Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
A new program in Saint John aims to help parents cope with mental health struggles that stem from experiences before, during and after child birth.
It’s called the Urquhart Program, and its founder said it will especially benefit parents during the perinatal period, which extends months after child birth.
Sarah Weaver, who launched the program in January, noticed the perinatal period is tough for parents who experienced a traumatic birth.
“Parents tend to feel a lot of guilt. So we see like a lot of those, you know, ‘I should have done this, I could have done this.’ And I think it’s similar with loss sometimes that people think that they could have prevented what happened,” said Weaver.
She noticed the gap in care after talking to parents while working as a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Saint John Regional Hospital. The observation inspired her to complete her counselling psychology masters.
Sarah Weaver first noticed the need for perinatal mental health services while working as a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Saint John Regional Hospital. (Urquhart Program/Facebook)
Weaver wants to help parents like Cami Ramsay, who is a mom of three.
Ramsay’s daughter, Emory, was deprived of blood and oxygen at birth. The experience caused Ramsay to struggle with her mental health.
“I would cry every day and I know like sometimes postpartum is normal, but this was just different, I guess. It was extreme and it was a lot of sadness and a lot of grieving, even though my baby was still here,” said Ramsay.
She said she finally got help after Emory was a few months old. Emory is now five years old and will need surgeries to help her walk as well as additional care.
Weaver’s services are available through Gentle Path Counselling Services in Saint John as well as the St. Stephen and Sussex areas. The program is named after one of Gentle Path’s founders, Judy Urquhart.
The Urquhart Program launched in January by founder Sarah Weaver, right. The new program has early support from Dr. Alana Newman, left, Nicola Sleep and Dyllan Taylor Humphrey. (Megan MacApline/CBC)
Weaver is still working at the hospital and is trying to get funding for the program to make it as cheap as possible for parents.
“Eventually it is my goal for people to not have to pay for this service, but it’s a big goal. And I just feel like everyone in this population should at least be offered a certain number of free sessions, but if they can’t have it completely for free,” said Weaver.
Nicola Sleep also wishes the Urquhart Program was around after her son was born at 30 weeks.
“I couldn’t find anyone that would understand what I was going through because everybody’s like, ‘Yeah, you had a baby, but they’re home now, so they’re fine.’ And it’s like, yes, they’re home, but like, there’s so much more than that,” said Sleep.
She said searching for support options online didn’t offer anything four years ago, but Weaver’s new program is exactly what she was looking for at the time.
LISTEN | Some parents wish there was always perinatal mental health support:
Information Morning – Saint John8:59New mental health program for parents
Sometimes parents can face unexpected challenges during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. A new mental health program in Saint John aims to help them cope. Megan MacAlpine is a producer with Information Morning in Saint John and she tells Emily Brass all about The Urquhart Program.
Weaver said another part of the program is education. She is also working to inform people about trauma and is working with Horizon Health to do so.
Dr. Alana Newman, a neonatologist at the Saint John Regional Hospital, is also a supporter of the program and is helping Weaver service get off the ground.
Newman worked with Weaver and also noticed that effects of a traumatic birth experience last longer than you’d expect.
“There’s going to be ongoing effects on, you know, the parents confidence in taking care of their baby. There might be things that interfere with their ability to bond with their baby,” said Newman.
Weaver’s new program is also open to parents that didn’t have a traumatic experience or lost their baby.