RCDHU is very pleased to announce that RCDHU has adapted an online prenatal education program from Public Health Sudbury & Districts called “Growing a Healthy Baby”.

The online prenatal education program gives you:

• flexible learning that fits your schedule;
• the option to stop and continue the program where you left off as needed;
• learning in English;
• accessibility from a laptop computer, desktop computer, smartphone and/or tablet; and
• access to a Public Health Nurse at RCDHU for any questions.

Modules covered within Growing a Healthy Baby are as follows:

1. Understanding Pregnancy
2. Healthy Lifestyles During Pregnancy
3. The First Hours After Birth
4. Feeding Your Baby
5. Life with Your New Baby
6. Keeping Your Baby Safe
7. Community Resources

Please note: At this time, Growing a Healthy Baby does not include a labour and birth module. For more information on labour and birth, please visit the Omama website. In addition, the Community Resources PDF embedded within the program has been updated. Click here for the most up to date version.

For any questions about Growing a Healthy Baby:

• call: the Family Health Intake Line at 613-735-9774 (direct line) or 1-800-267-1097 ext. 589 (toll-free); or
• email: familyhealth@rcdhu.com.

The Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC)  is a FREE voluntary program that provides supports and services during pregnancy and to families with children from birth to transition to school.

In addition, the program offers universal screening opportunities and home visiting services for families who may benefit from additional support.

For more information about the Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) program and/or to view/download the HBHC Fact Sheet, visit the Government of Ontario website in English and/or French.

To inquire about participating in the HBHC program and complete the required screening for eligibility, you can:

• complete the online Healthy Babies Healthy Children Self-Referral Form;
• email: familyhealth@rcdhu.com; or
• call: the Family Health Intake Line at 613-735-9774 (direct line) or 1-800-267-1097 ext. 589 (toll-free).

Click on the link below for a list of local resources available in Renfrew County and District:

• Community Resources

Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program

Prenatal: Community Resource Centre (CRC) provides services to women during the prenatal period and after their baby is born. At Prenatal: CRC you can:

• meet other parents-to-be;
• cook and share tasty meals;
• discuss prenatal and parenting topics; and,
• receive prenatal vitamins and grocery vouchers.

To learn more:

• call: San at 613-757-3108,
• email: beststart@crc-renfrewcounty.com, or
• visit: https://www.crc-renfrewcounty.com/programs/prenatal/.

Below are the resources which are available to view or download.

In-person Prenatal Classes

Prenatal Nutrition

• Healthy Eating for a Healthy Pregnancy – Nutrition Connections (English)

Labour and Birth

• What to Bring to Hospital – Pembroke Regional Hospital (scroll down to “What to Bring to Hospital” section)
• Preterm Labour Signs & Symptoms – Best Start (English)
• Le travail prématuré, signes et symptômes – Meilleur départ (French)

Comfort Measures

• Drug-free pain management (English)
• Gestion de la douleur sans médicament (French)

Medical Interventions & Caesarean Birth

• Pain management with medications (English)
• Gestion de la douleur avec médicament (French)
• Sample Birth Plan (English)
• Plan de naissance (French)
• C-section – What you need to know (English)
• Accouchement par césarienne (French)

Postpartum Changes

• Pregnancy and life with a new baby are not always what you expect – Best Start (English)
• Durant la grossesse et avec un nouveau bébé, la vie n’est pas toujours rose – Best Start (French)

Newborn Care & Safety

• What you need to know: Fever – CHEO (English)
• Ce qu’il faut savoir: la fièvre – CHEO (French)
• Stage 1: rear-facing seats – Transport Canada (English)
• Phase 1: sièges orientés vers l’arrière – Transport Canada (French)
• Tummy Time Activities to Strengthen Baby – Pathways.org (English)
• Jeux sur le ventre Activités de renforcement pour bébé – Pathways.org (French)
• 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 (English)
• Créer un environnement sain pour les enfants – Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment (French)
• Circumcision of baby boys: Information for parents – Caring for Kids (English)
• La circoncision des garçons nouveau-nés: de l’information pour les parents – Caring for Kids (French)
• Keeping My Baby Safe – Prevent Child Injury
• Ottawa Public Health’s Parenting in Ottawa – Here Comes Baby Videos (Videos include: Bathing your baby, Jaundice in the newborn, Postpartum recovery, Diaper change demonstration, Postpartum mental health and Newborn behaviours) 

Breastfeeding Basics

• Signs that Feeding is Going Well – Best Start (English)
• (Français) Signes que le boire se déroule bien – Meilleur départ (French)

Breastfeeding ABC’s Workshop

• Breastfeeding Matters – Best Start (English)
• L’allaitement ça compte : Guide essentiel sur l’allaitement pour les familles – Best Start (French)
• Skin 2 Skin The Importance of the First Hour – Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
• Baby’s Second Night
• Signs that Feeding is Going Well – Best Start (English)
• (Français) Signes que le boire se déroule bien – Meilleur départ (French)
• Expressing and Storing Breast Milk – Best Start (English)
• Exprimer et conserver le lait maternel – Best Start (French)
• Blocked Ducts – Best Start (English)
• Conduits lactifères obstrués – Best Start (French)
• Breast Infection (Mastitis) – Best Start (English)
• Infection mammaire (mastite) – Best Start (French)
• Thrush – Best Start (English)
• Muguet – Best Start (French)
• Bilingual Online Ontario Breastfeeding Services Website