Pregnancy, birth, newborns and more
Resources
IT's all here
Information about pregnancy,
birth, newborns and more
Canadian Association of Midwives Gender Inclusivity and Human Rights
Protecting Patients from Sexual Abuse or Misconduct (Bill 21)
It is ALWAYS your right to feel safe with the care you are being provided.
We want you to be aware of Bill 21 and its purpose of protecting patients from sexual abuse or misconduct.
1st Trimester
I’m Pregnant, What Are My Options?
Are you pregnant? What Are Your Options
Government of Alberta: Adoption
Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre
Alberta Health Services Abortion Services
Alberta Health Services Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
When to Call Your Midwife
When To Call Your Midwife Handout
General Prenatal Education Websites
Alberta Health Services: Healthy Parents Healthy Children
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
Canadian Pediatric Society: Caring for Kids
Common Discomforts in Pregnancy
Common Health Problems in Pregnancy
Best Start & Motherisk: How to Survive Morning Sickness
Headaches in Pregnancy: Natural Alternatives to Tylenol
Natural Solutions for Constipation During Pregnancy
Pregnant? Have heartburn? 5 Tips for Natural Relief
Anxiety Canada “Getting a Good Night’s Sleep”
Health Link BC Insomnia: Improving your sleep
Bleeding and Cramping (Rh)
When You Need RH Immune Globulin
Miscarriage
H.E.A.R.T.S Helping Empty Arms Recover Through Sharing: Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support (403) 343-9100
Prenatal Screening
Prairie Midwives: Prenatal Screening and Ultrasounds
Prenatal Screening Ontario: What is prenatal screening?
Ultrasound
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: Routine Ultrasound
Fetal Ultrasound for Keepsake Videos
Nutrition/ Food Safety
Building Incredible Babies (403) 343-6400
BIBs is a no cost voluntary program to assist pregnant people with nutrition, healthy choices & pregnancy support. Prenatal vitamins and grocery gift cards can be provided for families experiencing financial challenges. To qualify you must be under 28 weeks gestation and live in Central Alberta.
Eating for a Healthy Pregnancy
Folic Acid and Neural Tube Defects
Eating Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know
Omega 3 Fish Oil and Pregnancy
Food Safety for Pregnant Women
Safe Food Handling in the Home
Alberta Fish Consumption Advisory
Free Food in Alberta: Central Zone
Prairie Midwives: Food Journal
Book: Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron Deficiency Anemia and You (other languages available)
Dietitians of Canada: Food sources of Iron
Birth Trauma
Solace for Mothers Online Support Group
Books:
Sheila Kitzinger: Birth Crisis
Penny Simkin & Phyllis Klaus: When Survivors give birth: Understanding and healing effects of early sexual abuse for childbearing women
Pam England & Rob Horowitz: Birthing from Within
Kim Thomas: Birth Trauma: A guide for You, Your Friends and Family to Coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder following Birth
Cancer Screening
Canadian Cancer Society: Find Cancer Early
Dental Health
Dental Care and Pregnancy – Your Complete Guide
Is It Safe to go to the Dentist During Pregnancy?
Herpes
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: Herpes
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: Birth and Herpes
Travel in Pregnancy
American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: Travel During Pregnancy
Working During Pregnancy
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: Working During Pregnancy
2nd Trimester
Activity and Exercise
5 Easy Exercises to Help Ease Pregnancy Aches and Pains
FemFusion Fitness 30 Minute Prenatal Yoga + Gentle Core Fitness
Prairie Midwives: Activity Pregnancy
Gestational Diabetes
Prairie Midwives: Gestational Diabetes
Prairie Midwives: Food Journal
Diabetes Canada: Gestational Diabetes
Glucose testing – screening for gestational diabetes
MidwifeThinking Gestational diabetes: Beyond the label
Gestational Diabetes Meal Planning
Book: Real Food for Gestational Diabetes by Lily Nichols
Preterm Labour
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: Preterm Labour
Best Start: Preterm Labour Signs & Symptoms
Immunization in Pregnancy
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: Vaccination
CDC Pregnancy and Whooping Cough
Planning for Labour
Cochrane: Continuous Support for Women during Childbirth
Prenatal Education
Online Prenatal Class with Holliday Tyson, RM
Prenatal Class Part One: Prenatal
Prenatal Class Part Two: Labour and Birth
Prenatal Class Part Three: Postnatal
Online Prenatal Education: Healthy Birth Choices
Alberta Health Services Johnstone Crossing Prenatal Education Program
Prenatal Classes for Teens and Young Women
Many doulas provide prenatal education within their services.
3rd Trimester
Government of Canada
EI Maternity and Parental Leave
Fetal Movement
National Health Service: Fetal Movement Awareness
Group B Streptoccocus
Evidence Based Birth: Group B Strep
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: Group B Streptococcus Screening
Labour & Birth
Choice of Birth Place
Canadian Association of Midwives Position Statement on Homebirth
College of Midwives of British Columbia Statement on Home Birth
Association of Ontario Midwives Choice of Birth Place Pictogram for First Birth
Association of Ontario Midwives Choice of Birth Place Pictogram for Second or Later Birth
Society and Gynaecologists of Canada: Out of Hospital Birth
Research Studies
Outcomes Associated with Planned Place of Birth Among women with Low Risk Pregnancies
University of British Columbia: Study Finds No Added Risk for Home Birth in Rural Areas
Supply Lists
Prairie Midwives: Hospital Birth Supply List
Prairie Midwives: Home Birth Supply List
Siblings
How to Prepare Your Older Child for a New Baby
Vaginal Birth
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: Normal Childbirth
How does my body work during childbirth?
Nucleus Health: Labor and Delivery/Childbirth
We also have multiple books in our lending library.
Waterbirth
Waterbirth International: Known Benefits of Water Labor and Waterbirth Handout
Association of Ontario Midwives: Water Birth
Evidence Based Birth: Waterbirth
Waterbirth International: Benefits of Waterbirth
Waterbirth International: FAQs on waterbirth
Where to Purchase Supplies
- Past midwifery clients who have not used their waterbirth kit will sometimes sell them on the Prairie Midwives Mom’s facebook group
- Birth Supplies Canada Inc.
VBAC/TOLAC
Association of Ontario Midwives: Thinking About VBAC: What’s Right For Me
Power to Push Campaign: Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
Power to Push Campaign: Vaginal Birth After Cesarean and Planned Repeat Cesarean Section
Central Alberta VBAC and CBAC facebook group
Assisted Vaginal Birth
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: Vacuum and Forceps Assisted Vaginal Birth
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Assisted Vaginal Delivery
Cesarean Section
Mount Sinai Hospital: Caesarean Section
Childbirth Connection: Cesarean Section
Managing Early Labour
BC Women’s Hospital/ Power to Push Campaign: When Labour Starts
Early Labour – 8 Tips For A Low Stress Early Labour At Home
Where to Rent a TENS machine
Coping with Pain and Fear in Labour
Penny Simkin: Pain vs. Suffering in Labour
Penny Simkin: The Essence of Coping in Labour “The 3 R’s”
Penny Simkin: Comfort in Labor – How You Can Help Yourself to a Normal Satisfying Childbirth
Pain in Labour- Your Hormones are Your Helpers
Childbirth Connection: Labor Pain
Ina May Gaskin: Reducing Fear of Birth in U.S. Culture
When to Call Your Midwife in Labour
Prairie Midwives: If this is your first birth…
Prairie Midwives: If this is your second or later birth
Cord Options
Should I Bank My Baby’s Umbilical Cord Blood
Canadian Blood Services: Cord Blood Faqs
Cochrane: Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping of term infants on mother and baby outcomes
ScienceDaily: Benefits of delayed cord clamping in healthy babies
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: Delayed Cord Clamping
Placenta
Prairie Midwives: Third Stage Management
After Birth: 10 Things To Do With Your Placenta
Skin to Skin
International Breastfeeding Centre: The Importance of Skin to Skin Contact
Cochrane: Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants
Newborn & Postpartum
Postpartum Planning
When your friends and family ask what you may need for when the baby comes one of the best gifts is food! This can be in the form of homemade meals and snacks or there are multiple delivery meal box options available.
Motherly: Creating a postpartum sanctuary plan is just as important as your birth plan
Planning for the Postpartum Period
Postpartum Adjustment
TED Talks: A new way to think about the transition to motherhood by Alexandra Sacks
Motherly: A Letter to Myself in the Middle of the 4th Trimester Fog
Healthy Parents Healthy Children: Parenting a Newborn and Taking Care of Yourself
See the section “Prenatal and Postpartum Mental Health”
Pelvic Floor Health
This topic is in the postpartum section as it is more frequently discussed during this time period. Pelvic health though is applicable to all stages of pregnancy. More and more physiotherapists offer pelvic floor physiotherapy. Speak to your midwife for suggestions.
FemFusion Fitness: Various videos for pelvic health education and exercise
Pelvic Health & Rehabilitation Center Blog
Childbirth medical interventions and pelvic floor dysfunction
What is Stress Incontinence? What You Need to Know About Leaking Urine
FemFusion Fitness Pelvic Floor Release (Pelvic Pain)
Postpartum sex, your pelvic floor and your body
Not everyone needs to or should do kegels. If you do, this is a great video on how to properly do kegels. A pelvic floor physiotherapist is the most appropriate professional to advise on to kegel or not to kegel.
Self Care
Prairie Midwives: Postpartum Instructions
Prairie Midwives: Caring for Your Perineum After a Tear
C-section Scar Problems and Solutions from a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
Life After Postpartum Hemorrhage
Newborn Vitamin K
Prairie Midwives: Vitamin K Prophylaxis for Newborns
Caring for Kids: Vitamin K for Newborns
Evidenced Based Birth: The Vitamin K Shot in Newborns
Newborn Feeding – Breast or Chest Feeding
Prairie Midwives: Breastfeeding in the First Few Weeks
Luna Lactation & Wellness: Resources
La Leche League: Breastfeeding Info A to Z
Global Health Media: Breastfeeding videos (First hours, Positions, Attaching, Hand expression, etc)
KellyMom: Evidenced based information on breastfeeding and parenting
International Breastfeeding Centre: Starting Out Right
La Leche League: Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk?
International Breastfeeding Centre: What is a good latch?
La Leche League: Tongue and Lip Ties
Luna Lactation: Post Frenotomy Exercises
Newborn Erythromycin Eye Ointment
Prairie Midwives: Erythromycin Eye Ointment for Newborns
Preventing Opthalmia Neonatorum
Evidenced Based Birth: Erythromycin Eye Ointment for Newborns
Circumcision
Canadian Paediatric Society: Newborn Male Circumcision
MyHealth.Alberta.Ca: Circumcision
Canadian Urological Association: Routine Circumcision: The Opposing Side vs The Pro Side
In Person Lactation Support
Contact your local public health center
Breastfeeding Mother’s Drop-In Groups Red Deer
- New Life Fellowship Church: 7720-52 Ave Red Deer Tuesdays 1:30 – 2:30 pm
- Sunnybrook United Church: 12 Stanton St., Red Deer Thursdays 10:00 – 11:00 am
- La Leche League Meetings
Tip of the Tongue: Karrie Page Lactation Consultant
Where to Rent Breast Pumps:
- Contact your local pharmacies. Many also sell breast pumps and supplies.
- Contact your local community health centre
Red Deer:
- Millerdale Pharmacy (403) 342-1434
- London Drugs (403) 342-5222
- Plaza IDA Pharmacy (403) 340-3784
- Sobeys (2110 55th Ave) (403) 348-0858
Formula Feeding
Best Start: Infant Formula What You Need to Know
Healthy Parents Healthy Children: Formula Feeding Your Baby
Normal Newborn Behaviours, Newborn Care & Safety
Association of Ontario Midwives: Normal Newborn Behaviour
24hr Cribside Assistance – A website for dads
Secure Attachment and the “Fourth Trimester”
Best Start: Guidelines for Nursing Mothers Chart
Healthy Parents Healthy Children: Safe Sleep & Injury Prevention
Healthy Parents Healthy Children: Newborn Sleeping, Crying & Everyday Care
KidsHealth: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Car Seat Safety
Car Seat Guidelines in Alberta
Tips For Buying a Car Seat or Booster Seat
Rear-facing car seat YES test (checklist)
Cruising in Car Seats – Child Passenger Safety Technician
Crying
Period of Purple Crying (A must read if you feel your baby cries too much or has “colic”)
Caring for Kids: Never Shake a Baby
Sleep
KellyMom: Newborn Sleep: A discussion with Elizabeth Pantley
La Leche League: Sleep-training or not…
Is Self Soothing the Biggest Con of New Parenthood?
8 Ways to Encourage Better Baby & Toddler Sleep – Without Sleep Training
Newborn Screening
Alberta’s Newborn Metabolic Screening Program
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program
Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) Screening
Newborn Registration
- Registration of Birth: Your midwife will give you the Registration of Birth form to fill out to register your baby’s birth. You will need the birth parent’s social insurance number to apply for child tax benefits. This form will also be used to give your baby a social insurance number and the card will be mailed to you.
- Alberta Health Card: After your baby is born your midwife will give you a temporary health card for your baby. The baby’s Alberta Health Card will be mailed to you. If you do not receive it within a month following your baby’s birth please contact Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) office. If you had an out of hospital birth your baby’s name may not be on the card that is mailed to you. Once vital statistics receives the Registration of Birth form and it is processed you will be sent a new health card with the baby’s name on it.
- Birth Certificate: A birth certificate is not a document that is often needed immediately. To order a birth certificate you will need to go to a registry office. To learn more about registration of birth and birth certificates, call Service Alberta toll-free at 310-0000, then dial 780-427-7013, or visit the website
- Alberta Child Health Benefit: Low income families can apply to this program to get eyeglasses, prescription drugs, and dental care for their kids. Visit here for more info.
Vitamin D
La Leche League: Vitamin D, Your Baby and You
Immunization
Caring for Kids: Immunizations
Government of Alberta: Immunization and routine immunization schedule
Alberta Health Services: Where to Immunize
Developmental Milestones
Family Planning
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: Contraception
Book : Taking Charge of Your Own Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health by Toni Weschler
Parent Groups/Family Support
Misc.
Apps
- OvaGraph – Official Taking Care of Your Own Fertility App (Fertility Tracking)
- Mind the Bump – a free mindfulness meditation app to help individuals and couples support their mental and emotional wellbeing in preparation for having a baby and becoming a new parent.
- OMama – OMama is a website and a mobile application (app) that connects women and families to trusted, evidence-informed healthy pregnancy, birth and early parenting information.
- Contraction Timer and Counter 9m – this is one of many examples of a contraction timing app
- The Wonder Weeks – This is an app based on a book to provide parents with a personalized weekly calendar of your baby’s mental development that will keep you informed about the leaps and bounds and the fussy phases of your baby.
Benefits for Low Income Albertans
Complementary Modalities – Acupuncture
Complementary Modalities – Chiropractic
Can Chiropractic Care Help Pregnancy and Labour
Complementary Modalities – Massage
Can you get a deep tissue massage while you’re pregnant?
Complementary Modalities – Physiotherapy
Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Therapy
Comprehensive List of Pregnancy and Birth Books
Prairie Midwives clients please ask your midwife for book recommendations and feel free to access our lending library in the clinic.
Domestic Violence
Family Violence During Pregnancy
Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter
Family Violence Hotline: 1-888-346-5643
Finding a Family Doctor
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta
Health Link: Dial 811
Medications, Herbs, Drugs, Alcohol, and Nicotine Use in Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Breastfeeding
MotherToBaby: Medications & More During Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Lactmed Drugs and Lactation Database
Poison & Drug Information Service (PADIS) 1(800) 332-1414
Herbs in Pregnancy: What’s Safe, What’s Not
Red Deer 49th Street Community Health Center: Addiction and Mental Health Services Phone number: (403) 314-5225
Addiction Helpline 24 Hour Line (866) 332-2322
Substance Use in Pregnancy (Alcohol, Tobacco, Cannabis and Other Drugs)
Taking Care of Yourself While Breastfeeding (Eating, Alcohol, Tobacco, Cannabis, Other Drugs)
Smoking
Let’s Talk Tobacco: A guide to reduce harm during and after pregnancy
Smoker’s Helpline (866) 710-7848
Alcohol
Alcove Addiction Recovery for Women
Alcoholics Anonymous: (403) 347-8650 – Find a Meeting
Cannabis
Thinking about using cannabis before or during pregnancy?
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: Cannabis
How to Reduce the Harms of Non-Medical Cannabis Use
Risks of Cannabis on Fertility, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Parenting
Prenatal and Postpartum Mental Health
Coping with Anxiety During Pregnancy and Following Birth
Anxiety Disorder vs. Stress During Pregnancy
Anxiety Canada: Mindfulness – Mindful Breathing
Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood Disorders: Postpartum Support International
Perinatal Mental Health for Dads
Self Help Resources for Mental Health Problems
Mindful Connections Postpartum Support Group in Red Deer
Red Deer 49 Street Community Health Centre – Addiction and Mental Health Services: Provides in person one on one counselling in both the prenatal and postpartum period. You can call and book an appointment on your own or your midwife can send in a referral.
Alberta Health Services Prenatal and Postpartum Resources
Mental Health Hotline: 1-877-303-2642 (Toll Free)
Distress Centre 1-403-266-4357 24 hour support, counselling and resources
Cara McGinnis Counselling: 1-403-352-5042
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Calculator
myCompass – A personalized self-help tool for your mental health