+ COVID pandemic

We aim to continue to provide safe and supportive prenatal and post partum care. Please book a phone visit with your GP maternity provider if questions or you have cold/flu-like symptoms.

• Read this BC CDC handoutfor more information on COVID vaccine if pregnant or breast feeding.

+ Babies Best Chance

Online resource from a trusted source to answer all your questions about pregnancy, labour, delivery, and having a new baby. Translated versions available (Spanish, French, Punjabi, Chinese).

+ Genetic Screening

Watch this online video to understand if genetic screening is right for you.

+ Pregnancy loss and grief support

• Crossroads Pregnancy Centre. Website: https://www.cpcnanaimo.com/pregnancy-loss
• Free telephone counselling. Pacific Post Partum Support Society. Website: http://postpartum.org/services/

+ NRGH Hospital Tour and Registration

• Hospital pre-registration. After 24 weeks GA we’d recommend you pre-register at the hospital. Ask your GP maternity provider for the pre-registration form.
• Hospital tour is available at our "Virtual" Meet the Doctor nights.
• NRGH parking and bus information. Cheapest to pay for weekly pass if you know you’ll be staying more than 24 hours.

+ Baby Kick Counts

• Handout outlining kick counting of your baby.
• Every day in your third trimester (after 28 weeks) you should be aware of your baby’s activity, and if you feel that baby is moving less than normal, you should do a more formal count of your baby’s movement. If you have any pregnancy complications, your doctor or midwife may ask you to do this more regularly as well.

+ Prenatal Classes

Nanaimo

• Meet the Doctors Night. Includes Q&A and NRGH maternity ward tour.
• Journey of Birth. Sarah Segal. Website: www.journeyofbirth.ca
• Tillicum Lelum. Free prenatal class. Welcomes all ethnicities. Phone 250-753-6578.
• Navigating Pregnancy. Harbour City Doulas. Third Thursday of the month 7-8 pm at the Old City Midwives, 106-360 Selby St. By donation. Also hosted in Ladysmith third Wednesday of the month 7-8 pm at the Ladysmith Resource Centre, 630 2nd Ave.

Parksville

• Parksville Family Place. Oceanside Public health. Contact 250-947-8242 to register. Parksville residents given preference. Free prenatal class.

+ Doulas: pregnancy and birth support persons

• Aboriginal doula program
• Tillicum Lelum. Phone 250-753-6578.
• Doula on the Move. Allison. Website: https://www.doulaonthemove.com/Services covered by the Aboriginal Doula Program.
• Meg Fulton. Rosewater reproductive wellness. Website: https://www.rosewaterwellness.ca/
• Harbour City Doulas. Website: harbourcitydoulas.comServices covered by the Aboriginal Doula Program
• Tessa Jagow. Bloom Holistic Doula Services
• Sarah Welsby. Website: island doula

+ Massage: prenatal and postpartum

• Solace Centre. Website: solacecentre.ca, Phone 250-754-0887.
• Kristen Cavey. Facebook “Birth to Blossom Doula and Massage”
• Wild Coast Wellness. Website: wildcoastwellness.com, Phone 250-591-8448
• Elegant Sculpting. Website: elegancesculpting.ca/prenatal-massages-in-parksville/, Phone 250-954-8206

+ Exercise

• ACOG FAQ sheet on the safety and benefits of exercise.
• Spinning Babies. Daily exercises.

+ Prenatal Yoga

• Meghan Marr. Prenatal, Mom and Baby Yoga at the Wellhouse. Phone 250-327-1688. Website: https://www.meghanmarr.com/

+ Prenatal Osteopathy

• Anne-Marie Mougeot. Prenatal Osteopathy, Island Optimal Health & Performance. Phone 250-756-4647. Website: https://www.annemariemougeot.com

+ Healthy Eating

• See Babies Best Chance (pages 16-20)
• Ways to save money to eat healthy with a newborn:
  • The Good Food box. A Nanaimo Food Share program. A box of fresh fruit and vegetables available at a low cost. The box usually includes about 7 - 8 different kinds of fruits and vegetables.
  • Bellies to babies and beyond. Cooking classes for expecting or new parents.
• Ways to save time to eat healthy with a newborn:
  • Grocery delivery to your house in Nanaimo (Thrifty foods, Quality foods, Save On Foods)
  • Grocery pick-up in Nanaimo (Superstore)
  • Meal delivery services in Nanaimo (Real Meals Nanaimo)

+ Other

• Crossroads Pregnancy Centre: Support with early pregnancy and childcare needs up to age 2 years. Website: https://www.cpcnanaimo.com/. Phone 250-716-1633
• Nanaimo Mom’s Swap and Shop: Affordable second hand baby gear, clothing, toys, etc.
• Vancouver Island Car Seat Technicians. Provides advice on car seats, Nanaimo car seat clinics, and car seat checks. Website: vicarseattechs.com, Facebook “Vancouver Island Car Seat Technicians”