Women and Infants Childbirth Class
Final classes offered by the St. Joseph-Breese Women and Infants Center for 2012 have been announced.
With Community Link’s First Step Program in Breese, WIC will offer Happiest Baby Monday, Nov. 12, and Happiest Toddler on Monday, Dec. 10. Classes are from 1 to 3 p.m. at the hospital HealthPlex and are provided with funding from the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
Happiest Toddler is for those with children one to four years old; Happiest Baby is for new or expectant parents. Both are open to anyone caring for infants or toddlers including day care providers.
Class coordinators include Laurie Hemker and Janice McElroy, both with First Step.
An Early Head Start and Infant Mental Health Coordinator, Hemker holds a master’s degree in social work and is a licensed clinical social worker and Certified Happiest Baby Educator. McElroy, the Early Learning and Family Support program director, holds a master’s degree in counseling and human development.
WIC will also offer Prepared Childbirth sessions in three formats: a one-day Prepared Childbirth class at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, a three-week course at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Nov. 20, Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, and a Prepared Childbirth Refresher at 7 p.m. early in 2013. All are in the hospital Heritage Room.
Sessions provide information to decrease anxiety and fears. Topics include relaxation, comfort measures, variations of normal labor and delivery, Caesarean births, risks and benefits of medication.
Two breastfeeding sessions are also on the calendar: a class at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, and a support group at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, both in the Heritage Room. For more information on either the support group or class, contact 526-5785 or sspaeth@sjb.hshs.org.
Relatively new, the Breastfeeding Support Group meets the last Wednesday of each month except for holidays. Those attending will receive tips from trained volunteer counselors, registered nurses experienced in lactation consulting and Clinton County Health Department support staff who will share in facilitating the group.
Also before the end of the year, WIC will offer a Sibling Class from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, and Know Your Newborn at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, both in the Heritage Room. Sibling is for children three to 10 years old expecting a new brother or sister within the next two months; Know Your Newborn is for moms- and dads-to-be.
For more information on classes, to register (required) or a tour of the facility, contact 526-5464 or hessenpreis@sjb.hshs.org.