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Newborn Care

This section provides parents and families with information about caring for their newborn.
Breastfeeding My Baby guide

The Breastfeeding My Baby guide, available inside the Pregnancy Passport, is a helpful tool that can be printed and posted in health care facilities to promote breastfeeding, or used with families for individual or group education. There are two sizes available for printing: Letter (8.5 x 11) and Poster (24 x 17).


Are you breastfeeding and deciding about getting a COVID-19 vaccine? For most people, getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the safest choice to protect them from COVID-19. Read more considerations to help you decide: COVID-19 vaccine planning guide for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding



Breast milk and contrast media

Is it safe to breastfeed my baby after my Medical Imaging test? Yes

Learn More


Breastfeeding your preterm baby

Breastfeeding Your Preterm Baby booklet was adapted with permission from the BFI Strategy for Ontario. The Breastfeeding Your Preterm Baby booklet supports families who have a preterm baby and who plan to breastfeed and/or provide human milk to their baby.

Topics include: breastfeeding your preterm baby, skin-to-skin contact and Kangaroo care, tips to getting off to a good start, pumping, feeding your baby at the hospital and tips for when you take your baby home.

Breastfeeding Your Preterm Baby booklet is available in the following languages:
If you need hard copies, please print the PDF files linked here. For English copies only, you can place a print on demand (self-pay) order through PSBC's online ordering portal. If you don't have an account, please follow the steps online to request one.

Breast/Chest feeding promotional materials

These materials promote community support of breast/chest feeding. Click on the images below to see print-ready versions of the promotional materials.

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Informal (peer-to-peer) milk sharing
Your own milk is the best way to feed your baby. When your milk is not available, for whatever reason, pasteurized donor human milk from an official milk bank is the next best choice.

Some parents feel the benefits of breast milk outweigh the potential risks of formula. Informal milk sharing (sometimes called peer-to-peer milk sharing) is human milk that is:

  • obtained from family members, friends, a milk-sharing website, or purchased online;
  • usually not treated to kill any harmful bacteria or viruses.
If you are thinking about giving your baby milk from an informal donor, read the Informal (Peer-to-Peer) Human Milk Sharing Family Information Sheet and talk with your health care provider to discuss the risks and benefits of all feeding options.

BC Women's provincial milk bank

The BC Women's Provincial Milk Bank screens milk donors, collects and pasteurizes donated milk, and distributes it to hospitals in BC.


Milk from a baby’s own mother is always the first choice. When her milk isn’t available, donor milk is the next best thing. Donor milk has active beneficial properties and is similar to mother’s own milk. It provides babies with antibodies to fight disease and infection. Human milk is best for all babies. It is especially important for sick and very tiny babies.
The demand for milk is high and often exceeds supply. New donors are always needed. 


Before attempting to drop off milk to a breast milk collection depot, you must call the depot that you plan to use to confirm times and locations for drop off.
 

Breastfeeding

Infant Formula Feeding

Infant Masks

  • Your Baby and COVID-19: Masks or face coverings, visors or eye protection are not made to be used on infants/children under the age of 2 years. Find more information on how to keep your baby safe. 

Visitors to the hospital (Changes due to COVID-19)

While the presence of family and friends is acknowledged as being integral to a patient’s overall wellness, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and help protect patients, families and staff, sites have taken steps to limit the number of individuals entering patient care areas. Please consult with the health care team to confirm the visitation policies at your site, prior to having friends or family visit.

Find the latest COVID-19 updates on Health Alerts

The best start for you and your baby is skin-to-skin and heart-to-heart in Kangaroo Care. Kangaroo Care is the skin-to-skin holding of your baby against your bare chest, often secured with a wrap. Kangaroo Care provides warmth, comfort, and a place where your baby will grow and begin to make positive connections. It supports your baby's brain development and is good for both you and your baby.

 

The following resources provide information and support for parents and families with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.


Kangaroo Care - Information for Parents: An information booklet for parents about the importance of Kangaroo Care. Available in 5 languages: Simplified ChineseTraditional ChinesePunjabiKorean, and Farsi.


Video - A Parent's Perspective on Kangaroo Care: A parent's perspective on the value of Kangaroo Care.


Video - Kangaroo Care Information for Parents: A general video on the origins and benefits of Kangaroo Care.


Video - Kangaroo Care Step by Step: A step-by-step explanation of a 'standing transfer' where a parent picks up their baby for Kangaroo Care.


Video - Kangaroo Care Transfer Demonstration: A demonstration by a father picking up his son who is on respiratory support for Kangaroo Care


 

All About Your Baby: Information for the Bedside (For Parents)

The transfer of a baby from one NICU to another NICU can be stressful. By completing this document, you will provide important information to the doctors and nurses working in the unit where your baby is going.

BC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) information for families:

Visitors to the hospital (Changes due to COVID-19)

While the presence of family and friends is acknowledged as being integral to a patient’s overall wellness, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and help protect patients, families and staff, sites have taken steps to limit the number of individuals entering patient care areas. Please consult with the health care team to confirm the visitation policies at your site, prior to having friends or family visit.

Baby's Best Chance

Baby's Best Chance: Parents' Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care is intended to offer general information about pregnancy and parenting, with a focus on ensuring the health and wellbeing of you and your baby. It also provides guidance on how you can access additional support, should you need it. Topics covered include pregnancy, birth and parenting a baby up to six months of age.


Safer Sleep

In the early weeks of life, babies sleep for about 16 hours a day. When it comes to sleep, your baby’s sleep environment is always important – day or night. Some sleep practices are safer than others. Safer Sleep for My Baby pamphlet shares information about how to help make your baby’s sleep environment as safe as possible. – Make every sleep a safer sleep.




Please visit the following sections in Our Services:


Infant Feeding


Public Health Agency of Canada Parent Resource

Breastfeeding is important for you and your baby.
Today most babies are breastfed. And as more Canadians understand how important breastfeeding is for the health of mothers and babies, more people are supporting mothers to breastfeed for longer, up to 2 years and more. To learn more visit these two resources:


Other Resources:



Neonatal Intensive Care

The following websites and resources provide information and support for parents and families with babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU).


Parenting
  • HealthLink BC: 
    • Parenting Babies 0-12 months
      Babies don't come with instruction manuals.  But parents and health care professionals have learned a lot about the best ways to care for and nurture little ones.













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