Birthing Better Babies at Barrow Regional Medical Center
Barrow Regional Medical Center is offering a new childbirth preparation program for expectant parents, “Birthing Better Babies”. The four-week class will show soon-to-be parents what to expect during the pregnancy and how to make the birthing process a better experience. Several topics will be covered during each week by certified registered nurses. The four-week program is free of charge.
“The birthing experience can be intimidating for many first-time mothers and fathers, so we thought this was a great opportunity to educate expectant parents,” said Debi Foreid, director of Maternal/Child Services at Barrow Regional Medical Center. “With all of the different facets of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum topics that arise, we hope that mothers and fathers will walk out of the class feeling better prepared for the experience. This is also a great opportunity to learn and share with other expectant parents and the nurses that will care for them during the birthing process.”
Michele Clark, RN, BSN, MSN and Vanessa Dillard, RN, will be teaching “Birthing Better Babies”.Class schedules can be found on the “Events” portion of the web site. Expectant parents should sign up for the class around Week 20 of the pregnancy.
Contact Michele Clark to register
Call: 770-868-2917
E-mail: michele.clark@hma.com
Week One
Pregnancy definitions and anatomy
Diet & Nutrition during your pregnancy and the birth
How labor begins, True vs. false labor
Basics of relaxation
Week Two
The stages of labor
Comfort measures and positions for labor
When to go to the hospital
Progressive relaxation
Week Three
Hospital procedures (IV, catheters, fetal monitoring)
Medications for pain relief (epidural, IV medications)
How to push, positions for pushing
The third stage of labor (placenta)
Week Four
Cesarean birth
Caring for your new baby (bathing, diapering, car seats)
Feeding your baby: breast vs. bottle
Physical and emotional postpartum symptoms and warnings