When Dr. Mona Hnaini arrived at The Moncton Hospital to deliver her second child in June, she stepped into a role she rarely occupies — that of a patient. In that moment, she experienced the new Jean Elizabeth Saunders Irving Obstetrics and Newborn Care Unit through an entirely different lens.
Dr. Hnaini joined The Moncton Hospital as a Pediatric Neurologist in 2024. In this role, she is no stranger to hospitals or operating rooms. However, this was her first time encountering the new Obstetrics and Newborn Care Unit as a patient, and the experience left a lasting impression.
From the moment she arrived for her scheduled C-section, she felt at ease.
“I enjoyed how private and comfortable my experience was upon arrival. I liked how I didn’t have to walk through the hospital to get to the unit, and it was so easy to access my room and get my items situated before the procedure,” she shared.
Before surgery, her anesthesiologist came in to explain the process, offering reassurance and comfort at a moment when it mattered most.
The Obstetrics and Newborn Care Unit includes eight birthing rooms, two operating rooms, ten postpartum care rooms, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and access to maternal–fetal medicine services, breastfeeding support, and Postpartum Discharge Clinics — a comprehensive hub designed with families in mind.
“It was incredible to have an operating room dedicated solely to mothers and babies,” Dr. Hnaini said. “The delivery was so calm and peaceful because of the environment. I felt like royalty during the birth.”
Her post-delivery care was just as memorable.
“The care I received after birth was excellent. I had an amazing nurse who was there to help me with anything I needed,” she said. “I did not have this type of support after the birth of my first child in Ontario in early 2024.”
Dr. Hnaini now calls Moncton home, where she lives with her husband and their two young children while continuing to build her career and serve the community.
Investments in women, children, and newborn care are essential to Dr. Hnaini — and she believes that this unit will have a meaningful impact on the mental health of mothers.
“Being pregnant and giving birth is such a stressful and overwhelming time for a woman. Having access to a unit like this helps ease a mother’s mind and supports her mental health during a very challenging time.”
Dr. Hnaini expressed genuine admiration upon learning that donor support played a key role in making the new unit a reality.
“I want to thank anyone who donated to support this extraordinary facility. It is very thoughtful of you to support women and babies in our community.”
Do you want to help improve care for women and children in our community?
Your generosity strengthens patient outcomes, rebuilds lives, and gives families hope when they need it most.
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