Healthy Baby & Me
Healthy Baby & Me is a project funded by Health Canada (Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program) and administered by VON Canada New Brunswick. It is designed to provide education and support to youth who are either expecting a baby or parenting an infant. The overall goal of Healthy Baby & Me is to contribute to a healthy pregnancy and the healthy growth and development of infants of Healthy Baby & Me participants. The program offers free education and support that helps pregnant and parenting youth in communities across New Brunswick make healthy choices for their babies and themselves.
The programs are FREE and provide an opportunity for youth to:
- Relax in a non-judgemental atmosphere
- Meet new friends
- Get support from others who are going through a similar situation
- Get information on making healthy choices for yourself and your baby
- Share experiences
- Learn the latest on pregnancy and parenting
- Work together to ensure having a baby is a memorable and positive experience
Click here to view the program brochure
Programs Offered
Special Delivery Club
Prenatal education especially for youth. We talk about labour & delivery, breathing and relaxation exercises, nutrition, feeding baby, etc... We also include a hospital tour and as a grand finale, a baby shower/celebration! Each week we have a healthy snack, door prizes and fun activities like videos and/or games.
Rock & Talk
Parenting education especially for youth. We talk about childcare, infant feeding, life skills, parenting responsibilities and expectations, etc... Each week we have a healthy snack, door prizes and fun activities.
Rock & Talk™ Facilitator Guide - was developed in a response to a need to provide postnatal/early-parenting programming for prenatal young partcipants after the birth of their baby.
Parenting Tip
Your loving attention is as important to your baby's development as food, warmth, and shelter. It's the most precious gift you can give. You can't spoil a baby! Give lots of cuddles, kisses, and words of comfort.
Testimonials
Special Delivery Club participants
"I decided to go because it was my first baby and I didn't have a clue about anything really. So I was just hoping to get some information and the Outreach Worker told me we'd have a good time and I'd be with other girls my age and they'd be easier to talk to. I came here because everyone was my age and I didn't really want to go to the other ones because they were all older couples."
"I wanted to know the procedures, like what's going to happen at the hospital and the different types of delivery - like natural and C-sections."
"Sometimes there were things that came up during my pregnancy that I needed to know and I could just go to class and ask and they would give me the information."
"That's what's different about the Outreach Worker. She doesn't tell you what to do, she just gives you the information and lets you make up your own mind."
Rock & Talk participants
"It's not as horrible when you can talk to people your own age. And it's free. I also like the activities we have. They're fun and we have a really good time when we're here."
"As a new parent, I find out that everyone's going through the same things. Lots of babies aren't sleeping through the nights and I'm not the only one that's tired and cranky sometimes."
"I get to ask lots of questions and talk to other moms about how they deal with things and I learn new techniques from them."
"I wanted to get information about being a parent. It was my first child and there was lots of things I needed to know."
Useful Resources
Contact Information
Christine LeBlanc
Provincial Coordinator
VON Healthy Baby & Me Project
Tel: 506-387-6254
Fax: 506-387-6268
Email: christine.leblanc@von.ca