Spotlight shines on newborns, babies and toddlers Thursday

The parenting landscape has developed into a different world over the past decade or two.

“I became a grandparent and realized that things had really changed,” said Midland resident Joanne Byrick, who noted there were a full new set of guidelines regarding babies and “what you should do and what you shouldn't do.”

That fostered an interest in finding out what kind of resources were available locally to not just new parents, but also grandparents like her and her husband Bill.

“I was interested in what new information was out there and what supports were available, particularly in this community,” she said.

That interest helped create the spark for Thursday’s virtual Our Health program entitled ‘The World of My Baby.’

“We teamed up to just do some investigations on what was available here in Midland locally,” Byrick said. “And then with COVID hitting when it did, I knew a couple of Moms who had had new babies in February so wanted to see what resources they could use."

The Our Health series, which had proven very popular when held at the Midland Cultural Centre in the pre-COVID days, is finding another life in the virtual world with Rogers TV again live streaming Thursday’s discussion that runs from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Led by moderator Keith Rose, the latest entry features three panelists, including primary health nurse Becky Sloan, who works in the well baby clinic with the North Simcoe Family Health Team that provides support from birth until age three.

"My understanding in my conversation with Becky is that anybody can actually link into that support that she gives to moms and babies and family members,” Byrick said.

Rose, who has spearheaded the series since its inception in 2016, and the three-member panel have a wealth of expertise and experience on a subject that’s close to many people’s hearts.

“Also, we've got Dr. Emily Queenan, a family physician, who is very interested in moms, families and new babies,” said Our Health advisory committee member Kathy Wolfer, adding the panel is also fortunate to have Lynne-Marie Culliton on board.

Culliton has offered midwifery services in the area since 2008, first, with the Midwives of Nottawasaga and then with the Midland Midwives by the Bay while providing an entire range of pre- and postpartum care.

Byrick said it’s important to help new parents and grandparents effectively navigate the system, especially since some parent-toddler and parent-baby groups might be on hiatus given the current situation.

“We're hoping to bring these three people together to talk about what supports are there to make sure we have healthy babies and healthy moms, which turn out to be healthy families,” she said.

“‘Who can I call? Is there a group of moms in the area that I could communicate with?’ It’s really an information session on what's available to you here in this community at this time, and how does that work during COVID? And how do you access those services?”

As well, Byrick said the program should appeal to not only parents with young children who have relatives living in the area, but also to those who don’t have that extra level of support and encouragement.

“I know people in the area that have families in the area so they have at least some family support,” Byrick said. “But there must be many young families in the area that don't have that support of grandparents or aunts and uncles or siblings. And it must be quite isolating.”

Anybody interested in asking a question they’d like to see discussed during the live broadcast, can email the cultural centre’s Jared Jylha at [email protected].