Our services are designed to support you through every stage of your maternity journey.
Prenatal Care
We are committed to providing quality prenatal care starting with a preconception visit if desired. We typically start seeing patients around 12 weeks of pregnancy but would be happy to care for you at any time.
Our approach is to provide as much information as possible so that you can make choices for your family that support both your safety and your comfort.
Standard prenatal care includes monthly visits to 30 weeks, then every 2 weeks to 36 weeks, followed by weekly visits until delivery. Access to mental health, dietician, social work, smoking cessation and other programs is available through the Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network, with which we are affiliated.
Extra visits, either in person or by phone, are available through the clinic as needed. Of course, one of our doctors is available for urgent issues 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at the Foothills Medical Centre. Come to triage on the fifth floor of the main building and we will see you.
Birth Care
Our Birth Care service focuses on looking after you and your baby during labour, delivery, and after birth at the Foothills Medical Centre. We are there to support your safety and comfort with a patient-centred approach and ensuring a positive and empowering birth experience. Our job is to answer your questions and involve you in all decisions. We have a few routines such as delayed cord clamping, baby and mother skin to skin for the first hour to help with breastfeeding, warm compresses for the perineum, etc. You are welcome to add and subtract routines within the realm of the possible - please ask.
Should an emergency occur, we have excellent specialist back-up in the form of obstetricians and neonatologists, who are in the building at all times.
Epidurals are routinely available if you would like one, along with other methods of pain relief including medication and non-medication options.
Because we still get questions about this sometimes, routine episiotomies have not been performed since the late 1980s. If there is anything else you are concerned about, please ask us.
Post Partum Care
Our Post Partum Care focuses on you and the baby. We ensure that any medical needs are taken care of so that you can focus on spending time with your baby.
Once you are on the post partum unit, most people spend about a day there. However, if your baby is early or you needed a caesarean section, you will be there a bit longer. There is a lactation consultant on the unit and outpatient breastfeeding support is available for follow up.
We generally see you and your baby in the clinic until the baby is over birthweight and things are going well. Most people see their family doctor for their 6 week postpartum checkup, but we are happy to see you for this visit as well, if you wish.
We partner with Ensemble Healthcare, who provides post partum support groups. These groups are broken into 7 classes and discuss newborn feeding, newborn sleep, post partum mental health, infant movement, newborn care and development, post partum wellness and recovery, as well as movement and music. More information can be found at:
Collaboration with Multidisciplinary Team
We strive to offer comprehensive care for families throughout pregnancy, postpartum, and the early years of your child's life. As such, we collaborate with the multidisciplinary team at our affiliate clinic, Ensemble Healthcare, which is located around the corner from our Market Mall location. With expertise in a variety of fields, we work together to support your physical, emotional, and developmental needs during this important time. Our collaboration includes the following team members for which you can be referred. Further information can be found at: www.ensemblehealthcare.ca
Pediatrician
Dr. Laine Racher provides primary care for babies up to 12 months old, including well-baby visits for families without a family doctor (FP) or nurse practitioner (NP). She also offers specialized consultation for infants with complex medical needs, such as those with a history of NICU stays or other complex diagnoses.
Physiotherapist
Christine MacSween offers specialized care for pre- and post-natal pelvic health, including support for conditions like vaginismus, prolapse, and bladder/bowel concerns. She also provides breastfeeding support, from latch difficulties to managing mastitis and blocked ducts. Additionally, Christine works with infants who have head turn preferences or torticollis, helping to improve feeding and overall comfort.
Osteopath
Antoine Michel is a highly skilled osteopath with a specialized focus on newborns and breastfeeding-related issues. Trained in France, he has extensive experience working with infants, offering gentle osteopathic treatments to help resolve breastfeeding challenges, improve latch, and support overall well-being.
Psychologist and Registered Social Worker
Danielle and Sarah offer counselling support to individuals and couples navigating the challenges of pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood.
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Brookes Polski focuses on feeding therapy, speech therapy, and myofunctional therapy for infants and young children.
Contraceptive Services
Our Contraceptive Services include professional consultations and a variety of birth control options, such as Nexplanon and IUD insertions. If your family doctor does not insert them and this is what you want, we would be happy to discuss this with you. We provide personalized guidance to help you choose the best contraceptive method for your lifestyle and health needs, ensuring effective and long-lasting solutions.