Starting a family can be a new, exciting and mystifying experience, and Woolwich Community Services (WCS) wants to help.
Catering to women who plan on getting pregnant, or already are, the local organization will be launching its Preparing for Parenthood workshop on Oct. 15. The meetings will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Thursday evening until Nov. 19.
WCS’s Kelly Christie says the program isn’t just for expectant mothers who are in need of extra help, but for anyone who has questions about pregnancy and parenting.
“(The workshop) is for people who are thinking of becoming parents or who are already pregnant,” she said. “It is just about helping them make some good choices and decisions and feel safe and supported through that time.”
The weekly meetings will cover plenty of information from the basics to specific questions from attendees. Starting out, the group will show newly pregnant moms what information is out there for them.
“The first week, they are just going to focus on the different resources and services that are available to them,” said Christie. “They are going to show them the online prenatal services that are available in public health and how to navigate them.”
After initial introductions, the group will cover topics like pre-natal nutrition, breastfeeding, safety and whatever else workshop goers want to know.
“Everyone has different needs and the program can be tweaked,” she said. “We have the six weeks set up with topics, but we can always add to it as people have questions that arise.”
The weekly meetings are free and anyone who fits the bill is welcome, including support people and dads-to-be. Christie says the workshop is valuable to the community because it fills a current gap experienced by expectant mothers.
“We are trying to bring different services to the rural communities so that people receive the services in the area they live in without having to drive into KW Hospital,” she said, adding that the group also acts as a way for people in similar situations to come together. “It is a time to get connected, meet other people going through the same stage in life and feel supported and part of the community. It’s a chance for people to ask, ‘does this happen to you, too?’ They can build on that relationship.”
Christie says the workshop doesn’t require registration and those who are interested can drop in on any scheduled meeting throughout the six weeks.
For more information about the Preparing for Parenthood workshop, visit the Woolwich Community Services website at www.woolwichcommunityservices.com or call 519-669-5139.
