+ Post partum care: what to expect after discharge from hospital

• Hospital discharge form. Please bring this form with you to your first postpartum visit with your doctor.
• Family doctor providing maternity care. Make an appointment with your provider for yourself and baby typically within 7 days after discharge from hospital. Sooner if concerns.
• Some clinics provide these appointments as drop-in weekly Post Partum support groups:
  • Medical Arts Clinic FRIDAYS 9:30 am-10:30 am
  • Lexitor Medical Clinic TUESDAYS 8:30 am -9:30 am
• Public health (Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Parksville, Qualicum Beach). A public health nurse will meet you and your baby in hospital prior to discharge and connect again upon returning home (by phone or home visit depending on families care needs). FREE SERVICE.
• Public health nurse available by phone 7 days a week (8:30 am -4:30 pm) if questions or concerns. Call 250-755-3388.
• See Doula list above. Many Doulas provide postpartum support including daytime, overnight, and sibling care to give you rest or an extra set of hands. PRIVATE PAY.
• Babies Best Chance: Online resource from a trusted source to answer all your questions about pregnancy, labour, delivery, and having a new baby

+ Breastfeeding

Helpful Breastfeeding Resources

• Kelly Mom. Article: “Breast feeding your newborn- What to expect in the early weeks”. Website kellymom.com
• Breastfeeding Support Phone Line: 1-855-868-7710. Interior Health’s Healthy From The Start (HFS) program has launched a breastfeeding support line to help with challenges and system navigation. Patients can speak with a lactation consultant by calling the HFS line at 1-855-868-7710. Monday – Friday. 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM.

MSP funded Lactation Support Services

• Nanaimo Public Health. Drop-in lactation support Monday to Friday 9 am - 12 pm. Scheduled appointments available at your request all week (including weekends). Location: 1665 Grant Ave. Phone 250 755 6200 and leave message for call back.
• Dr Cindy Landy. Lactation medicine specialist (Nanaimo). Tongue tie release. Ask your maternity provider or family physician for referral. Fax referral letter to (778) 690-2029.
• Sage Midwives. Breast/chest feeding class and lactation support after delivery. Ask your maternity provider for referral.Website: https://www.sagemidwives.ca/
• Oceanside Public Health. Call for an appointment (monday through saturday) or Drop-in Thursdays. Call public health nurse at 250-947-8242. Located at Parksville Family Place.
• Group support (Nanaimo and Parksville). La Leche League Canada. Both Nanaimo and Parksville have support groups meeting on a regular basis. Website lllc.ca. Click “find a group/leader”.

Lactation Consultants (private pay)

• Anne-Marie Mougeot Osteopathy. Island Optimal Health & Performance. Website https://www.nanaimo-osteopathy.ca/lactationsupport. To book call 250-756-4647.
• Journey of Birth. Sarah Segal. Website www.journeyofbirth.ca.

+ Pelvic Floor Rehab

• Kegel exercises for pelvic floor weakness after childbirth.
• Pelvic floor physiotherapists (Nanaimo):
  • Northwood Pelvic health and wellness clinic. Maggie Bell. Website: www.northwoodpelvichealth.com
  • Stalberg physiotherapy. Kristin Stallberg. Website https://tapestryhealth.ca/
  • Island Optimal. Alex Hale. Website https://www.elevate-physiotherapy.com/
  • Anne-Marie Mougeot Osteopathy. Island Optimal Health & Performance. Website https://www.nanaimo-osteopathy.ca/pelvic-health.
  • Symphony Rehab. Tara Swanson or Charlotte Mah. Website https://www.symphony-rehab.com/services#PelvicHealth
  • Pinpoint. Danielle Roberts. Website https://pinpointphysio.ca/bio/danielle-roberts

• Pelvic floor physiotherapists (Lantsville):
  • Nikita Shah. Lantzville Wellness Centre. Phone 250-933-0785
• Pelvic floor physiotherapists (Comox):
  • Comox Physiotherapy Clinic. Shannon Lawrence. Website https://www.comoxphysio.com
• Pelvic floor physiotheraptists (Duncan):
  • StartLine physiotherapy. Sara Jones. Website https://startlinehealth.com/

+ Sleep

Resources

• Caring for Kids. Website www.caringforkids.cps.ca Articles “Healthy Sleep for your Baby and Child” and “Safe Sleep for Babies”.
• Facebook support groups:

• Respectful Sleep Training
• Precious Little Sleep

Sleep consultants- Greater Nanaimo

• Tranquil Sleep Solutions. Riannon Setterfield. Website https://tranquilsolutions.ca/
• West Coast Sleep Consulting. Website www.westcoastsleepconsulting.com, Facebook “West Coast Sleep”
• Happy Little Dreamers. Jessica Raymond. Website https://www.happylittledreamers.ca/

+ Depression and Anxiety Support

• 24 hour Crisis line. Phone 1-888-494-3888
• Anxiety and Depression Self-Help. Online resource with options for CBT and Dialectical behavioural therapy
• Counselling Services

• Meghan Marr. Website https://www.meghanmarr.com/
• Francis Rigets. Email: francescounsellor@gmail.com
• Veronica Harris. Website https://www.veronicaharriscounselling.com/maternal
• Kate Borsato. Website www.kateborsato.com.
• Pacific Post Partum Support Society. FREE telephone counselling 1-855-255-7999. Website http://postpartum.org/services/
• Crisis Counselling Walk-in Clinic FREE Drop-in Counselling M-F 10:00 am - 6:15 pm. 203-2000 Island Highway North, Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 5W3.

• Support Groups

• Motherhood Wellness Circle. Counsellor Veronica Harris. Mondays 7 pm. Website http://www.oldcitymidwives.ca/Education.php
• Adjustment Group. FREE through public health. Referral through maternity provider or GP.

+ Nutrition for Mom and Baby

Mom to Mom Nutrition. Provides tips on healthy eating in pregnancy, first foods for baby, and picky toddler strategies. Website momtomomnutrition.com/nutrition/. Facebook group “Mom to Mom Nutrition”.

+ Playtime

• Caring for Kids. Article “Playtime with your baby: Learning and Growing in the First Year”.
• MamaOT. Website mamaot.com/developmental-milestones/ Tips and tricks to promoting tummy time, rolling, and crawling.
• Munchkinland at Family Place (Oceanside). www.oblt.ca/programs/munchkinlands Munchkinland is a free drop-in program for children from birth to kindergarden age and their adult. There are Munchkinland centres in Parksville and Qualicum Beach. These centres are a part of the BC StrongStart program and offer dynamic early learning environments for children and their parents/caregivers.

+ Car seats

• Caring for Kids. “Car Seat Safety”. Canadian Pediatric Society explains when to switch from forward facing, rear facing, booster seat, to seat belts in your children. www.caringforkids.cps.ca
• Vancouver Island Car Seat Technicians. Website vicarseattechs.com, Facebook “Vancouver Island Car Seat Technicians”. Provide car seat clinics and car seat checks by certified technicians to help support you in installing your car seat properly.

+ Vaccinations

• Preventing painful pokes: Watch this video to learn more.
• Read about what Canadian pediatricians recommend for vaccinations in your baby. Article: Vaccination and your child.
• Choosing not to vaccinate? Read article: When parents choose not to vaccinate: risks and responsibilities.