Health and Wellness Services

The Wellness Centre offers a wide range of classes, services, and events to pregnant people, new parents, and families in Ottawa. The Wellness Centre is open to any member of the community, regardless of care provider or where you are planning to give birth.

Perinatal Mental Health Partnership Program

The partnership focuses on sharing mental health expertise and providing support to midwives, OBWC clients, and to parents and caregivers in Ottawa and beyond.

Dr. Susan Farrell, vice president of patient care services and community mental health at The Royal, says the focus on capacity building is an important part of being a “hospital without walls.”

“We envision a future in which mental health care meets people where they are at – all through our community,” says Farrell.

“The Royal is really bringing the expertise and we are providing the space and the support,” says Elyse Banham, executive director of the Ottawa Birth and Wellness Centre. This collaboration was important before the pandemic, but has taken on even more significance given that physical distancing guidelines have severely impacted the type of support that new parents can receive from family and friends.

Live online Q&As with mental health experts are being offered through the OBWC Facebook page. Visit our facebook.com/ottawabirthandwellness

Journaling as a Wellness Tool

Journaling is a skill that can assist with processing thoughts, feelings and emotions. The goal of the group is to introduce women to journaling trough a variety of writing exercises. Sharing is optional. Women will have the opportunity to begin to incorporate journaling into their daily wellness routines.

The group is led by a peer facilitator.

To learn more and register, email us at mentalhealth@ottawabirthcentre.ca

Perinatal Wellness Group

Join other people who are in their perinatal period for a weekly check in and discussion of topics that are chosen by participants. Past topics have included:

Wellness tools, pregnancy and postpartum during COVID-19 and physical distancing and navigating relationships with family members. This group meets weekly and is led by a peer facilitator and the Lead of Women's Mental Health at The Royal.

Participants benefit from connecting with other pregnant and postpartum people and learning that they are not alone. We've been there and we get it.

To learn more and register, email us at mentalhealth@ottawabirthcentre.ca

Participants will be asked to provide their residential phone number and address to register