The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has recently released Your Guide to Postpartum Health and Caring for Your Baby. The aim of the guide is to provide parents and caregivers credible, easy to read information about postpartum health and parenting a new baby. The guide complements the existing Your Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.

The guide provides up-to-date, straightforward answers to a wide range of questions new parents may have about a wide range of topics on practical skills, decision-making, and emotional experiences during the postpartum period.

Table of contents

• Caring for yourself

• Body changes after birth

• Sleep

• Nutrition

• Physical activity

• Sexual health

• Mental health

• Substance use

• Vaccination

• Caring for your baby

• Newborn care

• Breastfeeding

• Growth and development

• Safe sleep

• Bonding and emotional health

• Safety

• Family health

• Partner health

• Parenting

• Family violence

• Pregnancy and infant loss

• Helpful supports and resources

• Community supports and services

• Resources

You can order print copies or download the PDF.

You may also be interested in PHAC’s other maternal and infant health resources:

• Your Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

• Family-Centred Maternity and Newborn Care National Guidelines

• Safe Sleep for Your Baby

• Joint Statement on Safe Sleep

• Canada’s Breastfeeding Progress Report 2022

• 10 Great Reasons to Breastfeed Your Baby

• 10 Valuable Tips for Successful Breastfeeding

• Joint Statement on Traumatic Head Injury due to Child Maltreatment

• Folic Acid: Are you getting enough? – Factsheet

• Folic Acid: Are you getting enough? – Poster