SmartMom is a free Canadian text messaging program that sends pregnant women evidence-based information tailored to their stage of pregnancy. You'll receive helpful messages with links, phone numbers and videos about fetal growth, options for screening in pregnancy, and preparation for labour and delivery, all delivered to your phone at the right time in your pregnancy. All information is free and from sources you can trust.
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Texting "VCH" to 12323
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Or visiting
smartmomcanada.ca and click "Enroll Now"
Parent and child services include prenatal and newborn follow-up,
child health clinics,
parent-infant drop-in groups,
audiology,
dental, and
speech/language services for children up to age five. Our services are generally free-of-charge to people living in
the VCH region, although some programs have eligibility criteria like age and income.
Mothers who give birth in a hospital will receive a phone call from a public health nurse within 24-48 hours after discharge from hospital.
Mothers who receive care from a midwife will receive care in the first few days from their midwife and will be contacted by a public health nurse within six to eight weeks.
If you are not contacted, you can
find your local health unit and give them a call.
For additional information on caring for yourself and your baby,
visit our parenting website.
VCH maternity services, find care that is specialized to a woman's needs and as close to home as possible
Baby and Me Parenting Drop-in Groups, a chance for new parents to connect with and get support from other parents and health care professionals to discuss infant growth and development, nutrition, safety and adjustment to parenthood
Parenting Resources website, a one-stop resource for pregnancy and caring for children from birth to age five
Healthy Families BC's Pregnancy and Parenting website has up-to-date and practical information, useful tools and resources for women, expectant parents, and families with babies and toddlers up to three years of age.
Healthiest Babies Possible (HBP) Program provides nutrition counselling, health education, food access and social support to pregnant women facing challenging life circumstances in
Vancouver or
Richmond.
Download Baby's Best Chance or pick up a printed copy from your local community health centre.
Download Toddler’s First Steps or pick up a printed copy from your local community health centre.