resource library

A growing collection of carefully selected resources

A curation of resources to help you navigate pregnancy, birth, postpartum, pregnancy loss or abortion.
Looking for something specific that you don’t see here?
Shoot me a message and I would be happy to help you find what you are looking for!

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Prenatal Care

Mountain Maternity physicians support low-risk pregnancies delivering at Canmore Hospital.
Their team of rotating on-call doctors will see you regularly throughout your pregnancy so that by the time you deliver you have met and feel comfortable with the physician on call that day/night.
You can either self refer or have your family doctor refer you to meet with the physicians at Mountain Maternity.
Shifra began in 2016 as Cochrane's first holistic women's maternity/health care centre. Shifra has become a household name in the community and has grown to include services such as Physiotherapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chiropractic Care, Massage Therapy, Lactation Consultation, and Functional Medicine.
Shifra support home births, birth centre and hospital births.
From women’s overall wellbeing during pregnancy, to prepping the pelvic floor, abdomen, spine and pelvis for childbirth to pelvic floor and abdominal strengthening postpartum as well as pelvic floor scarring, treatment of prolapse and SO much more, the ladies at Inspire Physio are able to support your overall health pre and postpartum, as well as provide care and treatment for your little ones.
Members of the Bow Valley are overall very active people and I highly encourage clients to seek pelvic floor physiotherapy to learn how to soften and relax the pelvic floor for labour and delivery.
Inspire Physiotherapy - Canmore
Rundle Physiotherapy - Canmore
Altitude Physiotherapy - Banff
Naturopathic medicine is a whole-system approach that can be very effective at improving quality of life. According to a systematic review, naturopathic medicine has been shown to be effective for treating cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal pain, type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, depression, anxiety, and a range of complex chronic conditions.

Support your pregnancy and prepare for labour and delivery by looking at your health through a lens of overall wellbeing.
Dr Jess Whelan

Postpartum Support

Leslie is an IBCLC and owner of Grow Lactation Consulting based in Canmore.

Grow Lactation Consulting provides in home consultations.
Ideally clients are seen within 24/48 hrs from time of booking.
A detailed history of you and your newborn will be taken. Breastfeeding goals and expectations will be drawn up together.
Booking Link
You can either self refer or have your family doctor refer you to meet with the physicians at Mountain Maternity.
The Birth Injury Organization is an advocacy centre whose mission is to assist anyone who has been affected by injuries pertaining to birth. Their website hosts a compilation of information around the different types of injuries.
They provide a plethora of resources and information from helping people recover after birth injuries occur, to educating about the risks of certain medications, what to avoid during pregnancy, information for parents of premature babies and SO much more.
Check out their incredible work here.
Shifra support home births, birth centre and hospital births.
Instant access to frozen pasteurized donor human milk without a prescription from three different pharmacies in Calgary.

Check out this amazing program here!
If you are interested in collecting and storing stem cells from your babies umbilical cord there are steps you can take to prepare for this before labour. The stem cells collected from babies cord at birth can be stored for the lifetime of your child and used at any time. They can also potentially be used to treat other members of your family. To learn more about this process and register for your kit to be sent out, visit this website.
Curious about encapsulating or harnessing the benefits of your placenta? There are options out there you might not even realise exist, from encapsulation for consumption, to tinctures, even placenta art.

Here are two great Calgary companies you can look into, or search placenta encapsulation in your area to find birth workers who are offering placenta-based services.

https://www.marrowofmysoul.com/placenta-encapsulation

Local Resources

Available to all families living in the Bow Valley with children aged 0-18. The Family Resource Network provides programs, prevention and early intervention services and support to local families.
Services will have a focus on caregiver education and capacity building, coordinating social connection, child development and wellbeing and offerings in collaboration with other partners.
From weekly play spaces, to parent education, developmental screening and grief counselling for children - check out their services here.
The Family Connection Centre offer resources, education, training and support to families in the Bow Valley.

From Individual Support where Family Support Workers can meet with you toprovide resources and support on topics such as:
- infant/toddler sleep challenges
- emotional regulation
- parenting struggles
- referrals to community
- partners/services and more!

To Parent Education providing FREE workshops and courses focused on strengthening parent/caregiver knowledge around a variety of topics, including:
- toilet training
- attachment and positive parenting
- kindergarten readiness and more!

All programs are FREE and available to families of the Bow Valley.
Email FCCadmin@canmore.ca to book your FREE session.
The Bow Valley Primary Care Network (PCN) is a network of healthcare professionals dedicated to improving and managing the health of Bow Valley residents. The network includes local doctors, nurses, clinicians, panel management assistants, and a small administrative team. PCN also partner with various community organizations to connect residents with opportunities to improve health and wellness. The PCN is part of your public healthcare system, funded by Alberta Health.
Banff Mental Health Support: 303 Lynx St, Banff Community Health Centre, Banff
Phone: 403.762.2990 / 24 hr. 1.877.303.2642
Canmore Mental Health Support: 302 3rd Floor 800 Railway Ave, Canmore Provincial Bld, Canmore,
Phone: 403.678.4696 / 24 hr. 1.877.303.2642

Indigenous Hope for Wellness Help Line (24/7): 1-855-242-3310
Walk in mental health counselling is available at Banff Mineral Springs Hospital and Canmore General Hospital 2pm-9pm daily.
Find further Mental Health support by following this link.

Global Resources

The World Health Organization leads and champions global efforts to achieve better health for all.
Montessori education is student-led and self-paced but guided, assessed, and enriched by knowledgeable and caring teachers, the leadership of their peers, and a nurturing environment.
The Montessori Method fosters rigorous, self-motivated growth for children and adolescents in all areas of their development—cognitive, emotional, social, and physical. The Canadian Council of Montessori AdministratorsThe Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators
Established in 1960, Lamaze is a not-for-profit organization working to advance safe and healthy pregnancy birth and early parenting through evidence-based education and advocacy with over six decades of research behind them.

Books

NURTURE by Erica Chidi Cohen —
A modern guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood - and trusting Yourself and Your Body.

INA MAY’S GUIDE TO CHILDBIRTH by Ina May Gaskin — Based on the female-centered Midwifery Model of Care and drawing upon her decades of experience, Ina May Gaskin gives expectant mothers comprehensive information on everything from the all-important mind-body connection to how to give birth without technological intervention.

NINE GOLDEN MONTHS by Heng Ou —
The Essential Art of Nurturing the Mother-to-Be.

THE FIRST FORTY DAYS by Heng Ou —
The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother.