BC Women’s Hospital launches new pilot supporting pregnant women who use drugs

The BC Women’s Hospital is launching a pilot program to help understand the needs of new parents and pregnant people who use drugs.

Fifteen beds at three different housing locations will offer stabilization, transitional housing, and Indigenous-focused care. New Westminster MLA Jennifer Whiteside says new parents who use drugs often face a particular set of challenges.

“There’s homelessness, there’s trauma, violence, stigma, racism, and the potential for child apprehension. All of these things can be real barriers that prevent parents from seeking help,” she said.

“New parents want to know that when they reach out for help they will be met with the supports and the services that meet their specific needs, and that again is what is happening here in the families in recovery unit.”

The hospital says the program will assess factors such as days spent in hospital, integration and connection to the community, and the physical and mental well-being of the patient and their family.

BC Women’s Hospital Chief Operating Officer Cheryl Davies says the facility is the only hospital in the province dedicated to the health of women and newborns. She says facing the challenges of being a parent alongside additional barriers in housing, substance use, and more can be extremely difficult — and this new pilot project aims to work against those barriers.

“We strive to support pregnant patients across the continuum. of health care, from community coming into hospital to discharge back to community,” she said.

“It’s very important that we all work together.”

The Provincial Health Services Authority says in a statement that there is limited research in B.C. on the services needed for pregnant people who take substances, have given birth, or are parenting after leaving the hospital.

Davies notes that the pilot project will continue to be assessed in order to gather data pertaining to further needs of new parents who use drugs.