Nanaimo Registered Midwives

For Parents who like listening to podcasts. Here is a good one.

Raising Good Humans by Dear Media, Aliza Pressman As a parent, do you ever wish someone could just whisper some realistic and trustworthy support in your ear? And not make you feel awful for not having all the answers? Well, that’s what I’m here for. I'm Dr. Aliza Pressman, developmental psychologist, parent educator, asst. clinical professor, ...

Did you have gestational diabetes or high blood pressure during your pregnancy? Come to the post-pregnancy drop-in group, which is open to all people who have experienced high blood sugars or high blood pressures during or after pregnancy. Meet with other parents with similar experiences and have an opportunity to speak to the health care team about keeping yourself and your family healthy long term.

Learn more about these upcoming sessions at: https://ow.ly/x1j950SXP45

Come pick up a hamper this FRIDAY Aug 16th!

Postpartum Planning for New and Expectant Parents, an online class is happening on Wednesday August 21, from 10:00-11:00 AM PST.

All pregnancy HUB participants, pregnant or newly parenting are invited to join Hayley, RN for this virtual prenatal class on what to expect during the first 6 weeks postpartum.
Topics covered will include:
• What is the postpartum period
• What happens to your body during the postpartum period
• How to take care of yourself during the postpartum period
• Recovering at home from vaginal birth
• Recovering at home from caesarean birth
• Coping with emotions
• Management of common postpartum challenges

Current HUB participants can sign up through the link in our bio “HUB Program Schedule”.
https://www.pregnancyhub.org/Program_Schedule

Not a HUB participant yet? DM us “SIGN UP” to get a link. The Pregnancy HUB program is always free for all pregnant, postpartum and newly parenting people in BC!

https://pregnancyhub.org/Sign-Up-HUB

We look forward to meeting you! Partners or supportive family members are always welcome

https://www.facebook.com/100063550539670/posts/1026635772798098/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Gerber® brand Oat Banana & Mango Baby Cereal recalled due to Cronobacter spp. - Canada.ca Food contaminated with Cronobacter may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Although Cronobacter is not commonly linked to human illness, in rare cases it can cause serious or fatal infections. Cronobacter can cause rare bloodstream and central nervous system infections and h...

We're here to help you through that challenging first week with your newborn! We schedule regular visits in your home, and encourage you to reach out to us if you're struggling in between!

We are actively recruiting for the PSA-SP study to understand the practicality of an online screening program for pregnancy specific anxiety!

If you are pregnant, over the age of 19, and living in British Columbia, you may be eligible to participate! Visit pwrt.med.ubc.ca/research to check your eligibility.

Compensation provided in Amazon.ca gift cards.

If you choose to interact with this post (e.g., like, share, follow), you will be publicly identified with the study.

The first stage of labor is the longest lasting from a few hours to a few days. This stage happens in 3 phases: early, active, and transition.

It begins with mild contractions and ends when the cervix is fully opened.

SOURCE: Baby’s Best Chance

https://www.facebook.com/100064560858016/posts/869948348500519/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Canada Day celebrations are tomorrow! Join us at Maffeo Sutton Park on Monday, July 1, 11 am-3:30 pm for a variety of activities for the whole family!

Bring a portable chair and enjoy some upbeat music from Moonshine Mollys, The Kiltlifters and The Pickups.

Face painting, bouncy castles, a photo booth, community interactive booths and a cultural community stage will be part of the festivities, and there will be a variety of food trucks on site.

Getting to the event...
-Hub City Cycles will provide a bike valet and free bike storage
-Complimentary shuttles will be available courtesy of the Regional District of Nanaimo
-Parking is not available on site, but there are many free options near the park

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

For more information on Canada Day in Nanaimo, please see our website. https://ow.ly/PzqK50SpwHg

Regional District of Nanaimo Moonshine Mollys The Kiltlifters The Pickups Hub City Cycles Community Co-op Vibrant Studios

If you haven't been able to make it to a local class like Journey of Birth here is a childbirth class to consider :)

Join The Pregnancy HUB for a Virtual Prenatal Class on The Childbirth Process.

In this class you will learn about the birth process, gain confidence in your body’s abilities and develop practical tools to prepare for giving birth.

This class is recorded for viewing at your convenience.

Registration is FREE for all BC families. Sign up: https://pregnancyhub.org/

If you’re having trouble coping with your baby’s crying, try:
• talking to your partner about how you can help each other
• finding someone you can call anytime if you’re losing control
• asking other parents how they coped
• speaking with your health care provider or calling HealthLink BC at 8-1-1

Source: Baby’s Best Chance

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day! We are so honored to live on these lands and serve these communities.

Happy Fathers Day to all the amazing Dads out there!

Lots of Pride events still to come this month :).

Updated to include Port Hardy Pride Society and Tofino Pride!

Happy June everyone! Here's our Healthy Beginnings schedule for the month.

Want to complete the web-based Pregnancy-Specific Anxiety Tool and receive your screening results? Join the ePSAT study!

Visit midwifery.ubc.ca/ePSAT for more information!

Disclaimer: If you choose to interact with this post (e.g., like, share, follow), you will be publicly identified with the study.

"Ensure you're getting enough protein, iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and linoleic acid (an omega-3)."- Baby's Best Chance.

Not sure how to get all the nutrition you need? Call Dietician Services at HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 for guidance and support, and visit https://www.pregnancyhub.org/Nutrition-&-Food-Security for more resources.

Midwives, faced with gaps in Canada's maternity care, say they could be doing more to close them (Globe and Mail) - Canadian Association of Midwives Midwives are in a unique position to alleviate some of the strain on the system while providing high-quality care.

We come see you a few times the first week, to weigh your baby and answer all your questions and concerns about those first few precious days and nights!

"In the first few days, it’s normal for babies to lose some weight – usually 7 to 10% of their birth weight, or a bit more if you had a caesarean or IV fluids during labour. Your baby will probably gain this weight back within 2 weeks, then start gaining 120-240 grams (¼-½ lb) each week until, by about 4 to 6 months, they'll be twice as heavy as when they were born. If your baby loses more than 10% of his weight in the first few days, talk with your healthcare provider or call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1."

Source: Baby's Best Chance

We also extend loving wishes to the people who find this day hard.

Here in the US (and many other countries around the world), Mother's Day is upon us. We're thinking of all the people for whom this weekend is particularly difficult. The second Sunday in May (and all of the advertising & social media activity around it) seriously sucks for so many people, in more ways than I can list.

So many wounds in the world. So many ways to be wounded. My loves, whether or not the reason(s) you are hurting are listed in this post, please take good care of yourselves.

I wish these made-up holidays didn't come with so much extra grief. There is plenty to go around without these greeting card dates. For now, please know that however this Mother's Day affects you, we're all here in this together, holding onto each other, holding each other up.

Whatever your loss — mother-related or no — I hope this weekend gifts you with something that lets you feel held, if only for a moment.

How about you? Is this thing hard for you, or is it a non-issue? If it's not a sore point for you, how does the mother-related pain of others affect you? Share with us in the comments.

NOTE: If you do not identify with or understand why something was included on this graphic, that's ok. That also does NOT give you license to judge, question, or complain about it in the comments. Please keep your opinions about other people's grief to yourself. This community is a NO GRIEF-SHAMING zone.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing brave mothers we are so privileged to work with! We hope you all have a special day with your loved ones 💕

Fostering attachment is an important part of parenthood! Here are some ways to build a healthy attachment with your baby:

• Listen, watch and try to understand how they communicate their needs.
• Respond to their needs in a loving way.
• Respond to their needs as quickly as you can.
• Respond to their needs in a consistent way.
• Cuddle, smile and talk to your baby often.

During the first week of May, World Maternal Mental Health Week, Flora’s Walk takes place in various communities and cities across Canada. The walk honours Flora and all those who have suffered with perinatal mental health challenges.

Flora’s lifelong dream was to be a mother. At 44 years old, after years of fertility treatments, Flora, a single mom by choice in Toronto, Ontario, finally and happily became pregnant.

Due to undiagnosed and untreated postpartum psychosis, Flora tragically passed away two months after baby Amber was born.  

The CPMHC’s Flora’s Walk for Perinatal Mental Health is the largest Canadian fundraiser for perinatal mental health programs and services. 

In 2023, over $120,000 was raised during Flora’s Walk. Walks and events were held in 40 cities across Canada. In 2023 Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Carolyn Bennett, announced funding to start work on Canada’s first ever National Guidelines for Perinatal Mental Health. 

This year we walk to continue raising awareness and funding for perinatal mental health programs and initiatives. You can join Pacific Post Partum Support Society on May 1st at 10 am for our walk. Details are on our Facebook event page: https://fb.me/e/1KTirkqGn

Our nursing students worked with the Healthy Beginnings group and prepared a list of some of the Spring activities in our community! Check them out below!

Strong Start StrongStart Early Learning Centre - https://www.sd68.bc.ca/programs/early-years/strong-start/
LEAP Pass - https://www.nanaimo.ca/parks-recreation-culture/recreation-facilities-schedules/leap-(leisure-economic-access-pass)
Tiny Tots Tiny Tots Playgroup - https://www.countryclubcentre.com/event/tiny-tots-playgroup/
Ladysmith Family and Friends - https://www.familyandfriends.ca/
Harbourfront Library Activities - https://virl.bc.ca/branches/nanaimo-harbourfront/
Superior Farms Egg Hunt - https://superiorfarmsbc.ca/events/

Fun stuff and resources!

Our nursing students worked with the Healthy Beginnings group and prepared a list of some of the Spring activities in our community! Check them out below!

Strong Start StrongStart Early Learning Centre - https://www.sd68.bc.ca/programs/early-years/strong-start/
LEAP Pass - https://www.nanaimo.ca/parks-recreation-culture/recreation-facilities-schedules/leap-(leisure-economic-access-pass)
Tiny Tots Tiny Tots Playgroup - https://www.countryclubcentre.com/event/tiny-tots-playgroup/
Ladysmith Family and Friends - https://www.familyandfriends.ca/
Harbourfront Library Activities - https://virl.bc.ca/branches/nanaimo-harbourfront/
Superior Farms Egg Hunt - https://superiorfarmsbc.ca/events/

Crossroads Clients, join Marnie Wynans, Doula & Lactation Counsellor, for an afternoon of Prenatal Education and Breastfeeding Tips. There is no charge for the class, and coffee/snacks will be provided.

When: Tuesday, April 30/24 from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Where: Crossroads Pregnancy Centre (1717 Kerrisdale Rd)

Space is limited, please call or text 250-716-1633 or email [email protected] to register.

Here's the March Healthy Beginnings calendar! Hope to see you there!