Postpartum Assistance

Postbirth Clinics

Postbirth Clinics are provided by a partnership of Grand River and Cambridge Memorial Hospitals and Region of Waterloo Public Health for mothers and newborns discharged from one of these hospitals.

The clinics offer voluntary support for mothers and babies.

The clinics, located at both hospitals, are staffed by Public Health Nurses. Appointments take 20 to 30 minutes. Your partner or a support person is welcome to come with you.

What Happens at Postbirth Clinics?

At the Postbirth Clinic, you will meet with a Public Health Nurse to talk about how you and your baby are doing. Your baby will be weighed and you will have a chance to get answers to your questions regarding yourself or your baby.

If more support, information or referrals to other services are needed, a woman may be offered a home visit usually within two weeks of the Postbirth Clinic.

Note: The Postbirth Clinic does not replace a doctor's appointment for you and your baby. It is important that your newborn be seen by a doctor within 48 hours after the Postbirth Clinic, or earlier if you have concerns.

For more information on Postbirth Clinics, please call the Healthy Children Info Line at 519-883-2245.

Postpartum Contact with a Public Health Nurse

Phone Call

If they agree, mothers who choose not to take their newborn to a Postbirth Clinic will receive a telephone call from a Public Health Nurse.

The Public Health Nurse will ask how the mother and baby are doing, answer questions and offer information about community resources. If more support is required, the mother may be offered a home visit.

Postpartum Home Visit

As with the Postbirth Clinics, if more support, information or referrals to other services are needed, a woman may be offered a home visit usually within two weeks of the phone call.

Referral to Healthy Babies Healthy Children program

Professionals

If you are a physician or other primary care provider and would like to refer someone to the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program, please complete this form referral form and fax it to 519-746-9846.

Parents

If you are a parent interested in joining the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program, call the Healthy Children Info Line at 519-883-2245.