The Birth Centre
603 St. Mary's Road R2M 3L8 Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Whether you’ve given birth or adopted, a baby changes your life. For most parents of a new baby, life with baby is different than they thought. Join our Osborne virtual Families Connecting group who will explore these changes over the next few weeks. For more information please call 204-947-2422 ext. 113 or email: [email protected] [Image description: A parent is sitting in an armchair with a newborn in one arm, and a coffee mug in the other hand]

Today was the last Families Connecting group before retirement for one of our favourite Public Health Dietitians. Thank you Rosemary for all the advice, encouragement, and laughs at our groups, you will be missed. We wish you all the best in your retirement.

Having a baby changes everything in your life. We know that all birthing people benefit when they have support for returning to the workplace!

Mother's Day - a day of reflection on experiences and relationships - is complicated. It may be a joyous celebration of acknowledgement and appreciation. It may be a painful reminder of hurt, loss and grief. We know that the realities of many people aren't captured in mainstream messages about mothering. We see you. And we see the hard work all of you are doing every day - as mothers. parents, caregivers, and workers - to keep the children of the world safe and healthy under ...the ongoing challenges of a pandemic. We want you to know that all of us at WHC hold space for you every day - in our thoughts, in our hearts, and in our work. For each of you, we hope today is a day of gentle peace. <3 [Image description: A cropped photo of people's hands against a pink background. Their hands are joined together to form a heart shape.]

This moment, and many more just like it, are brought to you by midwives. And we thank you. Today on International Day of the Midwife we want flood our feeds with love to midwives for their essential, life changing, hard work. Share a photo and tag us or a comment below on what midwifery care had meant for you.... #yesMAM #IDM2021 Midwives Association of Manitoba [Image Description: Two parents hold their newborn baby in a birthing room at the Winnipeg Birth Centre]

This project will benefit Indigenous women and their families by supplying culturally appropriate supports throughout their pregnancies. Women’s Health Clinic is so proud to be associated with this collaboration! It truly is a privilege and an honour to learn from the experiences and expertise of these amazing organizations about providing culturally-informed pregnancy care.

Did you know that midwives offer choice in place of birth? It's true! Together, you and your midwife can explore all the options available to you for birthing at home, in hospital, or at the Birth Centre. Curious about #midwifery? Check out our Birth Centre website to learn more!... https://whcbirthcentre.com/midwifery/

Thank you for helping people get the birth control supplies they need!

Are you continuing a pregnancy and curious about midwifery care? Follow the link to learn more about all the amazing things midwives can do! https://whcbirthcentre.com/midwifery/ [Image description; A closeup black & white photo of a midwife tending to a newborn. They are wearing protective gloves as they cradle the infant's head.]

Are you continuing a pregnancy or have a child under one? Looking for a way to create community and connect with other parents safely during the pandemic? Join one of our Families Connecting Virtual groups! To learn more or to find out about other programing we are currently offering, call 204-947-2422 ext. 113 or email [email protected] [Image Description: A smiling parent with baby on their lap, sitting in front of an open laptop]

"Imagine if parents could safely talk about their non-problematic substance use without the fear of losing their children. [...] Imagine if parents could talk about the benefits of their substance use. [...] Imagine if parents could safely talk about changes they want to make long before their substance use is a problem. Imagine if parents could ask for help with problematic substance use without fear." Harm reduction is an established approach to public health policy and pra...ctice that reduces the negative health, social and economic consequences associated with the use of legal or illegal substances. Based on evidence, governments and organizations across the globe recognize that harm reduction is cost-effective, and benefits individuals, their communities, and society. We stand with our community health allies at the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network in challenging and ending stigma against people who use drugs. See more

What I want young women and girls to know is: You are powerful and your voice matters. You’re going to walk into many rooms in your life and career where you may be the only one who looks like you or who has had the experiences you’ve had. ~ Kamala Harris YES! In a history-making election, Ms. Harris is first woman Vice President in U.S. history, and the first African American and first Asian American to hold the post. We know that "If you can see it, you can be it!' offers... an inspiring message of encouragement and hope to girls, women, and BIPOC people - today and for the future ahead! [Image description: Rear view photo a a young Black girl watching Kamala Harris give her acceptance speech on tv. She is wearing a pink ruffled dress and her curly Black hair is gathered in two buns on top of her head.] Photo source: @ImRaquelBailey

#TBT Before we opened the doors of the Birth Centre in 2011, we collaborated with the Winnipeg Arts Council and the Manitoba Maternity Care Action Network on 'The Birthing Project' to create an art installation to capture our feminist approach to birth. Needless to say, local glass artist Judy Jennings really delivered! We envisioned a project that would represent the power and joy of the work of giving birth-- and to reclaim it as a social and cultural event, not just a medical one. Judy has captured exquisitely the stories and images of women, midwives, nurses and physicians who shared their birth stories with us. Click to learn more about the story of the beautiful art installation that graces the lobby of the Birth Centre! http://winnipegarts.ca/wac/artwork/the-birthing-project.

Please call Youville at (204) 255-4840 for more information about our breastfeeding support services!

Parenting is hard work, so it is important to fit in time for yourself when you can. To help you fit in self-care moments, we have created bags of items to help.... If you are registered with our Families Connecting groups or Healthy Families group, contract us to see if you might qualify for a FREE self-care bag. Thank you to the Shoppers Drug Mart -Love You campaign for the generous grant to allow us to create these self-care kits. [Image description: Tote bag with sugar body scrub, tea, lip balm, journal, pen, magnet, and bookmark]

Are you pregnant or a parent with a child under one, in the Transcona area? Come join our Families Connecting Transcona for a socially distanced outdoor group t...oday in Maple Leaf Park (331 Whitter Avenue W between Madeline Street and Winona Street) from 1:30 2:30. Todays topic is the Division of Responsibility in Feeding, which is a way of feeding your child that takes the battle out of meal times. [Image description: A person holding up a baby outdoors, The child has a neutral expression and is holding a yellow leaf.]

We'd like to remind folks that our mothering and parenting groups are closed tomorrow as we pause to observe Remembrance Day. Regular programming resumes on Thursday, November 12th. [Image description: A toddler is walking on a concrete path through a field of bright red poppies. They are wearing dark pants and a red t-shirt with the words "happy human" on it. They are smiling as they point to the poppies.]

Can you help? Willow Place - a safe shelter for folks experiencing domestic violence - urgently needs donations of diapers, pull-ups, wipes, and baby food. Donations must be pre-approved - no-contact drop-off available. Please call them at 204-615-0313, ext. 237for more information. Thank you! #willowplace #donate #winnipeg #shelter... [Image description: Photo of a smiling baby in a pink onesie. In a text bubble are the words "Infant diapers and wipes donations needed! Email: [email protected]"]

October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month - a time to pause to honour and grieve those who so swiftly became Ancestors. All are welcome to join today's zoomcast Healing through Grief & Loss from the Center for Indigenous Midwifery, featuring Registered Midwife Melissa Brown. Please click through to learn more about Melissa and the zoomcast.

Looking for prenatal information? We are currently running our Growing into Pregnancy Prenatal workshop series virtually. If you are interested in participating, please either email [email protected] or call 204-947-2422 ext. 113 to register. [Image description: A pregnant Black person is wearing a blue denim shirt and a colourful dhuku (head wrap). They have a gentle expression on their face as they cradle their pregnant belly.]

Families today don’t look the same as they did 20 years ago. There’s many different types of families and those families should be recognized as legal parents to their own children. ~ Robynne Kazina We're celebrating this new legislation that moves equality forward for all families in Manitoba - especially LGBTQ2S families - and removes costly barriers and burdens for new parents!

Looking for some Halloween fun for you and your baby? A couple of our Virtual Families Connecting groups will be hosting online Halloween Parties next week! A Mothers Program Facilitator will lead a family story time and teach you and your baby some Halloween themed songs. If you like, you and your child can dress in a costume! Either email [email protected] or call 204-947-2422 ext. 113 for details. [Image Description: A person is dressed as a witch and holding a baby dressed as a bat]

Are you caring for a baby or child under six? If so, please consider filling out this anonymous survey. Share your thoughts about how the child and youth mental health system can improve the quality of services for children under 6 throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are you continuing a pregnancy and looking at your options for place of birth? Visit our Birth Centre website for information regarding what a midwife-led birth looks like at the Birth Centre. Check out our approach to client-centred care, take a peek at our photos of our beautiful space, and fill out our Midwifery Interest Form if you are interested in having a midwife as your care provider. www.whcbirthcentre.com

Curious about how to build the emotional bond between you and your baby? Join us for a conversation about Attachment at our virtual Access River East Families Connecting group tomorrow evening. For more information about this group, or our other programs email [email protected] or call 204-947-2422. [Image Description: A Black parent reads a book to a small baby]

If you are looking for more information on safe sleeping practices, check out this webinar from our friends at the Manitoba Advocate for Children & Youth.