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.
Our childbirth educators work in partnership with the client, health professionals and the community. As soon as pregnancy is confirmed, we encourage expectant women to enrol in the class that best suits them. Completion of the class should be approximately six weeks before your due date. Subsidies may be available; please ask for details when registering.
Penticton Campus
583 Duncan Ave. West
Penticton, BC
V2A 8E1
Administration Office hours
Monday 8am – 4pm
Tuesday 8am – 3pm
Wednesday – Friday 8am – 4pm
Closed Saturdays and Sundays
Phone
1-866-510-8899
250-492-4305
These prenatal classes are taught by Jessica ter Wolbeek, who also offers private prenatal classes to mothers or couples who prefer a one-on-one or smaller group approach.
Contact: jesstw11@gmail.com
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.
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.
Shannon Taylor (MSW) is employed by Interior Health and her office is located in Penticton Regional Hospital.
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 women/parents support before and after birth and offer the following services:
Nurse-Family Partnership is a free public health program for women/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.
The goal of the program is to support first-time parents to succeed. Get more information here. https://www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/nurse-family-partnership.
Pregnancy
Healthy From The Start program - Our promotion & prevention (public health) nursing services provide prenatal services that help you to live healthily and have a healthy baby. Register as early in your pregnancy as possible. More info here.
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 Midwife.
Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding
Public Health Nurses and Lactation Consultants provide one on one consultation by phone, clinic, or home visit for mothers/parents experiencing difficulties.
Get more information here: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourHealth/HavingABaby/Pages/default.aspx
Your local contact information:
7 Days a Week, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Penticton and surrounding area, call: 250-770-3418
Or
Penticton Health Centre
740 Carmi Avenue
Penticton, BC V2A 8P9
Phone: 250-770-3434
Fax: 250-770-3410
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Okanagan Doula & Childbirth Services
A doula is a trained professional who provides extra support for women and families during pregnancy, labour/birth and postpartum. They provide continuous emotional and physical support during labour and assist families with the transition of bringing a newborn home.
Doulas do not provide medical care. They work along side Registered Midwives, Physicians Obstetricians & Nurses to ensure your physical, emotional and informational needs are met while your primary health care provider is responsible for all of your medical and clinical care.
Studies show that doula supported births are:
28% less likely to have a caesarean section
9% less likely to need pain medication
31% less likely to need synthetic oxytocin to augment labour
34% less likely to rate their childbirth experience negatively
Okanagan Doula & Childbirth Services is the premier doula & childbirth support practice in the Okanagan, providing families many options for personalized prenatal/postpartum care and education. Support and in-home care is available for:
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pregnancy
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labour/birth
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postpartum
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breastfeeding
Okanagan Doulas' practice also provides:
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prenatal classes
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hospital tours
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counselling
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TENS & birth pool rentals
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paediatric sleep support
They work closely with other health care providers, Public Health Nurses, Social Workers, Registered Clinical Counsellors & other professionals in the community to provide families with resources and referrals.
Their team consists of Certified Birth and Postpartum Doulas, Certified Childbirth Educators, Registered Clinical Counsellors, Certified Yoga Instructors, Certified Sleep Educators & Registered Massage Therapists.
The BC Medical Services Plan does not cover doula services, though some extended health benefits, Aboriginal Bands & organizations do.
Website: www.okanagandoula.com
Email: info@okanagandoula.com
Facebook: facebook.com/OkanaganDoulaSupport
Phone: 250-460-2515
Wellness Garden Doula Collective
The Wellness Garden Doula Collective is a heart-centred Birth Collective that serves to nurture Momma throughout the seasons of her pregnancy and her transition in to Motherhood, to empower her to make this a soulful transition, and provide her with a community of loving, supportive sisters so she may blossom as a Mother. The Wellness Garden is a safe, nurturing space for this growing community of women to gather and nourish one another throughout their journeys.
The Wellness Garden Collaborative offers holistic birth and postpartum services as well as a series of targeted workshops and sessions for women and their partners: yoga, reflexology, massage, women and mother nurture sessions. These services are provided by trained and certified experts.
The BC Medical Services Plan does not cover doula services, though some extended health benefits, Aboriginal Bands and organizations do.
The Wellness Garden is located in Starlit Yoga
100 Nanaimo Avenue East
Penticton, BC V2A 1M4
Phone: 250-328-4107
Website: http://wellnessgardendoulas.com/
La Leche League Canada - Penticton, Summerland
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, La Leche League Canada (LLLC)* is here to provide breastfeeding information, support and encouragement through every step of your parenting and breastfeeding journey: pregnancy; early days; challenges; joys and triumphs; and all the ages and stages right through to the weaning process.
You can connect with your local volunteer Leader any time by phone, email or Facebook message (see below). We also offer twice-monthly in-person get-togethers with other mothers in Penticton and Summerland. LLLC get-togethers are informal and friendly, facilitating peer-to-peer communication and support. Many women find that attending during pregnancy is very helpful. Babies are always welcome at LLLC gatherings, and partners too. All kinds of family structures are welcome at LLLC gatherings, and all ways of feeding your baby are supported.
If you would like more information about what happens at a meeting, you can view the Mothering through Breastfeeding video prepared by the LLLC-Halifax Chapter here.
We look forward to seeing you at an LLL meeting!
*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.
Two Get-Togethers each Month
* Please note that times & locations may sometimes change, particularly in Penticton.
Please confirm meeting information by phone, email or FB message.
3rd Tuesday PENTICTON 10am – Noon
3235 Skaha Lake Rd, The Concorde building
(an assisted living facility supporting inter-generational connection)
4th Tuesday SUMMERLAND 6pm –8pm
9533 Main St, Summerland Library, Summerland
Contact Information
Connect anytime with meeting or breastfeeding questions, concerns, etc.
Phone: Sandra 250-494-1894
Email: sandrayates@telus.net
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Pentictonlllc/
Website: www.lllc.ca
Because breastfeeding isn’t always easy, we’re here to help.
OK Breastfeeding + Breastfeeding Café - Penticton
OK Breastfeeding
It is OK Breastfeeding's vision that breastfeeding once again becomes the cultural norm for infant feeding and that our communities will be healthier places when women/parents and families are given the support they need and deserve to reach their goals. OK Breastfeeding recognizes that every family is unique, and not all mothers/parents can breastfeed and others choose not to. It is important that every mother/parent feels supported to decide what is right for their individual circumstance. However, for those who can and want to breastfeed, they should be supported by everyone - healthcare providers, families, communities, employers, and the government.
Learn more about OK Breastfeeding's Initiatives here.
Penticton Breastfeeding Cafe
The Breastfeeding Cafe is a safe and supportive place for nursing parents and children to come and visit/discuss different breastfeeding questions and information. Just being around other nursing parents going through the same stages as you are is such immense support!
For more info, visit the Breastfeeding Cafe Facebook Page.