Chickadee Maternity Collaborative Clinic

08/09/2025

🍂🎡 Fall Fair Fun – Safety Tips for Moms & Newborns! 🎡🍂
Heading to the fall fair with your little one? At Chickadee Maternity, we love seeing families out enjoying the season, but we also want you and your baby to stay safe and comfortable.

Here are a few quick tips for enjoying the fair with a newborn:

👶 Keep Baby Close – Use a baby carrier instead of a stroller for easier navigation through crowds and to keep baby snug and secure.
🧼 Hand Hygiene – Bring sanitizer and wipes for yourself and anyone who wants to hold or touch baby.
🌬️ Mind the Weather – Layer baby’s clothing to keep them warm but not overheated. Don’t forget a cozy hat!
🔊 Protect Those Ears – Fairs can be noisy! Consider using infant ear protection or stepping away from loud areas.
🍎 Food & Feeding – If breastfeeding, look for quieter spots to nurse. Pack a blanket for comfort and privacy if needed.
🕒 Watch for Overstimulation – Babies can get overwhelmed quickly. Keep your visit short and take breaks in calm, shaded areas.

The fair can be a wonderful outing — just remember to put safety and comfort first ❤️

08/06/2025

🌟 Introducing the SmartParent Canada Program! 🌟

At Chickadee Maternity, we’re committed to supporting families every step of the way—from pregnancy through early childhood. That’s why we’re proud to share SmartParent Canada—a free text-message service providing reliable, evidence-based tips and reminders tailored to your child’s age and developmental stage.

Whether you’re expecting, a new parent, or navigating the toddler years, SmartParent keeps you informed and confident in your parenting journey.

📲 Sign up today at smartparentcanada.ca

Because informed parents raise healthy, happy families. 💛

Enroll Now

08/04/2025

Introducing:

Kaedance Miller and baby Douglas

08/01/2025

Northern Health is pleased to share an update on behalf of senior administrative and medical leadership at the University Hospital of Northern BC, about maternity care for high-risk patients in Prince George and the NH region.
Thanks to ongoing efforts by, and collaboration with, dedicated providers in the UHNBC obstetrics/Gynaecology group and locum specialists, all potential on-call coverage gaps in August and September have been filled, and patients will continue to have access to safe, high-quality maternity care at UHNBC's Labour and Delivery (Maternity) unit.

07/31/2025

☀️ Extreme Heat Alert – Stay Safe! 🔥

With temperatures soaring, it’s important to take extra precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones.

✅ Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
✅ Stay cool – spend time in air-conditioned places or take cool showers/baths.
✅ Avoid strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day.
✅ Check on elderly neighbours, children, and pets – they’re especially vulnerable.

🚨 NEVER leave anyone in a parked car — not even for a minute. 🚨

Watch for signs of heat-related illness: dizziness, headache, nausea, or confusion. When in doubt, seek medical help.

Take care, stay cool, and look out for one another! 💦☀️💛

07/22/2025

🍼 First‑Trimester Screening at Chickadee Maternity Clinic

Expecting a little chickadee? As you enter the first trimester, we recommend exploring BC’s prenatal screening options—available to all pregnant individuals—to support informed and confident decision-making.

What Does BC Cover?
• First‑trimester dating ultrasound
Conducted between 11+0 and 13+0 weeks, this ultrasound confirms gestational age, checks for multiples, and measures Nuchal Translucency (NT), a key marker for chromosomal anomalies .
• Prenatal Genetic Screening Program
Through Perinatal Services BC (PSBC), BC offers province‑funded screening for:
• Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
• Trisomy 18
• Open neural tube defects (ONTDs)
Bloodwork is done in both first and second trimesters   .

How First‑Trimester Screening Works

1. Combined Screening (11–14 weeks)
• Ultrasound measures NT.
• Blood tests assess PAPP‑A and free β‑hCG levels.
These measurements are combined with maternal age to estimate your baby’s risk. This method can detect over 70–80% of Down syndrome cases with low false‑positive rates  .

2. Non‑Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)

A blood draw performed from 10 weeks onward analyzes cell‑free fetal DNA in maternal blood.
It screens with high accuracy (>99% for Trisomy 21) and no risk to baby  .
Note: This test may not be publicly funded for all—PSBC funds NIPT for individuals with elevated risk factors .

3. Invasive Diagnostic Testing

If screening indicates higher risk, you may consider:
• Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS): performed at 10–12 weeks.
• Amniocentesis: usually after 15 weeks.
Both provide definitive diagnoses but carry a small miscarriage risk   .

Supporting BC‑Based Decision‑Making
• Genetic counselling is available through PSBC and BC Women’s Hospital, helping interpret results and options .
• HealthLink BC provides easy‑to‑read resources, including the NIPT overview .
• Fraser Health and other regional providers offer in‑depth guides to prenatal blood testing and ultrasounds .

⸻

Why Consider These Screenings?
• Early detection provides peace of mind or time to consider follow‑up options.
• Informed care enables tailored planning and increased reassurance.
• Holistic support through ultrasound, bloodwork, and counselling ensures a comprehensive understanding.

🔗 Helpful BC Resources
• Perinatal Services BC: information on funded screening programs   
• HealthLink BC: details on cell‑free DNA testing 
• BC Women’s Hospital: prenatal screening overview 

⸻

At Chickadee Maternity, we’re here to guide you through each step—from ultrasound and bloodwork to thoughtful interpretation and personalized care. Want to schedule your screening or have questions about the process? We’re just a flutter away. 💛

07/15/2025

Introducing

Deck family and baby Mariah

07/13/2025

Introducing:

Halliday family with baby Amelia

07/09/2025

Introducing:

Samantha Mundt and Aurora

07/04/2025

Introducing:

Hahn family with baby Samuel

07/01/2025