Web Resources
Midwives
ARMS Midwifery Consumer Group: Advocating for the practice of midwifery in Waterloo Region
College of Midwives of Ontario: regulating body responsible for licensing midwives and ensuring safe practice
Association of Ontario Midwives: professional body of midwives provides information about finding a midwife in your community
Canadian Association of Midwives
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: information about midwives
Ontario Birth Registration
Service Ontario: Register your baby’s birth online
Local Resources
Grand River Hospital Childbirth Services
Follow this link to an 8 minute video tour of the Childbirth unit
Wordsworth Books & Babies: a fun filled half hour of stories, clapping games and songs to help you bond with your baby. There are numerous benefits to sharing books with your little one. Come and learn how to find the right books at what age, and how to make reading an exciting experience.
Ontario Early Years Centers
Drop in centers with resources and toy library: info
Public Health
Child Health, General Topics: As soon as a baby is born, there are new and important matters for parents to consider, such as breastfeeding, newborn development and sleeping safety.
Public Libraries
Kidsability
Serves children with a wide range of special needs in the Waterloo region: info
Find a Family Doctor
Health Care Connect: Ministry of Health website
Prenatal Classes
Tara Sharpe
Belly Buttons
Bring on Baby: Prenatal and Childbirth Classes
Conestoga College
Prenatal Classes for Youth: free classes from Waterloo Region Public Health
General Information
Motherisk: information about medications and substances in pregnancy
416-813-6780 Motherisk Help Line
1-877-327-4636 Alcohol and Substance Use
1-800-436-8477 Morning Sickness
1-888-246-5840 HIV and HIV Treatment
Healthy Children Info Line Waterloo Region Public Health: a nurse answers your questions about healthy growth of children up to age 6
519-883-2245
Waterloo Region Public Health: where to phone when you need help or information
Womens Health Matters (Womens College Hospital)
Caring for Kids (Canadian Pediatric Society)
Zero to Three (American non-profit organization)
Nutrition and Recipe Ideas
Meal Makeover Moms: recipes and cooking ideas for busy families
Mix it Up Campaign (Canadian Produce Marketing Association): information to help you get more fruits and vegetables into your day
Heart and Stroke Foundation Health Check Program: food information to help you eat well
Breastfeeding
Dr. Jack Newman: information about breastfeeding, including video clips
La Leche League Canada: find breastfeeding support near you
Breastfeeding Buddies program of the Waterloo Region Public Health: trained volunteers to provide one on one peer support for breastfeeding.
Me? Breastfeed? Free course offered by Waterloo Region Public Health
Breastfeeding Committee for Canada: Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative
Infact Canada: activist group to promote and protect breastfeeding, website has a lot of useful information
Grand River Hospital Breastfeeding Support Services
Postpartum Mood
Grand River Hospital Post-Partum Mood Disorders Support Group 835 King St. W., Kitchener?(519) 749-4300 ext. 2267
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: information about postpartum depression
Mood Disorders Association of Ontario: fact sheet on postpartum depression
Postpartum Support International: a website for mothers and fathers experiencing post partum related mood disorders, offers information and suggestions for assistance
City of Toronto Information and Resources: for families dealing with Prenatal and Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
Car Seat Safety
Region of Waterloo Public Health: car seat information
St. John Ambulance: car seat clinics
Call 519-740-8895 for an appointment.
You must bring the manual for your car seat and car when you come.
Diapers
Bear Bottoms: cloth diaper service
Extraordinary Baby Shoppe: buy cloth diapers
Diaper Free: information about infant potty training
Thula Inc: Eco-friendly diaper change mats and pads
Research and evidence
Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario: Ontario Newborn Screening
Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada
Delayed cord clamping
Academic Ob/Gyn blog: Delayed cord clamping should be standard practice in Obstetrics
Penny Simkin Youtube video: Visual demonstration of early vs delayed cord clamping
Science & Sensibility: A Research Blog about Healthy Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond: Consider the Source: An interview with Cord Clamping Researcher, Judith Mercer
Sleeping with your Baby
UNICEF: Guideline for Caring for Your Baby at Night
Bed-Sharing Research Review
Circumcision
Some things to think about before making a decision
Canadian Pediatric Society Circumcision: information for parents
Canada Circumcision Statistics
Proportion of infants circumcised by province
Dr. Gifford Jones, Sun Media Columnist Circumcision, the Unkindest Cut (short column outlining the main arguments against circumcision)
Canadian Children’s Rights Council Note: strong bias against circumcision
Marketplace
Little City Farm: herbs and ointments
Yemaya Herbal Products: calendula ointment for sore nipples, and more
Sew Funky: local source of baby slings
Bailey’s Local Foods: order from the website and pick up food that has been grown within 100 miles of KW
Cheryl Chamberlain Photography: Specializing in family and birth photography
True Blue Therapy: Rental, delivery and set-up of birthing pools
Service
Jennifer Erickson MSW: offers relationship education workshops and couples counselling, helping them stay connected to each other when a baby joins the family
The Nesting Instinct: KW’s doula group offering labour, birth and postpartum services in KW, Cambridge and Guelph
Mommy A Go Go: For Active Moms in Guelph, Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo
The Natural Way Health Clinic: a multi-disciplinary health clinic offering naturopathic, chiropractic, counselling, acupuncture, registered massage therapy, clinical nutrition
LiveWell Health and Wellness clinic: an integrated clinic offering chiropractic, massage, naturopathy and other services in Baden
Naturopath: Jessica Gurske ND
St. Jacobs Naturopathic Clinic: The power of healing naturally
Waterloo North Chiropractic & Massage: Chiropractic, registered massage therapy and osteopathy
KW Pelvic Health: Physiotherapy specializing in pelvic floor health
Back Works: Physiotherapy for bladder control and pelvic pain
Fitness
Blue Skies Yoga specialize in yoga for prenatal, postnatal and women’s health
OhBaby Fitness: Fitness classes specially designed for prenatal and postpartum, by moms who have been there
Mommies & Tummies Fitness: Pre and Postnatal personal training service
Grand River Sports Medicine: Physiotherapy and Pilates
The Self Centre Yoga & Wellness: Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga
Your Yoga: Private and semi-private yoga classes
The Buff Mom Fitness and Lifestyle Coaching: Postpartum Boot Camp
Local events for young families
KW Kids: things to do with your kids
Mommyagogo: information for active moms
Support Groups
Bereaved Families of Ontario
171 King St. S., Waterloo
(519) 745-7280
Extend-A-Family Association:support for families with a disabled son or daughter
91 Moore Ave., Kitchener
(519) 741-0190
K-W POMBA (Parents of Multiple Births Association) Kitchener
Mosaic Counselling and Family Services
400 Queen St. S., Kitchener
(519) 743-6333
Lutherwood: provides a one-stop first contact for families and young people who are looking for assistance and services.
Family Violence Project of Waterloo Region: collaborative of agencies that provides wrap-around, seamless services to victims of domestic violence
400 Queen St S, Kitchener
Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region
Operates shelters Anselma House in Kitchener and Haven House in Cambridge
24 hour crisis lines 519-653-2422 and 519-742-5894
Waterloo Region Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre
St. Mary’s General Hospital, 911 Queen’s Boulevard,
519-749-6994
Child and Parent Place: supervised access/exchange for non custodial parents.
Waterloo Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Support Group
99 Regina St. S., 5th Flr., Waterloo
(519) 883-2223