Congratulations on your pregnancy! This can be a joyous yet overwhelming time for you.
You are probably thinking about the many physical changes happening to your body and what’s going to come next. Prenatal programs can help answer your questions.
Prenatal programs can provide information on:
- labour and birth
- prenatal care and services
- how to take care of your new baby
- making an informed decision about feeding your baby
- healthy eating
- many other topics related to pregnancy and baby
Knowing what to expect and how to cope can help increase your confidence in having a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Most hospitals offer prenatal programs, including evening and weekend classes where you can meet other expecting parents and ask questions. If you are planning to have your baby in a hospital, contact them to learn about prenatal classes offered.
Another option is to attend Canada’s Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP). This program is for expectant parents facing challenging life situations, such as:
- being newcomers to Canada
- having had a previous low birth weight baby
- experiencing financial issues
Toronto Public Health (TPH) is one partner for the CPNP sites in Toronto. Public Health Nurses and Registered Dietitians provide health professional services which include group and individual support and education.
Topics include:
- prenatal care
- changes in pregnancy
- healthy eating
- labour and birth
- social supports
CPNPs are free to attend – you just need to register when you arrive. Programs offer additional supports like a healthy meal or snack, free childcare for your older children, interpretation if needed, and TTC tokens if you’ve traveled by transit.
Interested? To register, call Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600 or eChat with a Public Health Nurse for more information.
If you prefer online learning Toronto Public Health offers a free online program called Welcome to Parenting that is available to all expectant families living in Toronto.
