FAQ

01Who can come to the clinic?

The Best Birth Clinic schedules appointments with women who:

Have had a previous cesarean birth and are at least 12 weeks into their current pregnancy;
Are at least 34 weeks into their pregnancy, with their baby currently in the breech position (head up rather than head down); or
Are at least 12 weeks into their pregnancy and are considering a cesarean birth for non-medical reasons.

You can get a referral from your doctor or midwife to come to the Best Birth Clinic, or you can call the clinic directly if you prefer. Women who live outside Vancouver and who meet the eligibility criteria are also welcome to call for more information.

02Where is the clinic?

The clinic is located at BC Women’s Hospital, on Oak Street between 28th Avenue and 32nd Avenue in Vancouver, BC. For more detailed information on how to find the clinic, click here. Please make sure you leave plenty of time to get to the hospital, find parking, and check in for your appointment. Please be aware that during busy times, it can take up to 30 minutes to find parking and check in at the clinic. Unfortunately, if you are late for your appointment, you will likely have to be re-scheduled for another appointment on the next available day.

03How do I make an appointment?

To make an appointment, talk to your care provider or the call clinic for more information.

04I’m early in my pregnancy - how far ahead can I make an appointment?

You need to be at least 12 weeks into your current pregnancy to make an appointment at the Best Birth Clinic, and if you are making an appointment because your baby is in the breech position, you need to be at least 34 weeks into your pregnancy.

05Do I need a referral?

You will need a referral from your doctor or midwife to come to the Best Birth Clinic. You can request that your doctor or midwife make a referral for you, or, if you would prefer, you can call us directly and we can request the referral from your care provider.

06What should I bring with me?

Make sure that you bring your BC Care Card with your health insurance number on it. If you have copies of any of your records (for example, copies of ultrasounds, or your prenatal chart) from your current or previous pregnancies, it would be helpful to bring those along with you.

07Who can come with me to my visit?

You are welcome to bring a support person with you to your appointment – your partner, a family member or a friend.

08How long will my visit take?

If you are coming for a counselling appointment, your appointment will be about one hour long in total. If you are coming for an ECV (turning the baby if it is breech), your appointment will be about two hours long. Please make sure you have plenty of time before your scheduled appointment time to find parking,walk from the bus stop, and to check in prior to your appointment. Please be aware that during busy times, it can take up to 30 minutes to find parking and check in at the clinic.

09If I choose an ECV, will it be done right then or will I have to come back for another appointment?

If you decide to try ECV to turn your baby from the breech (head-up) position to the normal (head-down) position before your birth, you be booked to return for another appointment for the ECV procedure. This will be arranged at the end of your first appointment.

11How do I find a doctor or midwife for my pregnancy?

To find a doctor or midwife to care for you during your pregnancy and birth, click here to see a list of maternity care provider choices, and their contact information.

12Will this appointment count as a pre-natal visit?

No. Appointments at the Best Birth Clinic do not replace any of your normal pregnancy care visits with your doctor or midwife. We will not be doing any medical check-ups on you or your baby during your appointment (except for those that are part of the ECV procedure).