Well, it’s a far cry from the last expected opening date we heard (2015), but it’s nice to have a clearer idea of when the new Women’s Hospital will open at HSC: Fall of 2016.

The new hospital will include spacious, private rooms with large tubs and showers, a more efficient nurse call system, and a drastically better set-up for overnight support people. The NICU will now be located within the hospital – a major improvement, as currently, it is in another building, and it’s quite a hike between the two units – the last thing a recovering mother needs to deal with.

Considering that about half of all births in Winnipeg take place at HSC, this is a very welcome and long overdue project that will benefit many, many women and families. The current space is functional, but barely, and is dingy and downright unpleasant in many areas. The awesome doctors, nurses and staff who work at Women’s also deserve a clean, pleasant and functional workplace.

Check out Larry Kusch’s Freep article for lots more details: Facility at Health Sciences Centre to open in fall 2016; rooms will offer comfort and privacy for patients.

The Women’s Health Clinic is offering their fabulous, free postnatal series “Coping with Change” at Access Transcona beginning next month. Any time someone I know has a baby, I tell them about this program. It was so helpful to me!

I just heard about a very meaningful event happening next month: the Manitoba Birth Fire, organized by local doula Brianna Darbel. From the event description:

“A Birth Fire is a cleansing and healing event for any person that has struggled with difficult feelings surrounding fertility, pregnancy, and birth. It is an opportunity to acknowledge these feelings and to hopefully accept and move past them in order to focus on the positives. The Birth Fire applies to (but is not limited to):

– Fears surrounding an upcoming birth
– Struggles with infertility
– Pregnancy loss
– Infant loss
– Birth trauma
– Feelings of inadequacy or discontent concerning infertility, pregnancy and birth

The event is open to mothers, fathers, partners, friends, family and birth professionals that may harbour difficult feelings surrounding these topics – be it their own trauma or another’s.” (Read more about how to participate in the Birth Fire at the Facebook event page.)

The Manitoba Birth Fire takes place on Tuesday, September 9th at 9pm in La Barriere Park.

Bargain hunters, take note! Here are four upcoming kids’ clothing, gear, and toy sales to check out over the coming months.

• Childcycle  Fall/Winter 2014 Sale – August 22 & 23, 2014
• South Pembina Y Neighbours Used Toy & Clothing Sale – September 13, 2014
• Manitoba Families of Multiples Fall Sale – September 20, 2014
• St James Y Neighbours Used Toy & Clothing Sale – October 18th, 2014

Know of other major sales? Please comment with details/links and I’ll add them to the list.