Public health nurses offer postpartum services to you and your family by providing:
- a physical assessment of the birthing parent and newborn
- support for coping with the emotional adjustment to parenting
- information on breastfeeding, nutrition, safety in the home and other topics of interest
- information about or referral to other services that could support you in your parenting journey
- reassurance that you are on the right track
Emotional Support
Many expecting parents can experience a wide range of emotions, including 'baby blues'. Baby blues usually begins a few days after childbirth and improves within a couple of weeks. Sometimes parents feel continued anxiety and/or depression. If these feelings continue or worsen, you may be experiencing postpartum depression. If this is the case, there are many places to get help:
- talk to your public health nurse, your doctor or your midwife
- if you are having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or feeling that you can’t cope, please call:
- 24-hour Crisis Service: 888-617-7715 or 204-326-9276
- 24-hour Manitoba Suicide Line: 877-435-7170
