Resources for expectant & new parents

Materials and resources that you might find helpful.

Giving birth is one of the most monumental experiences in your life. In addition to the information on this website, we have compiled some additional materials that you might find helpful after you deliver your baby.

As a new or expectant parent, we know you have many questions about how to stay healthy and how to care for your baby. We have compiled a list of resources you might find useful. Please note that inclusion on this list does not indicate endorsement or guarantee by St. Paul’s Hospital Pregnancy, Birthing and Newborn Centre.

At any time, if you have questions about your baby’s health, call the HealthLink BC Nurses Line at 8-1-1. If your baby is in medical distress, has stopped breathing or is unresponsive, call 9-1-1 immediately.

- Baby’s Best Chance: A handbook produced by the province of British Columbia and Perinatal Services BC (PDF)
- Smart Mom Canada: Text messaging program that sends pregnant people relevant information based on their stage of pregnancy.
- Prenatal Genetic Screening: Information on Perinatal Services BC genetic screening program for Down syndrome, trisomy 18 or open neural tube defect.
- Substance use during pregnancy: Information from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.
- Pregnancy Vancouver: Initiative of the Vancouver Division of Family Practice, Doctors of BC. Includes list of maternity care family physicians.
- HealthLink BC: Informative videos about pregnancy.
- Perinatal Services BC – Labour and Birth: Web content from Perinatal Services BC, the province’s central source for evidence-based perinatal information
- Doula Services Association of BC: Find a doula to support you during your baby’s birth.
- Pain Relief Options for Labour and Birth: Content from Healthy Families BC, an initiative of the province of British Columbia, including pros and cons of various pain relief options.
- Checking new babies for Critical Congenital Heart Disease: Brochure from Providence Health Care describing testing done on newborns.
- BC Newborn Screening Program: PDF that describes a blood test performed on all newborns in British Columbia to check for rare diseases.
- Screening program for Biliary Atresia: PDF from Perinatal Services BC that illustrates normal and abnormal stool colours to help parents detect biliary atresia, a serious liver disease.
- Birth Registration: Create a permanent legal record of your child’s birth in British Columbia.
- Feeding your baby: Content from Healthy Families BC, an initiative of the province of British Columbia. Includes information on infant feeding and starting your baby on solid foods.
- La Leche League International: Breastfeeding resources from an international organization dedicated to helping parents worldwide to breastfeed through support, encouragement, information, and education.
- Perinatal Services BC: Newborn Care: Content from Perinatal Services BC, the province’s central source for evidence-based perinatal information.
- SmartParent: Text messaging program that sends new parents relevant information based on their child’s age (up to one year).
- Immunization Schedule for Newborns and Infants: Content from Health Link BC, an initiative of the province of British Columbia that provides reliable non-emergency health information and advice in British Columbia.
- Period of Purple Crying: Information on how to manage the natural period in your baby’s life where they will cry unconsolably.
- Safe Sleep: Content from the HealthLink BC on how to prevent sudden infant death syndrome.
- Car Seat Safety: Information from Transport Canada on how to choose a car seat.
- Pacific Postpartum Society: Program for parents experiencing postpartum/perinatal distress, depression and anxiety.
- Postpartum Support International: Provides resources to support birthing parents with the emotional changes they experience during pregnancy and postpartum.
- BC Crisis Centre: Online and phone support available 24/7 for people dealing with a mental health crisis.
- Indigenous Pregnancy Passport: Workbook from Perinatal Services BC.
- Ekw’i7tl Indigenous Doula Collective: a network of Vancouver-based Indigenous doulas who provide support to Indigenous families.
- Kilila Birthkeeper Collective: an Indigenous-led support group of women and mothers from diverse backgrounds supporting families within the Greater Vancouver and surrounding areas.

Feeding your baby

There are many options to ensure your baby is receiving all the nutrition they need.
Prenatal classes

Our prenatal classes provide you with the information you need to give birth confidently and make informed decisions about your care.
Reproductive mental health

The Reproductive Mental Health Program at St. Paul’s Hospital serves people with mental health concerns related to pregnancy, postpartum or other reproductive cycles.
Bereavement supports

As part of our perinatal loss program, we provide initial grief counselling to families and help set up a grief support program for them once they go home.

Resources for expectant & new parents

Giving birth is one of the most monumental experiences in your life. In addition to the information on this website, we have compiled some additional materials that you might find helpful after you deliver your baby.

Feeding your baby

Prenatal classes

Reproductive mental health

Bereavement supports