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Wildflower Birth Collective:

-Offers services throughout the Fraser Valley in Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack.
-Prenatal education costs about $1500 which is quite expensive and may not be suitable for many families. However, included within this cost is support throughout the entire birthing process. The owners provide unlimited virtual check-ins during pregnancy, three prenatal visits with extensive prenatal education, support during the birth, immediate postpartum care and education, and many other additional resources.
-The owners have a passion for providing education and assistance with families who want to have home births. They have a passion for giving birthing families increased control of their birthing experience through extensive preparation and support, in the comfort of their own home. Their core value is to make the birth experience a safe and happy experience by providing emotional and mental support throughout the process.
-The two who provide support are doulas. They complete prenatal visits and give education while also supporting families during their actual birth and by giving postpartum care and education.
-I believe that this resource may be too expensive for many families. However, I believe that families who are passionate about having a holistic birthing experience in their own home would highly benefit from the care from these two doulas.

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Hi Anmol,

Thanks for sharing. I like the variety of topics they cover in the classes provided at this facility. How accessible are these classes to those living in Chilliwack? do they cost money?

- Olivia

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I like the choices in group or individual sessions! Awesome that it is covered by MRP too! I guess the only barrier would be that it is a little out of the way for people coming from Vancouver etc. -Rae

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Hi Larissa,

Thanks for sharing this resource. I also liked how they recognize the role of the father and the involvement of the father during the prenatal stage. This is important! also, $220 for seven 2hr classes seems quite reasonable, thanks for including that information.

- Olivia

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Hi Anmol,
I think its awesome that this resource provides options and education for mothers with pregnancy. Sometimes pregnancy can be overwhelming for new mothers. This looks like a good resource.
~Larissa

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Pretty crazy that they've managed all of the deliveries at ARH! Also interesting that they follow you for 7 weeks postpartum instead of 6 weeks postpartum, I wonder what the reasoning for that would be?
-Rae

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Hi Dani,
I like that this resource gives options for moms with "normal births". It is nice that it is inclusive of all families.
-Larissa

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Esther,

Thanks for sharing this resource. I think its great to include education on the physiological pregnancy and birthing process. It also brings awareness to the directions that labour can go, which is super important.

~Lauryn

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Chilliwack Community Svc, School Street, Chilliwack, BC

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Better Beginnings- Chilliwack Community Services

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Better Beginnings- Chilliwack Community Services

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This program offers weekly education sessions and resources for Chilliwack moms through Zoom and in person.

The program is available for moms during pregnancy and up to 6 months postpartum.

The program provides moms with food vouchers, eggs, bread, prenatal vitamins, vitamin D drops, diapers, baby clothing, baby toys and furniture, and more.

Participants also have access to a lactation consultant, family navigator & family resource program practitioner.

~Lauryn

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Hello Dani,
Love the amount of detail you had about this program! Very through!

---Sumjana G

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Hello Naur,
Great post! Very good point about how the cost may prevent some patients from accessing these services.

---Sumjana G

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Best Beginnings w/ Fraser Health- Abbotsford, BC

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Best Beginnings w/ Fraser Health- Abbotsford, BC

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1) This program is run by Fraser Health so the program can be accessed by people living in Abbotsford, Chillwack, etc. There is a form that interested parents can fill out and I believe there is not cost to apply/use the services.  The goal of this program is to provide new parents the knowledge they need to provide the best care for their child, and connect them with additional supports.

2)Education can be provided via pamphlets, other HCP like doctors, dieticians,etc. The nurse's role is an educator and they may also do home visits to assess babe and family's condition. I would consider this to be a somewhat equitable opportunity as it is free (no financial barriers), however parents have to fill out the form themselves (which may be difficult if very fluent in English) and the form is only accessible via internet (if they don't have reliable internet access, they may not know about this program).

--Sumjana G

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Anmol, I'm a big fan of how "pregnant in chilliwack" is cost free, making their resources much more accessible for all demographics. I also like how they lay out the information into four separate classes. It seems far less overwhelming.

- Sadie Sandve

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Birth Transitions prenatal classes, Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge, BC

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Birth Transitions prenatal classes, Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge, BC

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Birth Transitions prenatal classes, Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge, BC

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Hi Larissa,

I think it’s amazing that this resource is so welcoming and inclusive towards fathers as well! It is so important to incorporate support for the entire family into prenatal care and this is a great way to do it!
-Dani

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Douglas College Underground Parking Access, Victoria Street, New Westminster, BC

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Douglas College Underground Parking Access, Victoria Street, New Westminster, BC

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Douglas College Underground Parking Access, Victoria Street, New Westminster, BC

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Hi Sadie,

I think it is really cool that a university is holding these classes and offering resources both on the weekends and during the week so it is more accessible to those who work!
-Dani

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Hey Esther,
great job, way to answer all the questions.

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Hey Rae,
I agree that group sessions can be beneficial, as it can help ease a moms anxiety knowing they are all in the same boat.

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45470 Menholm Road, Chilliwack, British Columbia is the location of this facility. Pregnant in Chilliwack and Fraser Rural
Provides information on supports and services available to pregnant women and families living in Chilliwack.

Pregnant in Chilliwack helps individuals as they make decision regarding their pregnancy. Whether the pregnancy is planned or unplanned, information regarding available supports and important steps for each stage of the pregnancy. They also have a website https://pregnantinchilliwack.ca/ . There is no cost to go visit the facility although they do provide a variety of classes
Class 1: Healthy Pregnancy and Mental Health (1.5 hours)

Class 2: Labour stages and non pharmacological coping mechanisms (3 hours)

Class 3: Labour complications and pharmacological coping mechanisms

Class 4: Breastfeeding, parenting, infant care & self care

-Anmol

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Pregnant in Chilliwack and Fraser Health Rural is your unbiased source of information on what to do if you find yourself pregnant. Get answers the most common questions facing pregnant women.

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Best For Babies:
Best for Babies is a free Pregnancy Outreach Program funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada through Archway Community Services
Location: Abbotsford
Accessibility: for pregnant individuals and their partners from pregnancy to 6 months post partum
Cost: free!
Learning objectives: The Prenatal Nutrition Program, which assists pregnant women who do not typically access traditional prenatal services, offers support during pregnancy and for 6 months post-partum. Particular attention is paid to promoting a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Have a healthy pregnancy, which contributes to you having a healthy baby

Feel more connected with other pregnant women and new moms

Improve your diet

Feel less stressed

Get your questions answered

What they offer:

Group support

Father support with a father support worker

Information on pregnancy, labour, parenting, breastfeeding, nutrition, etc. Videos and books are also available

Community resource referrals – we can help you get registered for Prenatal and Welcome Baby classes.

Referrals to the Food Bank, New Beginnings, the Fraser Valley Pregnancy Center, and various other community resources

Nutrition information – we can arrange for you to meet with a dietician

Prenatal vitamins provided to you for FREE throughout your pregnancy

Food vouchers to be redeemed for nutritious foods at Save-on-Foods

Seasonal farmers’ market vouchers (must be a current program participant)

Maternity and baby clothing exchanges

It is not run or supported by nurses.

Is this equitable?
Yes! It is free and offered in both English and Punjabi. It is beneficial for fathers just as much as mothers as well.

-Samantha

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Birth Transitions- an outlet for prenatal education run and taught by Trudy. She is a qualified childbirth educator and doula (labor support person).

Locations: Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver.

GOALS:

o   Birth Transitions is to help women and their partners prepare for childbirth.

o   understanding and education and preparation for caring for an infant.

o   Guiding both parents.

Their mission is to provide high-quality pre-natal classes to pregnant women and their partners, so that they are informed and empowered to have a birth experience that is unique and satisfying to them
A quote from Trudy I found intresting:

“When a woman gives birth with confidence and dignity, she becomes aware of her own strength, resilience and inner resources. Ideally, she will always recall the day she gave birth as a time when she discovered new and profound things about herself and her partner. This personal growth builds a firm foundation for becoming a mother; it enables her to relate to herself, her partner and their children with compassion, respect, and kindness.”

Some other things I found interesting:

o   I really liked how they incorporated fathers. (The website has a whole section for fathers and their role)

o   There was a lot of resources and websites on their page that was free and easy to use.

o   Classes are online due to covid so this can increase flexibility for both parents to join.

o   emphasis on choice.

o   $220 for seven 2hr classes- this surprised me. I thought it would be expensive.
~Larissa

https://www.birthtransitions.com/about/

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Community Birth Program - Surrey Midwives, British Columbia 10, Surrey, BC

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Community Birth Program - Surrey Midwives, British Columbia 10, Surrey, BC

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Community Birth Program - Surrey Midwives, British Columbia 10, Surrey, BC

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Hi Niraja,

I really appreciate that this program covers the cost for the parents who access it. It seems like an awesome resource

- Sadie Sandve

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Douglas College New Westminster Campus, Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC

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Douglas College New Westminster Campus, Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC

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Douglas College New Westminster Campus, Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC

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Douglas college provides prenatal and newborn classes both online and in person. taught by the perinatal program assistant and coordinator. These classes cover a variety of things such as:

meeting the challenges of late pregnancy

the process of labour and birth

hands-on comfort strategies and massage  techniques

medical procedures

decision-making

cesarean birth

the immediate postpartum

breastfeeding/chestfeeding

newborn care basics

keeping baby safe

health and wellness

postpartum adjustments

postpartum depression and accessing help

enjoying your baby

Douglas college even offers free access to a breastfeeding cafe after participating in the above courses

Douglas college offers two options for the prenatal and newborn classes:
1. seven 2 hour classes once a week for seven weeks at a cost of $240 (fee covers two participants)
2. 2 seven hour classes offered on weekends at the same cost

an outline of the course is provided here:
https://www.douglascollege.ca/sites/default/files/docs/department-ce-perinatal/2021%20Fall%20Series%20outline.pdf

The course is offered in New West Minister, Langley and Coquitlam as well as online which makes it very accessible to the general public.

- Sadie Sandve

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I think it is great how the maternity groups follow their patients for 6 or 7 weeks after they deliver. This allows the mother to have questions answered postpartum that may not have come up before birth!
-Esther

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Birth with Love - childbirth classes provided by exploring the physiological process of labour and birth while bringing awareness to and holding space for the different paths that labour can take. Cultivates adaptability, resiliency, self-love, connection, and a willingness to keep going in challenging moments. Offers the opportunity for self discovery and to build confidence within so individuals can make informed decisions for themselves and their family as they navigate the birth experience and beyond.
-Offered online via zoom which increases accessibility to all communities
-Offered in two sessions
-There is a fee associated with the classes, a bit less for group classes and more expensive for private classes
-Education is provided by Taryn, who is a certified Childhood Educator. She creates a safe environment, recognizes that each client and birth is unique and that they are the experts of their own lives, brings awareness to the journey that birth is, and offers opportunities for self-exploration.

-I think this is a great resource and would provide a lot of important information and guidance, but it is limited to those who can afford it.

-Esther

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Hi Olivia,
Does it mention what kind of services are free and what not?

niraja

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Joyous Childbirth Online Prenatal Classes, 68 Avenue, Surrey, BC

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Hi Naur,
It's nice to know the goal to reduce the CS occurrence. This will help to maintain mothers' health and reduce complications after the procedure.

niraja

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Hi, Rae.
The self-referral aspect of this program is so helpful especially when it comes to accessibility. The group session sound like they would be very helpful is limiting social isolation some mothers may feel. Great find!
- Naur

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Hello, Dani!
I think this is an especially great resource because of their ability to directly admit patients to the hospital. Having prenatal education and health care support makes it very useful. The free online classes can be accessible as well, like you mentioned.
- Naur

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Community Birth Program - Surrey Midwives, British Columbia 10, Surrey, BC

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Community Birth Program - Surrey Midwives, British Columbia 10, Surrey, BC

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Community Birth Program - Surrey Midwives, British Columbia 10, Surrey, BC

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Location: Panorama Village Shopping Centre
#201- 15149 Hwy 10, Surrey, BC
Accessibility: Central location, easy excess to transportation
Cost: Covered by MSP
Team: Doctors, Nurse practitioner, Midwife, LPN
Services: 1:1 or group session, Prenatal, birth and up until 6 weeks after baby is born
Role of midwife and nurse:
- monitoring weight and BP in every session
- belly checks every session
- discussion on nutrition, exercise, labour and birthing process, pain management, breastfeeding/chestfeeding and infant care
It is equitable opportunity for women who prefer either 1:1 or group session

my question:
Do you include other family members in the educational session ?

Niraja

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Fraser Birth Collaborative, Gladys Avenue, Abbotsford, BC

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Fraser Birth Collaborative, Gladys Avenue, Abbotsford, BC

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Fraser Birth Collaborative, Gladys Avenue, Abbotsford, BC

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Fraser Birth Collaborative is a group of different health care providers such as midwives, lactation consultants and registered nurses. It is located in Downtown Abbotsford and serves anyone in the Fraser valley. It is accessible as it is in the middle of pretty much every city in the fraser valley. They provide a variety of care from individual to group care to after birth care. Pregnant women are able to self refer without a doctors referral. Patients will begin with a one on one session to recognize needs and then are invited to group or individual sessions. Group sessions are beneficial as you are able to meet moms that are at similar stages in pregnancy as you. Payment is based on the ability of the client to pay. There is a minimum 300 fee overall for group care. But FBC midwifery and physician services are covered by the British Columbia Medical Services Plan, so there is no cost for women with provincial health insurance. Continuous collaborative care is a huge priority for FBC. They are committed to providing care mentally, physically and emotionally. Education is provided to the client based off of the needs of the client. There is access to physicians, midwives, nurses, nurse practitioners, doulas, lactation consultants, mental health counsellors, registered massage therapists, pelvic floor consultants etc. This is a great opportunity for clients as there is no big cost with a huge access to different resources. This group seems very supportive and keen to provide help to a variety of needs. The nurses provide a variety of care to the clients similarly to the care they provide in the hospital setting (ex. assessments, education). Questions I would have is how personalized it would be to each client? As well do you have to commit to using this program? Is there opportunity for just educational classes?
-Rae-Anne Heschuk

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Peace Arch Maternity Clinic
They pride themselves in offering high quality and safe maternity care. They have advanced training and experience with both “normal” (sometimes called low-risk) and complicated births. They also see newborns for the first month of life.
- They have a team of 9 obstetrical and family physicians and they work with a multidisciplinary team of obstetricians, paediatricians, nurses, radiologists and anaesthetists.
- They see patients for prenatal and postnatal care in their clinic and they care for pregnant women throughout their pregnancy and for six weeks after their baby’s birth.
- They also have obstetrical admitting privileges at Peach Arch Hospital.
- The role of the nurse is to guide care and teaching in the clinic as well as provide care on the maternity ward during the childbirth process.
- They provide free online resources as well as community classes and groups through the Fraser Health Authority.
- I think this is a very equitable resource for those in South Surrey and throughout the Fraser Valley as so many of the comprehensive resources are found online where anyone can access them. They could increase accessibility by expanding and maybe having other locations and clinics throughout Surrey.
Dani

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Abbotsford Maternity Group, Ventura Avenue, Abbotsford, BC

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Abbotsford Maternity Group, Ventura Avenue, Abbotsford, BC
Their team's purpose is to advocate for parents and their baby's complete health and providing maternity care to families in the Fraser Valley
- They have five family doctors, plus locums who help out
- They've been serving Fraser Valley families since 200
- They've got a great relationship with Abbotsford Regional Hospital, Specialists, and Nurses
- offer prenatal classes and free breastfeeding support
- They manage all of the deliveries at Abbotsford Regional Hospital
- They coordinate the management of all pregnancy needs until after giving birth and follow you until 7 weeks postpartum, at which time you will be transitioned back to the care of your family doctor
- the role of the nurse is at the hospital, where they will do assessments and provide care in the maternity ward (and triage)
- Offer a number of great resources and evidence based information and education on their website (easily accessible!)
- majority of appointments are in person, which could be an issue for some people
- Only some services are free, which could be an issue for some
- Is it equitable? I believe it is equitable but potentially has some barriers for accessibility as they as it is largely based in Abbotsford and not all services are free.

Olivia

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Joyous Childbirth Prenatal Preparation
- A prenatal teaching program taught by an experienced registered nurse on relaxation techniques, what to expect during pregnancy, partner support, and newborn care.
- Can be in-person, online, or a personal consultation - making this very accessible across the Fraser valley. They have partial free services, and can be contacted via email or phone to apply. This is accessed through "Mama Midwifery" which is a Surrey-located service.
- Main goal of this program is to reduce the number of C-sections by providing adequate support and knowledge to childbearing families.
- In terms of being equitable. it is a easily accessible resource, however only some parts of the service is free, which can be a barrier for some.

Naur