SERVICES for Expectant Parents

Ontario Perinatal Services offers Childbirth Education Classes designed to be taken at any time during your pregnancy. Class sizes are limited to two to three couples to ensure personal attention and intimacy.

Choose a Six-Week Series, an Intensive Weekend Format, or Private In-Home Classes, which can be customized to suit your own personal needs. You may repeat any portion of your class at anytime during your pregnancy at no additional charge, subject to availability.

Our Childbirth Education Classes are based upon the ideas that:

• Pregnancy & Birth are natural, family events which suffer if an "illness model" is applied to the care of families during the childbearing cycle
• Women and their families be participants in the decisions regarding their care
• Women labour more easily and with fewer complications when they are prepared, informed, and given encouragement and support
• Pregnancy & Birth are unique experiences for each woman
• Childbirth is a function of the mind as well as the body
• Birth is a life-changing, personal experience
• Technology tends to complicated the birth process, and needs to be used appropriately
• Through respect and informed choice, women are empowered to take responsibility for their care
• Loving, nurturing, and responsible parenting is a common result of natural family-centred birth
  

On the practical side, our series of classes will cover:

• Cultural Influences on Birth
• Nutrition and Prevention of Health Problems
• Birth Options and Decision- Making
• Prenatal Care and Testing
• The Normal Process of Birth
• Relaxation and Comfort Measures
• How to Support A Birthing Mom
• Cesarean Prevention
• Complications
• Postpartum
• Breastfeeding
• Loving Care of The Newborn
• And Much More!

Childbirth Support

Women continue to look at birthing a healthy baby as their number one priority but also look to have a more positive experience in terms of emotional and psychological satisfaction.
The process of birth is an intense physical, spiritual, and emotional experience. A satisfying birth is important to the development of a healthy family unit. Women and their families need special, skillful support and encouragement throughout the childbearing year - particularly during labour and birth to optimize the experience for everyone involved.
An Experienced Childbirth Support Specialist can provide continuous care for the labouring woman and her partner. By contributing her physical and emotional support, a CSS can help the expectant parents fully participate in this dynamic process.
As a Certified Childbirth Support Specialist, I believe in supporting, guiding, and honouring each woman as she embarks on her journey through pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood.

Benefits of Professional Labour Support

• Better outcomes for Moms and Babies
• Labour tends to be shorter and more comfortable
• Less need for technical aid
• Greater maternal satisfaction
• Improved breastfeeding
• Better Mother-Infant interaction
• Reduced stress for expectant parents surrounding the birth experience
  

Postpartum Support

New Families need nurturing and gentle support. Our goal is to relieve the new mother of her day to day responsibilities so that she is better-rested and able to nurture and care for her baby. We do this by focusing on Mom's needs and helping both parents to develop confidence in their parenting skills.
While we make individual arrangements with each client, here is some general information about our services.
Services
Within the scope of our practice is providing non-medical physical and emotional support and practical household assistance after your baby's birth. We can help with self-care recovery measures, give information on mother and baby care, and help you learn to care for and feed your baby. We can prepare meals, go grocery shopping and do the laundry or run other necessary errands. We will perform light housekeeping duties as well. We will also assist with child care of other siblings, and allow the new mother to spend time with her baby, or rest. We strive to provide appropriate and non-judgmental support, information, and practical assistance to new mothers and their families. We do not provide medical assessments or give medical advice; if you are worried about yourself or the baby, we will recommend contacting your healthcare provider.

Cesarean/VBAC Classes
VBAC Classes are available to expectant parents who are having a VBAC - Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. Attending a VBAC class is recommended for anyone who is planning a VBAC. We will discuss Reasons for Cesarean Sections, Grieving/Healing, What Do You Want From Your Next Birth? Risks, Benefits, Overview of Normal Labour, Optimizing Your Next Birth, and Planning for Postpartum.
Classes are available in small group format or private sessions.

Sibling Preparation Classes

My Mommy's Having a Baby is a class geared to 2-6 year olds who are expecting a New Baby at their house. Parents attend with their child and participate as we discuss Meeting the New Baby, Taking Care of the New Baby, Storytime, Craft time, and engage in several different learning stations, such as Holding the Baby, Diapering the Baby, Swaddling the Baby, and Baby In Utero Exercise. Small group format. Parent Handouts included.

 

Newborn Massage Instruction

Coming home from the hospital with a newborn baby has been described as feeling like "going out on a date". Most new parents have feelings that range from fear to awe as they cuddle, feed and care for their baby. Usually new parents have several months to prepare for their newborn; however, starting a new relationship is a huge thing. Newborn Massage is a powerful, happy way to become acquainted. You can learn early communication while you give your baby gentle but potent nerve stimulation. This assists with digestion, elimination, healing, growth, and deeper sleep. This class introduces supportive, protective massage while you learn early infant communication, enabling you to empower parents to respond to it in a satisfying way.

In this class, you will learn all the basics:

• Early infant communication
• Crying and coping
• Baby's time-out cues
• Comforting
• The learning process of newborns
• Giving a loving, gentle massage
  

This class is for new or expectant parents. New parents bring their newborn, and expectant parents bring a doll. You may choose to meet with other new and expectant parents in a class setting, or have a private class in the comfort of your home.

What to bring to class:

• receiving blanket
• thick blanket or baby quilt
• diaper bag with extra clothes, diapers, wipes
  

If your baby is breastfed, you can massage immediately after a feed. If your baby is bottlefed, you will have to wait 1/2 and hour after the feed to massage.