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Grand River Hospital‘s new childbirth facility will bring entire family into the picture Registered nurses Patti Bambury and Brenda Brydges, pictured left, help Waterloo MPP Elizabeth Witmer kick off the redeâ€" velopment of children and childbirth services at Grand River Hospital. Helping out were Blodina Matheson, Anne McClement, Darlene Karnupis and clinical director of children‘services Claudette Delenardo, pictured right. 808 VRBANAC PHOTO odern families and their needs are driâ€" ving the changes to childbirth and children‘s serâ€" vices â€" at Grand _ River Hospital, unveiled last week during the kickoff to conâ€" struction of the new $14.7â€" million facility. The redevelopment will change how childcare and childbirth services were traâ€" ditionally dealt with at the hospital, bringing families into closer contact with chilâ€" dren in distress or mothers who are expecting. The redevelopment of children â€" services, which cares for seriously ill and medically fragile children, and the modernizing of the more _ than _ 50â€"yearâ€"old childbirth unit will enhance By Bos VRBANAC Chronicle Staff | a familyâ€"centred care model being adopted by the hospiâ€" That emphasis on the family will provide integratâ€" ed care for mothers and babies, before and after birth, and provide parents an opportunity to become more â€" involved in â€" their child‘s care while in the chilâ€" dren‘s unit. Dianne Windisch, clinical director of child birth serâ€" vices, who had her own chilâ€" dren at the unit, said the changes will be night and day for the local centre, which handles more than 4,000 births annually. Former patients who have had their babies at the centre won‘t even recogâ€" nize the changes, including recognition of the important role fathers and other supportâ€"givers play during LIFESTYLE "What we find now is that women really like to have their partners, their husâ€" bands, stay with them," said Windisch. "We couldn‘t realâ€" ly provide that most times. "That‘s going to be a big change. The support person will be able to stay with her, stay overnight and learn about the baby and how to care for the baby." a woman‘s labour. The birthing area will include 24 new labour, birth and â€" recovery â€" afterâ€"birth rooms, and an additional 17 beds for women who require more complex care. The addition of more priâ€" vate rooms will also increase the opportunity for fathers or other support persons like grandparents, to stay with the expectant mother in hospital. "The other big change is NNEX that they‘ll be staying longer in the room in which they give birth," said Windisch. "We would like for them, ideally, to spend their entire time in hospital in that room. They‘ll be in there for at least the first 24 hours." That will ease the stress on expectant mothers being shifted between different areas of the birthing unit, and will increase the newâ€" borns‘ contact with their mothers. The creation of new labourâ€"birthâ€"recovery rooms will reduce the numâ€" ber of transfers patients will be â€"required to make between rooms, and will support babies remaining in the room with the family. More importantly, with the new floor plans and room redesigns on display at Continued on page 12 Volunteer women who care about young teen girls are needed to help present a unique schoolâ€"based program called Teen Esteem. i ! NC 1 NE 2 Eomeaionena t Ponammeenenspsie ds 5 Presented by the Youth Health program of the Waterloo Region community health department, Teen Esteem provides a positive group experience for girls in Grades 7â€"8 at a time when their selfâ€"esteem is most vulnerable. Each session is led by volunteer women from the community who have been successful in their own career choices. Since 1997, dedicated women have volunteered to act as selfâ€"esteem group leaders and role models for the Teen Esteem program. Tfi; pr;g‘r;mrwh'ich began in three schools, has expanded to 10 schools â€" five during the fall and five during the winter terms. â€" 1 T uen o. Te avabe n ie ies The program is based on a 1992 report entitled "We‘re Here, Listen to Us!". According to this report, teenage girls often feel unappreciated and undervalâ€" ued, and experience a loss of spirit and contentment as they grow older. â€" snz Pava. a confonintit. . snn ons Teen Esteem volunteers can help these girls feel they are valuable and appreciated. "'fl;c-);e- interested in ‘b‘ecoming a Teen Esteem volâ€" unteer should call 883â€"2003, ext. 5755 by Sept. 21. 530 Havoc Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron will hold a recruiting drive in the parking lot of Canada Post at the corner of Regina Street North and Bridgeport Road, Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ~"'I‘?\;;;trlr;rxose of the drive is to relay information to local youth about the opportunities available to them through the air cadet program. At the recruiting drive there will there will be a Schweizer 2â€"33 glider. In addition to the glider, there will be abseil, sports, range and outdoor survival disâ€" plays, as well as pamphlets containing general cadet information. The cadet program is available to all youth ages 12â€" 18. Air Cadets gives the opportunity for youth to develop leadership skills, and attain both a glider pilot and a power pilot licence. Other activities that are available to cadets include survival, range, and sports training. 530 Squadron meets every Monday evening from 6:30â€"9:30 p.m.. Those unable to attend the drive this Saturday can sign up on Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at branch 530 Royal Canadian Legion, on the third floor, 19 Regina St. N., Waterloo, or call 884â€"0237 for more Local Air Cadet squadron holds recruiting drive information Human Resources Development Canada is hostâ€" ing a workplace charitable campaign kickâ€"off barbeâ€" cue in support of the United Way and Healthpartners, Sept. 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. HRDC hosts United Way BBQ _ The Human Resources Development centre is located at 409 Weber S. W. in Kitchener, and everyone is welcome. Volunteers needed for Teen Esteem program N NicQZ1LJei | 746â€"1666 WATERLOO NORTH Northfield at the Parkway : olg % FINANCING Ask for details m’-mi omards com