Contact the Welcome, Information & Referral Coordinator

Paulette Vance
422-2000 ext. 3402

Everything you need to know about having a baby in this area, for CF personnel and their families posted to CFB Gagetown, NB.

Since policies surrounding childbirth differ across Canada, you probably have a ton of questions… especially if you’re not familiar with the area. Hopefully this information will answer many of your questions, or at least point you in the right direction to find them. This information was updated in May 2005.

Family Doctors

To begin with, the issue of getting a family doctor is a nasty one in this province. Normally in New Brunswick, your family doctor conducts your pre-natal check-ups until week 36, with a visit to an OB/GYN at 22 weeks.  After 36 weeks, you would fall under the care of an OB/GYN for the remainder of your pregnancy.  So what do you do if you don’t have a family doctor?  If you are pregnant*, and do not have a family doctor in the area, you have three options:

1. Have your previous family doctor refer you directly to one of the OB/GYN’s in Fredericton (listed below)
2. Go to one of the walk-in clinics in the area (listed in the phone book) and ask for a referral to one of the OB/GYN’s in Fredericton (listed below)
3. In an emergency, go to Oromocto Public Hospital (OPH) or Dr. Everett Chalmers hospital (DECH) in Fredericton, while you’re there ask for a referral to one of the OB/GYN’s in Fredericton (listed below)

*Note – these referral options are also applicable if you are in need of a pediatrician or another specialist.

Delivering

In the Fredericton area there are four male and three female physicians that practice obstetrics/gynecology, and they deliver all of the children born in the area (one of the females is a perinatologist and only handles high risk and complicated pregnancies). At some point, you will need to choose which OB/GYN to see for the week 22 visit and for the last four weeks before delivery. When choosing which physician to visit, keep in mind that the OB/GYN’s work in shifts at labour & delivery, so you have a 1 in 7 chance of having that physician in the delivery room with you when you go into labour. Dr. Adam is the only one who does his own deliveries during the week, which he juggles with his office appointments a few blocks away.

Midwifery / Doulas

There are currently no midwives practicing in the area, and the issue of midwifery is currently in legal “limbo” here, as they are not recognized by the province and cannot deliver in hospitals. There are, however, a growing number of doula services (at your own expense), but having a doula present counts as one of the two people you may have in the delivery room with you.

Obstetricians/Gynaecologists in Fredericton

• Dr. Adam () 440 King St. (506) 459-2803
• Dr. Butt ()(Perinatologist at Dr. Everett Chalmers hospital) (506) 452-5286
• Fredericton Medical Clinic 1015 Regent street (506) 457-2113
• Dr. Crumley ()
• Dr. Landau ()
• Dr. Mills ()
• Dr. Murdock ()
• Dr. Samson ()

( female male)

Circumcision

Region 3 Hospital corporation circumcision policy:

“There is no apparent medical reason for routine circumcision of the normal newborn male.” Circumcision costs are not covered by provincial medicare, and will cost you $253.00 which you must pay at the hospital.

“Given the overall evidence that the benefits and harms of circumcision are so evenly balanced, the Canadian Paediatric Society decided not to recommend circumcision as a routine procedure for newborns (CPS, 1996b). The Society recommends that parents making a decision about circumcision should seek advice as to the current state of medical knowledge concerning its benefits and harms. The parents' decision may ultimately reflect their personal, religious, or cultural factors.”

“The evidence shows a strong need for pain control when circumcision is performed. Appropriate attention should therefore be paid to pain relief (CPS, 1996b).”

“After circumcision, it is important that parents understand how to care for and clean their baby's penis. They need to recognize the signs of healing, as well as the signs of complications such as bleeding or infection.”

Ultrasounds

Region 3 Hospital corporation policy on prenatal gender disclosure:

“The purpose of this procedure is to determine the normal development of the fetus and to identify any medical problems, which might affect the delivery of a healthy baby. At this time, determining the gender of the fetus is not part of this examination”.

This policy has been challenged in the past, and remains unchanged.

Region 3 Hospital corporation policy on purchasing ultrasound images:

“Ultrasound images can be provided to any patient having their routine pregnancy ultrasound from 16 to 25 weeks gestation. The cost of the image is $10.00.”

Maternity resources in Fredericton and Oromocto

VON Oromocto

The Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) in Oromocto offers both prenatal classes and breastfeeding support. Pre-natal classes are held one day per week over a 4-week period (plus a hospital tour). Classes are held at 62 Miramichi and cost $75.00 per couple. For breastfeeding mums, the VON offers “Bosom Buddies”, a breastfeeding support group that meets every second Wednesday at the MFRC. This group is for MOTHERS AND BABIES ONLY, and normally has a lactation consultant and/or a nurse on hand to offer help.

For more information on these programs, contact the VON at 357-8542

VON Fredericton

The Fredericton branch of the VON also offers prenatal classes, but in two different formats, a four-week evening class (one evening per week) or a more intensive 2-day Friday/Saturday class (if 6 couples enroll). The four-week program costs $100.00 and the weekend format costs $75.00. The Fredericton VON also offers home visits by a registered nurse for $62.50 per 1-hour visit. Another feature of the VON in Fredericton is that they offer most vaccines available, including the chicken pox vaccine (varicella), and a large assortment of other vaccines for both children and adults. For more information on these programs, call the Fredericton VON at 458-8365 For more information on the VON in general, visit www.von.ca

La Leche League

The La Leche League is the only organization with the sole purpose of promoting and supporting breastfeeding. The Fredericton chapter of La Leche League meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 7pm at the Fredericton public library. Leaders are always present and a variety of topics are discussed every meeting. For more information call Jo-Anne Elder at 455-0413 or Christine at 474-0905 For more information on the La Leche league, visit www.lalecheleague.org

University of New Brunswick Student nurses

Whether this is your first child or your fourth, you probably have a ton of questions, and it’s not always easy to find the answers. Depending on what time of year you’re having your baby, you may be able to include some nursing students in your pregnancy experience. Part of the nursing program at UNB involves home visits and clinical experience in labour & delivery, and these students are always looking families to visit. These students generally come to your home once a week for an hour and will attempt to answer all your questions, and will research the questions they can’t. Not only do you get a bottomless wealth of information, but you’re giving back to the community by helping the students to learn. There is absolutely no charge to you, and you’ll likely find it to be a very gratifying experience. Nursing students DON’T count towards the two people you can have with you during labour.
For more information on this program, call the professors directly: Debbie Haddon 458-7646 or Lori Haller 458-7645

Dr Everett Chalmers Hospital Mother/Baby clinic

Dr Everett Chalmers hospital has one of the best resources for expectant mothers and new parents. The mother/baby clinic offers tours of the labour & delivery unit and breastfeeding classes (which will probably answer all your questions and make a huge difference when it counts the most). This free lesson on breastfeeding covers every imaginable topic from advantages of breastfeeding, to different positions and holds. The mother/baby clinic also has a 24-hour hotline, which is answered by registered nurses, and will attempt to answer all your middle-of-the-night questions.
The mother/baby clinic also sells “boppy” pillows for breastfeeding mums for $35.00, with profits going to charity.
To book hospital tours, breastfeeding classes and general information, call the 24-hour mother/baby hotline at 452-5878.

Assorted Sites and resources

Public Service Health Care Plan, Benefits and Plan Provisions
Know what you are entitled to before heading into the hospital.
www.tbs-sct.gc.ca


Canadian Paediatric Society vaccination information
www.caringforkids.cps.ca





New Brunswick TeleCare services: Free, Confidential Health Advice
Immediate Access to Bilingual Registered Nurses
24 hours a day, 7 days a week via toll-free phone lines

Get the answers to all your provincial healthcare questions at:
http://www.gnb.ca/0051/index-e.asp

Check out that top-of-the-line crib you bought at the garage sale to make sure it’s safe. Check all your kids’ equipment at:
http://www.safety-council.org/