Sobeys Baby Be Healthy Contest

Sobeys has a program called Baby Be Healthy that is offered at the Sobeys and FreshCo pharmacies (in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario). It is free to join and offers members free prenatal vitamins, special offers on baby products, a monthly e-newsletter, one-on-one pharmacist support and a welcome kit.

Additionally to celebrate the program, Sobeys is holding an online contest for a chance to win one of four Baby Be Healthy gift baskets filled with baby products and a $250 gift card.

What is Baby Be Healthy?

• Offered by Sobeys and FreshCo in-store pharmacies, Baby Be Healthy is a free program designed to support patients in all stages of their pregnancy including prenatal and postnatal care up to when their child reaches two years of age.

Baby Be Healthy offers patients:

o One-on-one pharmacist support
o Free prenatal vitamins for up to two years (duration is pharmacist’s discretion)
o Product samples and special offers on baby products
o Monthly e-newsletters with information on pregnancy and postnatal care
o Welcome package

Who can join Baby Be Healthy?

• Women who are trying to conceive or are currently pregnant
• Expectant parents
• Nursing mothers
• Parents with a child under two years of age

How can I join Baby Be Healthy?

• Visit your local Sobeys, FreshCo, IGA or Foodland pharmacy to enrol in Baby Be Healthy – the pharmacist will help you complete the enrolment form and give you all the information you need to become a member of the program.

Do I have to be pregnant to join?

• Eligible participants can register anytime from when they are trying to conceive until their child is two years of age.

Where is Baby Be Healthy offered?

• Ontario
o 41 Sobeys pharmacies
o 10 FreshCo pharmacies
o 1 Foodland pharmacy
• Alberta
o 23 Sobeys pharmacies
• Manitoba
o 9 Sobeys pharmacies
o 2 IGA pharmacies
• Saskatchewan
o 4 Sobeys pharmacies

What are the benefits of prenatal vitamins?

• Prenatal vitamins are a source of folic acid that can complement the daily requirements needed for a healthy pregnancy.

• According to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, folic acid can help lower the risk of birth defects.

• Health Canada states that over 75% of non-pregnant/non-breastfeeding women aged 19-50 have folate intakes less than the estimated average requirement for pregnancy.

• To meet folate needs during pregnancy, Health Canada recommends women to consume a varied diet that provides dietary folate while also taking a multivitamin containing 0.4mg of folic acid at least three months before and throughout their pregnancy.

What is folic acid?

• Folic acid (also known as folate or vitamin B9) is a vitamin which helps grow and protect cells in your body and is found in some foods and in multivitamin supplements.

• According to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, your body needs folic acid when cells are growing and dividing very quickly. This happens during pregnancy as your uterus (womb) expands, the placenta develops, your body circulates more blood, and the fetus grows. Because of this, folic acid is important for a healthy pregnancy.

• The Public Health Agency of Canada states that folic acid is essential to the normal development of a baby’s spine, brain and skull, especially during the first four weeks of pregnancy.