Prenatal Education Classes - Okanagan College
The objective of Prenatal Classes is to allow the mother-to-be and her partner and/or support person to gain the essential knowledge of a healthy pregnancy, learn the practical skills so important to a positive childbirth experience, as well as receive valuable information on early care of the newborn.
Subsidies may be available; please ask for details when registering.
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Penticton Campus
583 Duncan Ave. West
Penticton, BC
V2A 8E1
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New dates are always being added. View all upcoming prenatal course dates by visiting https://www.okanagan.bc.ca/cs/cs-health-programs
Community Social Worker
Pregnancy and parenting can be a wonderful experience. There can also be unexpected stressors physically and emotionally during this time in your life. The Perinatal Community Social Worker is a part of your Health Care team and works collaboratively with you and your Physician and/or Midwife to provide psycho-emotional and social support during your pregnancy and postpartum.
The Perinatal Social Worker can assist you in a number of ways including:
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Adjustments with pregnancy & lifestyle changes
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Stresses related to pregnancy
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Relationship & family issues
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Psycho-emotional/social issues (i.e. finances, transportation, support systems etc.)
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Medically Complicated Pregnancy
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Intimate Partner Violence
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Mental Health issues
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Depression & Anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum
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Alcohol & Substance use during pregnancy
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Advocacy and Support for Clients Involved with the Ministry for Children and Family Development
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Adoption and Surrogacy
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Pregnancy Options
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Birth planning following a previous difficult birth, loss or stillbirth
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Counselling for difficult or traumatic birth
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Referral to community resources.
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You can self-refer, or your maternity provider can make a referral to the social worker at any stage in your pregnancy. Women attending the South Okanagan Maternity Clinic will meet with the social worker as part of their routine care.
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Shannon Taylor (MSW) is employed by Interior Health and her office is located in Penticton Regional Hospital.
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Office: 250-492-4000 Ext 32870
Cell: 250-809-6201
Fax: 250-770-7579
Email: shannon.taylor@interiorhealth.ca
Public Health Nurses
Public Health Nurses are available to offer pregnant people/parents support before and after birth and offer the following services:
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Nurse-Family Partnership is a free public health program for pregnant people having their first baby. Those enrolled in the program are visited by a public health nurse throughout their pregnancy, continuing until their child reaches two years of age. Over this time, topics that may be explored are: how to have a healthy pregnancy, preparation for childbirth, nutrition, exercise, parenting, child development, future life planning and accessing community resources.
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The goal of the program is to support first-time parents to succeed. Get more information here.
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Pregnancy
Healthy From The Start program - Register your pregnancy as early as possible with your local Health Authority to connect with public health nurses and community resources that’ll provide you, your baby and family with the best possible information and care. This support is available to all pregnant women who are residents of BC. More Info
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After Your Birth
After you get home from the hospital, a nurse will call you to check how you and your baby are doing and answer any questions you may have. First-time parents or anyone having concerns about the health of themselves or their baby will be offered a home visit and ongoing contact. If you have any concerns before the public health nurse calls, please call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, your doctor, or your midwife.​
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Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding
Public health nurses and lactation consultants provide one-on-one consultation by phone, clinic, or home visit for mothers/parents experiencing difficulties.
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Your local contact information:
7 Days a Week, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Penticton and the surrounding area, call: 250-770-3418
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Or
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Penticton Health Centre
740 Carmi Avenue
Penticton, BC V2A 8P9
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Phone: 250-770-3434
Fax: 250-770-3410
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
The Milk Clinic
Feeding your baby does not always come easy! The Milk Clinic is here to help you meet your infant feeding goals. Support is available at our clinic, Penticton Regional Hospital and through virtual appointments.
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Families are seen by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Registered Midwife or Physician specializing in lactation medicine.
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Appointments include a full medical history, feeding observation and assessment and diagnosis of feeding challenges. You will leave with a personalized plan of action to help you reach your feeding goals.
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Services are fully covered by MSP until 6 weeks postpartum with a referral from a registered nurse, physician, nurse practitioner, social worker or midwife. Private pay options are available for older infants.
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The Milk Clinic can help with:
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Getting off to a good start
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Solving existing challenges
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Transitioning home from the NICU
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Pumping and flange fitting
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Bottle-feeding and refusal
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Weaning
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Contact Info:
Website: www.themilkclinic.ca
Email: info@themilkclinic.ca
Phone: 778-622-4422
Fax: 778-646-2557
Clinic location:
La Leche League Canada - Penticton, Summerland
La Leche League offers support, encouragement and evidence-based information. Whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding, hand expressing, exclusively pumping, combination feeding, providing your own or donor milk for a child (or trying/hoping to do so), you are welcome at La Leche League.
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LLL Leaders are volunteers who have nursed our own babies and provide breastfeeding support in our communities by phone, text, email, social media and meetings/get-togethers (currently virtual). Expect a warm welcome, acceptance and non-judgmental support when you contact LLL Leaders or participate in LLL groups.
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Bring all your breastfeeding and parenting questions, concerns, stories, challenges, and triumphs - we'll have lots to talk about. Looking forward to a great get-together - virtually!
*La Leche League Canada is a non-profit organization and a registered Canadian charity. LLLC-accredited Leaders are experienced breastfeeding mothers and receive training and ongoing support from LLLC to provide up-to-date breastfeeding information. Leaders contribute their time, care and attention entirely on a volunteer basis – there is no cost to attend meetings or to ask for information at any time.
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Contact Info:
Local up-to-date information is available on La Leche League's website.