Multilingual Patient Resources and Community Initiatives
Multilingual Patient Resources
A list of various, multilingual resources for women and gender-diverse individuals has been compiled below. The following have not been directly endorsed by the University of Toronto's Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
A Parent’s Guide to Vaccination - Government of Canada
Description: This document from the Government of Canada contains information on vaccines, their purpose and why they are important. It includes a list of signs, symptoms and diseases prevented by vaccines.
Languages offered: Arabic, Chinese (simplified and traditional), English, Farsi (Persian), French, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Urdu
COVID-19 Infographic on Pregnancy, Childbirth and Caring for Newborn
Description: A short document developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada which provides information on pregnancy, childbirth, caring for a newborn and mental health during COVID-19.
Languages offered: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Cree, Dene, Farsi, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Innu-Aimun, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Italian, Korean, Michif, Ojibwe Eastern, Ojibwe Western, Oji-Cree, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Ukranian, Urdu and Vietnamese
Having A Baby
Description: This document is a comprehensive pregnancy guide. It includes information on prenatal care, common concerns, postpartum complications, early arrival and genetic counselling.
Languages offered: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Dari, English, Farsi, French, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Nepalese, Punjabi, Somali, Swahili, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese
Healthy Eating During Pregnancy
Description: This contains descriptions of key vitamins and minerals and why they are important for pregnancy. It includes recommendations for different sources of each vitamin and mineral.
Languages offered: Chinese, English, French, Punjabi, Spanish, Vietnamese
My Breastfeeding Guide - Beststart
Description: This breastfeeding guide includes information on feeding techniques, care before and after birth, feeding times and sleep.
Languages offered: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, Farsi, French, Gujarati, Hindi, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Safe Formula Preparation for Infants - Beststart
Description: This document includes a compilation of seven tip sheets. Each sheet details a different topic such as making formula, transportation of formula and informed decision making for deciding on formula over breast milk.
Languages offered: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Cree, English, Farsi, French, Gujarati, Hindi, Hungarian, Korean, Ojibway, Punjabi, Russian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Pregnancy and Baby Care
Description: A library containing 30 documents about various pregnancy topics such as child safety, choosing a doctor, emotional changes, testing (blood sugar, hearing, etc.) and more.
Languages offered: Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese (simplified and traditional), English, French, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Marshallese, Nepali, Portugese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Ukranian, and Vietnamese
Community Initiatives
A list of various community resources for pregnant women and gender-diverse individuals has been compiled below in alphabetical order. The following have not been directly endorsed by the University of Toronto's Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. If you would like to share your community initiative here, please email Zainab Doleeb or Atiya Sekyi-Otu.
Flemingdon Health Center
The Flemingdon Health Center provides breastfeeding and prenatal classes. They also organize a culturally relevant diabetes prevention program for South Asian patients. Programming is offered in many South Asian languages.
Mommy Monitor
Mommy Monitor is an initiative to support Black mothers and other racialized women. They offer mental health support, access to doulas, a database of Black maternal health professionals (physicians, midwives, etc.), birth justice workshops, information on how to navigate maternal health services and support research efforts.
Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto
A group of midwives that offers maternity services in Toronto for all patients and specifically for Indigenous women. SGMT works with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the Toronto Birthing Centre. They also offer care throughout all stages of maternity from pregnancy to up to six-weeks postpartum.
St. Joseph's Health Centre
St. Joseph's Health Centre hosts a six-week long childbirth preparation course. Classes are offered at various times each week to allow for a flexible schedule. Examples of what is taught include demonstrations of labour techniques, coping strategies and postpartum care strategies. Cost is $100 per couple.
Toronto Public Health - Online Prenatal Program
This program is free for anyone living in Toronto and expecting a baby. The program includes classes on child development, labour and birth, breastfeeding, as well as an online chat room to connect with other mothers.
Women’s Health in Women’s Hands
Women's Health in Women's Hands is a community health center that offers primary healthcare services focused on racialized women, especially Black women. They provide services pertaining to diabetes education, mental health, sexual health and pregnancy education (breastfeeding, baby care or information on labour and delivery). They are also associated with a food bank.