best start - your health… before pregnancy  
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Is there a baby in your future?
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Reaching OUt: baby changes everything
We often take for granted where we live. Maybe we don’t give much thought to what it takes to get to all the places we need to in a day – to work, to the doctor or the local pharmacy. At least not until we think about a baby and their many needs. Never before did we think about how easily we could get to the closest drugstore for children’s cough syrup, diapers, or rash cream. And where will Junior take swimming lessons, go skating and play with friends?
It might not matter today where you live, but when you bring a new life into your world, your universe will change. Everything you do in a day will seem to relate to how quickly, or easily you can get somewhere with a baby in tow. A lot more planning and thinking ahead will be needed. Think about how to set up your lifestyle to reach out to the places, services and people who are at a distance.
Can you get there from here?

You may want to weigh the ups and downs of living outside a city centre including rural areas or even setting up home in new suburbs that don’t yet have full services. I will need these numbers close by to reach the community services that will help me, wherever I live. Start by finishing the following sentences:

I can…

1
  Phone to get information about…
2
  Travel (by car, bus or foot) easily to…
3
  Keep fit by…
4
  Connect with my friends by…
5
  Get groceries & baby supplies by…
6
  Provide opportunities for my baby by…
7
  Make healthy meals by…
8
  Get information by…

Phone list:


1
  Family and friends:
2
  Neighbour:
3
  Local public health unit:
4
  Health care provider:
5
  Hospital:
6
  Pharmacy:
7
  Child care:
8
  Drop in centre for parents:
9
  Taxi:

When it is hard to get where I need to go…

    Instead of: I can:
1
  Driving to the pharmacy have prescriptions delivered
2
  Regular visits to friends and family ask friends and family to come to visit
3
  Attending parenting classes get parenting videos and books
4
  Shopping for baby formula breastfeed
5
  Frequent trips to the store stock up on supplies I use often
6
  Driving your children everywhere set up a car pool
7
  Getting to community centre provide a range of indoor and outdoor activities
8
  My ideas…
For help close to home, contact:
Ontario Local Public Health Unit or call INFOline at 416-314-5518 / 1-800-268-1154
Ontario Community Health Centre
Ontario Early Years Ontario Early Years Centres or 1-866-821-7770
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