Happy Summer from RCP!

New and Updated RCP Resources – RCP has been working on the development of new education and practice resources as well as updating existing ones. These clinical resources are intended to support perinatal and newborn care provider practice. Several are highlighted below: 

Unanticipated Birth: Guidelines for Labour Assessment, Imminent Delivery, and Transfer - RCP is pleased to share that along with our updated guideline and infographics for managing unanticipated births outside the birthing unit, the video simulation of a vaginal birth has also been updated and is now available on the RCP website. 

It is hoped that these resources will enhance your team’s ability to respond effectively to unanticipated births. Links to supporting infographics (for printing and laminating) are below to serve as practical, in-the-moment tools for your emergency department (ED).

These include:

• Pregnancy in the ED: Guidance for decision making and next steps, including transfer protocols.
• Imminent Birth in the ED: Steps for managing urgent birth situations.
• Postpartum in the ED: Care considerations for birthing individuals following birth
• Newborn in the ED: Essential practices for newborn assessment and care in emergency settings.

RCP’s Practice Resource and the CPS Revised Position Statement on Hyperbilirubininemia - The CPS has recently released a revised position statement titled “Guidelines for detection and management of hyperbilirubinemia in term and late preterm newborns” . This guideline will assist perinatal care providers in collaborating with and caring for new families. It replaces the 2007 version and includes an updated approach to universal screening and new phototherapy thresholds.

RCP acknowledges and supports this important update and is currently working on updating its’ clinical practice guideline and documentation tools to reflect the updated recommendations. Screening, monitoring, and managing hyperbilirubinemia remain essential components of your day-to-day care. While you await the updated esources from RCP we encourage teams to become familiar with the revised CPS position statement, communicate, and clearly document the care plan for all newborns.

Immunization Toolkit – Immunization Canada has developed a toolkit - Improving vaccine confidence and uptake in pregnant Canadians: A toolkit for health professionals. The toolkit is intended to provide health professionals (as well as community and patient groups) with evidence-based resources to support constructive dialogue and to assist pregnant persons in making informed choices about vaccination. The toolkit offers direct, easy-to-understand answers expressed in non-technical language helping remove the need for health professionals to adapt complex evidence-based information into language that can be understood by their patients. Overall, the toolkit provides health professionals with clear messaging when discussing vaccination in pregnancy with their patients.  

Preeclampsia Awareness and Prevention During Pregnancy Resource – The Provincial Council for Maternal Child Health (PCMCH) in partnership with the MotHERS™ (Mothers' Health Education, Research & Screening) Program, developed a fact sheet to provide essential information on preeclampsia - Preeclampsia Awareness and Prevention During Pregnancy. The resource is intended to support individuals who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy in recognizing the signs of – and understanding the risks associated with – preeclampsia and knowing when to seek care with their healthcare provider. The fact sheet is available in several languages. Feel free to share this resource widely with pregnant persons and expectant parents as well as your networks and community partners.

CAPWHN/CANN Conference 2025 – This year’s 2025 Canadian Association of Perinatal and Women’s Health Nurses (CAPWHN) National Conference is in Halifax. Once again CAPWHN has partnered with the Canadian Association of Neonatal Nurses (CANN). Conference registration is now open!

Date: October 8^th & 9^th, 2025

Location: The Westin Nova Scotian Hotel, Halifax, NS

Conference Theme: Catalyst for Change: Expanding Our National Nursing Network in Perinatal & Women’s Health to support patient advocacy, evidence-informed practice, and safe, equitable, person-centred care.

Join CAPWHN and CANN for two impactful days of education, inspiration, and meaningful connection. Whether you're looking to expand your knowledge, elevate your practice, or collaborate with peers across the country, this is the national event you won't want to miss. Click the links here for more information on the Preliminary Program and/or to register!

Sign-Up for Smart Parent - The IWK Health and Nova Scotia Health Public Health have launched the SmartParent pilot program. SmartParent is a free evidence-based text messaging program that sends information to achieve a healthy pregnancy and birth, timed and tailored to the specific stage of pregnancy. We are requesting your support as our healthcare and community partners in the pilot program in sharing the details of this valuable prenatal resource with colleagues, patients, and families. Additional information is available for parents on the IWK website and for care providers on the SmartParent website.  SmartParent also provides posters which can be downloaded and posted in public spaces and online. Please encourage your perinatal patients and clients to sign up for SmartParent so they can benefit from the information shared throughout this transformational time in their lives. Enrollment can be completed by texting the keyword ‘Baby’ to 12323 or by going to www.smartparent.ca and clicking

Free PQI Webinar – The Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement (PQI) Presents: Race, Racism, and Perinatal Health Inequities a free webinar on September 11, 2025.

The main objectives of the webinar are:

• Describe how racism explains disparities in perinatal health outcomes.
• Define stigmatizing language and how it may result in harm to marginalized people in healthcare settings.
• Identify ways to change potentially harmful words, policies and practices to reduce health inequities through patient-centered, respectful language.

For more infomration and to register for the session click here.

Professional/Health-related Upcoming Awareness Events/Days:

July:

• International Self-Care Day – July 24
• Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval – July 28
• World Hepatitis Day – July 28
• Halifax Pride Festival – July 17-27
• Cord Blood Awareness Month

August:

• Emancipation Day – August 1
• International Youth Day – August 12
• National Acadian Day – August 15
• World Humanitarian Day – August 19
• International Overdose Awareness Day – August 31
• World Breastfeeding Week – August 1-7
• Gastroparesis Awareness Month
• National Immunization Awareness Month
• Psoriasis Action Month
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month

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If you have any questions or comments, please contact the RCP office at rcp@iwk.nshealth.ca.

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