Toronto Public Health has developed a specific fact sheet entitled 'COVID-19, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Infant Care', which can be accessed online.