When it comes to welcoming a new baby into the world, safety for both the parent and baby is everything. At Scarborough Health Network (SHN), the commitment to maternal health goes beyond expert care and modern birthing suites—it’s about anticipating risks and acting fast. That’s why we implemented the Maternal Early Obstetrical Warning System (MEOWS) in our Family Birthing Centres.
MEOWS is a cutting-edge tool designed to detect early warning signs of serious health concerns in pregnant and postpartum patients. By tracking vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, temperature, and alertness, MEOWS provides a clear picture of a patient’s health in real time. If anything starts to change even slightly, MEOWS alerts the care team so they can take timely action.
The Family Birthing Centres SHN’s Centenary and General hospitals are widely recognized for providing culturally sensitive, respectful, and responsive care that meet patients’ unique needs. Utilizing effective tools like MEOWS allows our clinical teams to anticipate more changes to a patients’ health and enables them to act accordingly and efficiently.
“It’s incredibly important to pay close attention to all of our pregnant and recently pregnant patients,” shared Meghan Cellamare, a Clinical practice leader of the Women and Children’s Health Program.
“Conditions like sepsis or postpartum hemorrhage can escalate quickly. Implementing MEOWS provides our team with an additional tool to catch subtle signs of deterioration and intervene promptly before they become life-threatening. This is an important step toward enhancing patient safety and reducing maternal risk.”
This system has been endorsed by leading health organizations, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, and is already showing results across hospitals worldwide including fewer ICU admissions, reduced emergency interventions, and better recovery outcomes.
Most importantly, MEOWS empowers families with peace of mind. Knowing that you’re being monitored with one of the most advanced safety systems available helps you focus on what truly matters: welcoming your new baby.
With a strong reputation for compassionate care, modern facilities, and now enhanced maternal monitoring, SHN’s Family Birthing Centres are setting a new standard for safe, responsive, and patient-centered maternal care.
To learn more or book a tour of SHN’s birthing centres, visit www.shn.ca/maternal-newborn-care.