Giving Birth at Mount Sinai Hospital Toronto: Your Ultimate Guide to a Mindful Experience
Choosing to bring your baby into the world at Mount Sinai Hospital means you are in one of the most advanced obstetric centers in Canada. Whether you are planning a low-intervention birth or require the specialized care of their Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), having a dedicated support team can help you navigate the hospital environment with peace of mind.
Mount Sinai Toronto Labour & Delivery: By The Numbers
Understanding the environment can help you prepare. Mount Sinai is a high-volume, world-class teaching hospital:
Annual Births: Approximately 7,000 babies are born here each year.
Specialized Care: Home to the Newton Glassman Charitable Foundation Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, one of the largest and most advanced in the country.
Level of Care: It is a Level III Perinatal Centre, meaning they are equipped to handle the most complex maternal and fetal cases in Ontario.
Specialized Doula Support for Mount Sinai Families
As a doula with over a decade of experience, I provide grounded, mindful support tailored to the unique flow of Mount Sinai’s labour and delivery unit.
High-Risk Birth Support
Mount Sinai is the primary hub for high-risk pregnancies in the GTA. If you have been referred here for specialized monitoring, my support focuses on:
Emotional Regulation: Using mindfulness and "anchors" to stay present during frequent clinical assessments.
Advocacy: Helping you understand your options and maintain a sense of autonomy in a highly medicalized environment.
Twin & Multiples Support
With Mount Sinai’s expertise in multiples, many "twin parents" find themselves in the labour ward. My Twin Doula Support includes:
Twin Birth Support: Physical, emotional and educational support for a twin vaginal delivery or planned Cesarean section.
Synchronized Care: Strategies for feeding and soothing two newborns simultaneously.
Intensive Postpartum Support: Specialized in-hospital post Cesarean section recovery support, extra care in the NICU or household support during those long days going to and from the hospital, and in-home overnight twin doula support,
Induction Support
Inductions can be long and sometimes overwhelming. I provide:
Physical Comfort: Suggesting positions like "the proposal" or side-lying to help baby navigate the pelvis during a medicated labour, massage for relaxation, and tips to progress a slow or stalled labour.
Mindfulness Scripts: Guided meditations specifically for the "waiting" phases of an induction, relaxing music and reassurance when there is a change in your birth plan.
Mount Sinai Insider: Tips & Tricks
The "Birthing Cave": Hospital lighting can be harsh. I bring waterproof twinkle lights, eye masks, and music to soften the room and help you drop into your "inner world" for smoother labour progress.
Hydrotherapy: Mount Sinai has labour tubs available! Using water for its "hydro-endorphin" effect can significantly reduce pain and promote relaxation between surges.
Food for Partners: The food court is great, but things move fast. Ensure your partner has a "labour bag" with high-protein snacks to stay energized.
The Parking Hack: Parking at Sinai can be pricey. Consider the multi-day passes if you anticipate a longer stay or induction.
Capture the Magic: Birth & Newborn Photography
The natural light in Sinai’s postpartum rooms is beautiful for capturing those first "Golden Hour" moments. I offer:
Newborn Lifestyle Sessions: Film-style photos in the comfort of your home (or hospital suite).
Birth Photography: Documenting the strength and transformation of your labour and birth at Mount Sinai.
Fresh 48 Photography: Capturing those fleeting first moments in Mount Sinai postpartum ward, the NICU or at home.
Mount Sinai Toronto Labour & Delivery: Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, Mount Sinai is known for its inclusive care and is a leader in providing LGBTQ+ affirming birth support in Toronto. The hospital’s "Pride Sinai" initiative ensures that staff are trained to respect all family structures, gender identities, and pronouns. As your doula, I specialize in supporting queer and trans parents at Sinai, ensuring your family is centered, your pronouns are respected, and your birth plan is honored by the entire medical team.
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Mount Sinai offers labour tubs in many of their birthing suites! While you cannot give birth in the water at Sinai (hospital policy requires you to exit the tub for the actual delivery), using hydrotherapy during the labouring phase is a fantastic way to manage sensations and stay relaxed.
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Inductions are common at Sinai due to their high-risk expertise. If you are scheduled for an induction, we focus on "active rest." I provide specialized induction doula support, helping you with movement and positioning to encourage the baby’s descent once the process begins.
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Typically, Mount Sinai allows two support persons in labour and delivery. This means you can have both your partner and your doula present to provide continuous physical and emotional support.
Note: Since I am a doula and a birth photographer, you won’t need to have a third person in the room if you are hoping for birth photography during your labour and delivery at Mount Sinai!
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Mount Sinai offers private, semi-private, and ward rooms. While you can request a private room upon admission, they are assigned based on availability. Most private rooms have large windows with great natural light—perfect for those Fresh 48 newborn photography sessions!
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The Newton Glassman NICU is a Level III facility, meaning it provides the highest level of intensive care. If your baby requires a stay in the NICU, the hospital emphasizes family-integrated care, allowing parents to be deeply involved in their baby’s daily routine and progress.
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This is a common question! At Mount Sinai, a doula’s role remains vital even after an epidural is administered. While the focus shifts away from intense pain management, it pivots toward active positioning and labour progression. I help with:
Passive Positioning: Using "peanut balls" and specific side-lying positions to keep your pelvis open and help the baby rotate.
Emotional Anchoring: Keeping the room calm and mindful so you can rest deeply before the pushing stage.
Information Support: Helping you understand the next clinical steps and staying connected to your birth plan while you are restricted to the bed.
Relaxation: I offer gentle head massages, a heating pad behind the neck, guided meditations and general support getting comfy and relaxed to help your cervix dilate.
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Mount Sinai generally allows one support person in the operating room for a scheduled or non-emergency C-section. Usually, this is a partner, but in some circumstances, a doula may be permitted. If I am not in the OR with you, I remain at the hospital to support you the moment you are moved to the recovery room, assisting with the first latch and your initial postpartum comfort.