A New Mom’s Survival Guide in the Elk Valley

Local Resources, Tips, and Encouragement for Moms in Fernie, Sparwood & Elkford

The first weeks with a newborn can feel like the most beautiful chaos you’ve ever experienced. Whether it’s your first baby or your third, it’s magic and sheer exhaustion all at the same time.

Over the years, I’ve met so many incredible families while working as a newborn photographer in the Elk Valley, and almost every mom shares similar feelings during those early weeks.

There are so many things I wish I could tell every new mom. Whether you are in Sparwood, Elkford, Fernie, or the Crowsnest Pass, this region of the East Kootenays can also feel a little isolating, but it has some truly amazing resources for new moms.

It’s important for you to know that as long as you and your baby are safe, every emotion you’re feeling during this stage is completely normal.

If I could sit down with every new mom, these are the things I’d share…

The first thing I would tell you is that even though this stage can feel intimidating, scary, and incredibly beautiful all at once, every mom before you has walked a similar path. While each story is different, the wild and exhilarating journey into motherhood is a path well travelled. The scary moments, the exhaustion, and the parts that make your heart swell bigger than you ever imagined are all part of the experience—and through all of it, you are not alone. It’s a tremendous responsibility to grow, birth, and raise a tiny human. But look around you—the world is full of incredible mothers who made mistakes along the way and have still raised amazing human beings.

That being said, it’s important to honor yourself during this stage. If you are feeling more than a little ‘blue’,  reach out to your doctor. Postpartum depression is much easier to treat when support begins early.

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “You can’t pour from an empty cup”.  That phrase applies especially to moms. Being open and honest with your support team about both your physical and emotional journey—during pregnancy and postpartum—can make a huge difference in your recovery and your baby’s well-being.

Be open with your support team—Fernie, Sparwood, and Elkford all have wonderful medical professionals who truly care about supporting new families.

Resources for new moms in Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford

Next, I want to encourage you not to isolate yourself. If you’re welcoming your baby in Sparwood or the surrounding Elk Valley, it’s helpful to know there are local programs designed specifically to support new parents. Many Elk Valley families say that connecting with other moms in the community makes the newborn stage feel much less lonely.

Local Mom Tip from Kenzie K: “Get out, be brave and go to the mom groups even if it’s out of your comfort zone. It’s such a great way to connect and meet new people!” 

I highly recommend that you attend Hillside Church’s Kids Cafe. This is a fantastic program that has 1 weekly playgroup in both Elkford & Sparwood. Mom’s of littles ages 0-6 gather together and chat, while being served complimentary lattes, specialty coffees, and teas. They even have bouncy castles for the older toddlers! 

If playgroup isn’t really your jam, I get it. (Truly, I find way more comfort on the back of my horse than I do in large groups of people). If this sounds more like you, consider joining something like Sunset Ridge Ski Society and get out for some x-country skiing with another mom. 

Local Mom Tip from Jessica F: Get outside!! Bundle your baby in the stroller or carrier and enjoy the fresh air. Your baby will sleep better outside and you will feel better being in nature.

There’s also story time twice a week at the Sparwood Public Library, and of course public swimming, where you can take even the littlest ones in the toddler pool. 

Sparwood Strong Start is a program located in Frank J. Mitchell school that is a daily playgroup with activities and tons of toys! 

The Elkford Early Years & The Fernie Early Years are both absolutely incredible programs with TONS of fun weekly activities for new and seasoned moms and their littles.. 

Local Mom Tip from Nathalie P: Find all the moms activities, at the library, strongstart etc. don’t be shy to ask other moms for advice and to go for a walk, meet at the park

Lastly, but certainly not least, don’t forget to check out Fernie’s AMAZING Bellies to Babies program that offers: 

• Weekly drop-in sessions on parenting, food, and baby care topics.

• Free vitamins for pregnant people and babies for better health.

• Helpful breastfeeding support for a good experience.

• Mental health support and referrals for emotional well-being

  
  

Local Mom Tip from Marissa P: 

Don’t buy the fancy city slicker stroller. Get one that can handle snow banks and bumpy trails. I suggest a chariot. 

Don’t feel like you have to do all the things if you live here. Some families are impressively active. They hike, bike, ski, skate, do all the things all the time. You still fit in if you don’t do all of that or just some of it. Of course it’s great for your health to have an active lifestyle but do it on your own terms. The pressure to be athletic living here can be a bit much imo. 

Sign up for daycares, preschool, childcare for all the places before you even give birth. Everywhere is waitlisted. Start making a plan B. Get on the childcare Facebook groups. 

Make sure your car is stocked with emergency supplies for yourself and kids. In the winter it’s possible to get stuck on the highway for hours if there’s an accident. In the summer wildfires mean you could be told to evacuate.

Breastfeeding Support in Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford

Local Mom Tip from Amanda S: Breastmilk can cure almost any ailment that your child has. Rash, use breastmilk. Congested, stuffy nose use breastmilk. Teething, freeze breastmilk and put it in those little mesh snack baggies, it works amazing. Breastmilk is safe! It will cure most things, just give it a try. We do not need drugs to fix everything. Kelly was so amazing when I had littles and even at the pharmacy I remind people all the time that breast milk is liquid gold!!

Another resource I want to share is for Breastfeeding Mamas. This is an incredible group meant to support one another in your breastfeeding journey. No baby is the same, no journey is the same. Please know that with some support, you are so much more likely to have success in your breastfeeding. I want you to know that breastfeeding should not be painful. You may have some discomfort but if you are in pain, I encourage you to reach out to this lovely group and see what lactation supports are available to you specifically. 

Whether you breastfeed, pump, formula feed, or a combination of all three, the most important thing is that both you and baby are healthy and supported.

Local Mom Tip from Kelsie K: “..breast is not best, do whatever is BEST FOR YOU & BABY”

Curious to see what other resources may be available to you? Asking your public health nurse what ideas they have is a great start. And of course, I’m always happy to share more ideas if you send me a message.

Speaking of public health nurses - I’m sure you have been or will be inundated with more information about your new babe’s vaccine schedules, teeth brushing, poison control and so much more. Honestly, it can feel overwhelming.That’s why it’s important to ask questions whenever you have them.  I’ll leave all the medical advice to the professionals. 

But…

Safety considerations and resources in Sparwood

I want to drop this proper carseat buckling video here and a video about proper carseat installation. If you take anything from this blog PLEASE let it be this. Proper buckling and installation is SO important. I will end this note by saying it’s incredibly important that you do not let your baby sleep unattended in a carseat, or in a carseat that is not attached to the base at the proper position to prevent positional asphyxiation. We are very lucky in Sparwood to have Child Passenger Safety Educators at the Sparwood Firehall who will give you a complimentary inspection to make sure that your carseat is all good to go! (p.s. Be sure to learn all about carseat/winter coat safety too!) 

Sleep… and the lack thereof for new moms 

I don’t even need to go into the explanation for this one. IYKYK. 

Sleep.. What’s that? 

I know buddy. I just want to remind you that the ‘days are long and the years are short’. 

It’s totally normal that your new baby has their days and nights backward. My newborn clients are (most of the time… I’m not perfect afterall) almost always shocked at how I can get their little ones to sleep. I’ve even heard comments like “can you just come home with us and put her to sleep tonight?” Haha! 

If you’re looking for a little hands on help with newborn care, maybe some lighthouse work, and ahem sleep issues & trouble shooting - then I recommend you reach out to Mountain Echos Doula who specializes in Post Partum / 4th Trimester support. 

Swaddle. Swaddles are your best friend. Learn proper and safe swaddling techniques for your non-rolling babies. Remember they’ve spent 9 months curled up inside of you and the world is a big dark and scary place. Swaddling helps them to feel secure and snuggly. 

Local Mom Tip from Britney P: I always tell my mom friends to get out, get wet, get naked, just not all at once.

Meaning: if everything seems too much and you need a break, go outside. Do skin to skin with your baby, have a shower or a bath, even if you need to have a bath with your baby. Go to the mom groups or just to the grocery store. Most things will feel better after doing any of those three things.

Also, it’s not mean to put headphones on while you rock your seemingly never ending crying baby to sleep.

Next, I’ve had so many parents request a link to the bassinet vibration device I use during my newborn photography sessions. This little bad boy is a life saver! It has three vibration modes and even a red light to help with keeping baby sleepy during those wake/sleep cycles. I also love that it’s not a bulky plush device that would be unsafe in a sleep space.

Babies are finicky. They want to be held, they don’t want to be put down (this is natural evolutionary safety instincts!) and they don’t like to be cold. I know how long the nights can be, trust me. But promise me one thing, friend—no matter how tired you are, please never sleep with your infant on the couch. I won’t list the statistics but please just trust me and the professionals on this one.

Back to sleeping… you’ve heard the old saying ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’. I also know many moms who have joked, “Should I do the dishes when the baby does the dishes too?”

I get it. Man do I ever get it. I’m just here to gently remind you that if the floors are a mess because of the dog hair and the dishes are piling up - those things won’t matter in 2 months. I’m not saying totally let your house go, but what I am saying is that it’s okay to rest. Please prioritize your health, recovery, and rest over any of your ‘to-do’ list.

Local Mom Tip from Kelsie A: Talk to your partner( before baby) what does it look like when you can’t do the things you once did before, can they pick up the pieces when you can’t? Sleep when baby does, it’s ok to leave the dishes in the sink or not have a clean house. Trips away from your town, even if it’s just for the day, a change of scenery can do wonders Freezer meals made ahead, when your dead tired you have something easy to grab. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, have someone come over so you can take a shower etc

Remember what I said earlier, as long as you and baby are both healthy and safe, nothing else really matters right now. 

The early weeks with a newborn are beautiful, overwhelming, emotional and exhausting all at once. It’s incredible how quickly the newborn stage passes. That’s why I believe so strongly in newborn photography. The early weeks with a newborn are fleeting, which is why so many families choose to document this stage with newborn photography in Fernie and the Elk Valley.

If you are in Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford, or the surrounding Elk Valley, know that there is a community here that understands exactly what you are going through.

One day you’ll look back on these blurry newborn days and realize that, in the middle of the chaos, you were becoming exactly the mother your baby needed.