Sign up for our FREE prenatal and breastfeeding education anytime during your pregnancy. The earlier the better!
Register by calling 613-735-8651 extension 589 OR 1-800-267-1097 extension 589 or email familyhealth@rcdhu.com.
Online
- See a demo of The Gift of Motherhood, our online prenatal education program.
Online prenatal education gives you:
- Flexible learning that fits your schedule
- Access for six months after you register
- Learning in English or French
- Access to a Public Health Nurse at the Renfrew County and District Health Unit for any questions.
Topics include:
- Healthy pregnancy
- Labour and birth
- Becoming parents
- Feeding
Register by calling 613-735-8651 extension 589 OR 1-800-267-1097 extension 589 or email familyhealth@rcdhu.com.
In Person
A Public Health Nurse provides prenatal education in either four evening sessions (2 hours and 15 minutes each) or two full-day sessions on weekends.
In-person prenatal gives you:
- demonstrations and hands-on learning;
- time for discussion and questions;
- a chance to meet other parents-to-be;
- take-home information (books, handouts and pamphlets).
Topics include:
- labour and birth;
- comfort measures;
- medical interventions;
- postpartum changes;
- newborn care and safety;
- infant feeding.
2019 Prenatal Class Schedule
Pembroke Weekend Series (Saturday and Sunday 9:00am – 3:30pm) at Renfrew County and District Health Unit (7 International Drive, Pembroke, ON)
- Feb 23rd & 24th (FULL)
- May 4th and 5th
- September 7th and 8th
- October 26th and 27th
Pembroke Weekday Series (Tuesdays 6:00pm – 8:45pm) at Renfrew County and District Health Unit (7 International Drive, Pembroke, ON)
- April 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th
- May 14th, 21st, 28th and June 4th
- September 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th
Petawawa Series (Tuesdays 6:00pm – 8:45pm) at Southside Community Centre (1578 Wolfe Avenue, Petawawa, ON)
- March 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th (FULL)
- November 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th
Renfrew Series (Wednesday 6:00pm – 8:45pm) at St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall (331 Plaunt Street South, Renfrew, ON)
- February 13th, 20th, 27th and March 6th
- October 23rd, 30th, November 6th and 13th
Arnprior Series (Saturday and Sunday 9:00am – 3:30pm) at Arnprior Public Library (21 Madawaska Street, Arnprior, ON)
- June 1st and 2nd
You can also see the Prenatal Class schedule in the calendar.
Register by calling 613-735-8651 extension 589 OR 1-800-267-1097 extension 589 or email familyhealth@rcdhu.com.
At Home
Extra support for pregnant women
The Healthy Babies Healthy Children program is a free home visiting program for pregnant women who need more support with prenatal health care and preparing for a new baby.
To ask about participating in Healthy Babies Healthy Children:
- Fill in the online Healthy Babies Healthy Children Self-Referral Form
- Email familyhealth@rcdhu.com
- Call Family Health at 613-735-8651 extension 589 OR 1-800-267-1097 extension 589.
Breastfeeding ABC's
A 2 ½ hour workshop for pregnant women and their partner/support person. Get hands-on information about how to breastfeed.
- Benefits of breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding in the first few days/weeks
- Latching and positioning your baby
- How to know when baby is hungry or full
2019 Breastfeeding ABC’s Workshop Schedule
Pembroke (Wednesday 6:00pm – 8:30pm) at Renfrew County and District Health Unit (7 International Drive, Pembroke, ON)
- March 6th
- April 10th
- May 15th
- June 19th
- September 11th
- October 9th
- December 4th
Renfrew (Wednesday 6pm-8:30pm) at St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall (331 Plaunt Street South, Renfrew, ON)
- March 27th
Arnprior (Monday 6pm – 8:30pm) at Arnprior Public Library (21 Madawaska Street, Arnprior, ON)
- September 16th
You may also see the calendar for upcoming Breastfeeding ABC’s.
To register for this workshop email familyhealth@rcdhu.com or call Family Health at 613-735-8651 extension 589 OR 1-800-267-1097 extension 589.
Community Resources
Please feel free to download the following PDF files for more information:
Prenatal Class Handouts
The following resources are available to view or download.
Labour and Birth
- What to bring to the hospital – RCHDU
- Preterm Labour Signs & Symptoms – Best Start
- (French) Le travail prématuré, signes et symptômes – Meilleur départ
Comfort Measures
- Massage Techniques – Best Start
- Preparing for Birth is Like Preparing for a Competition – Best Start
Medical Interventions & Caesarean Birth
- Perineal Massage – Best Start
- Epidural Information Card
- Sample Birth Plan
- C-section – What you need to know
Postpartum Changes
Newborn Care & Safety
- What you need to know about… Fever – CHEO
- Keep Kids Safe Rear-Facing Seats Stage 1 – Transport Canada
- (Français) Protégeons nos enfants Siège orientés vers l’arrière Phase 1 – Transports Canada
- Tummy Time Activities to Strengthen Baby – Pathways.org
- Skin 2 Skin The Importance of the First Hour – Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
- Creating Healthy Environments for Kids – Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment
- Baby’s Essentiels – RCHDU
- Circumcision of baby boys: Information for parents – Caring for Kids
- How to change a disposable diaper – Baby Center
- Home Safety Checklist – RCHDU