Please read for important information regarding Public Health services for your prenatal and postpartum patients.
Prenatal Registration
In 2023-2024, only 57% of people who gave birth in Fraser Health registered their pregnancy with Public Health. Low prenatal registration makes it difficult for our hospitals to predict how many babies will be born and what resources are needed to support labour and delivery units. It also means that patients may have limited access to Public Health services during their pregnancy and after they give birth.
Please encourage all pregnant patients to register their pregnancy with Public Health. You or your patient can complete and fax the registration form (print versions available in Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Farsi, Korean and Punjabi) or go online to register. Additional languages will be available soon in our updated online registration system.
Did you know? Fraser Health Public Health is making the switch to electronic resources for our pre- natal and post-partum clients. This could save as many as 570,000 sheets of paper per year!
National Breastfeeding Week (October 1 – 7, 2024)
National Breastfeeding Week is an opportunity to promote and support breastfeeding/chestfeeding throughout our communities. This year, Canada will celebrate National Breastfeeding Week from October 1-7 with the theme of “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all.” You can support by connecting your patients with resources if they are struggling to establish or maintain breastfeeding/chestfeeding.
Please share Fraser Health’s Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding online modules with your patients who need support in getting started or addressing common breastfeeding/chestfeeding challenges. Public Health nurses are also available to support your patient with positioning and latching until the baby is six weeks old. Have your patient call their local health unit to book an appointment for breastfeeding/chestfeeding support.
Breast Milk Donation
There is an urgent need to increase breast milk donations throughout Fraser region. Donated milk is essential for supporting the health in some of our smallest patients, but we do not have enough supply to meet the need in our communities. Please help to spread the word about this program to parents who may be able to donate milk. For more information, visit: www.fraserhealth.ca/donormilk
Vision Screening in Early Childhood
World Sight Day is coming up on Thursday, October 10. This important day raises awareness of vision impairment, blindness, and the importance of eye health. BC Doctors of Optometry recommends children receive their first eye exam when they are six to nine months old with a follow up exam at least once between the ages of two and five and then yearly once they enter school.
Encourage your patients to take their child to an optometrist early to identify and address any vision concerns. Families can find an optometrist accepting new patients at the College of Optometrists of British Columbia's Find an Optometrist database. In B.C., one basic eye exam per year is free up to the age of 18. Some optometrists may charge a user fee of about $35-50 per visit, so families should ask about any additional fees before making an appointment.