Primary Care’s help line for new parents opens province-wide

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on April 26, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

Caring for newborns can be singularly stressful, especially for first-time parents; to assist with this, Alberta Primary Care’s New Parent and Newborn Line is now province-wide.

Initially launched last month, the service connects new parents with registered nurses specializing in postpartum care. All new parents across Alberta can call 1-833-805-2229 for 24/7 access to expert advice.

“Through the New Parent and Newborn Line, new parents across Alberta have direct access to experts in postpartum care,” said Patricia Chambers, executive lead of Patient Navigation and System Integration with PCA. “Health Link 811 nurses offer that advice with compassion, as they know what it’s like to have a new baby at home.”

The Early Start Parent Information Line was previously available in Calgary, and Healthy Beginnings in Edmonton, receive approximately 2,000 calls a month from new parents and caregivers. Now, Nurses are available at all hours to offer support, information and referrals to new parents and caregivers for the first two months after their baby’s birth, on topics such as care, breastfeeding and health advice for both mother and infant.

“Offering virtual health services empowers Albertans to seek out their own appropriate care options without having to go to the emergency department or their primary care provider,” said PCA CEO Kimberley Simmonds. “Our goal is to ensure that Albertans have access to the right care, at the right place, at the right time.”

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