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Lactation consultants Tracy Hall (right) and Pamella Brown talkwith
newmomBrittany Todd and baby Claire. Brown and Hall visit new
moms in the hospital to provide information on breastfeeding and
are available to o er support as needed a er moms go home. The
consultation service is the only one of its kind in the area.
GHS classes help prepare new parents
Instructions
not included?
It’s
been called the most important job for
which there is the least preparation. No advanced
degrees in this endeavor. Not even an owner’s
manual comes tucked inside the diaper.
So what’s a prospective parent to do?
Recognizing that preparation brings knowledge, the
Community Health Education team at Georgetown
Hospital System (GHS) o ers several prenatal
education classes to help expectant parents—whether
they’re new to the game or just need a refresher
course—get o to a con dent, healthy start.
“Knowledge is power,” says Carla Wham, director
of GHS’s Community Health Education department.
“Knowing what to do builds con dence and
eliminates the fear and anxiety of the unknown. We
see a big di erence when parents attend the classes
because they know what to expect.”
Topics include everything from car seat safety
and CPR to breastfeeding, labor and delivery, and
care of the new baby. ere’s even a class to help
big sister or big brother adjust to the new family
dynamic. GHS nurses who are certi ed childbirth
educators—as well as videos, written materials, and
hands-on demonstrations for baby care—keep the
classes relevant and lively.
Pamella Brown, a certi ed childbirth educator
and also a lactation consultant certi ed by the
International Board of Lactation Consultation
and a tour of the labor and delivery and Mother/
Baby units are part of the class. $50.
Sibling Preparation:
Big brothers and big
sisters can tour the Mother/Baby Unit, learn about
interaction with their new sibling, and even paint a
design on a onesie for the new baby. Free.
Breastfeeding Class:
Taught by a certi ed
lactation consultant, this class prepares new moms
to breastfeed. Lactation consultants are available
to help moms with breastfeeding a er the baby is
born. A breastfeeding support group and individual
lactation consultations are o ered as needed a er
discharge. Free.
OB Tour:
Participants tour OB facilities,
including labor and delivery and the Mother/Baby
units. Free.
Classes are held at Georgetown Memorial and
Waccamaw Community hospitals.
Sign up today!
View dates and register online at
www.georgetownhospitalsystem.org/
prenatalandinfantcareclasses
, or call
- -
.
Examiners, recommends that
people take the classes in their last
trimester of pregnancy so they will
retain the information. Expectant
moms are encouraged to bring the
dads-to-be or their support person to the classes.
Classes o ered at GHS
Handle with Care:
is class covers what to expect
during the rst few weeks of your baby’s life and the
basics of baby care (changing a diaper, bathing and
cord care). Free.
Car Seat Safety:
Car seat safety is more than just
buckling up, and for the mechanically disinclined,
this class is a lifesaver. Participants learn basic
safety and how to choose the appropriate car seat.
A certi ed CPS technician is present for installation
inspection. Free.
Friends & Family CPR:
A must for parents and
grandparents, this class is taught by a certi ed CPR
instructor and uses American Heart Association
guidelines to teach how to perform CPR and relieve
choking. $10 per person.
Prepared Childbirth Classes:
is daylong
class helps expectant parents understand the birth
process and how to recognize signs and stages of
labor. It covers breathing and relaxation techniques
as well as options for pain relief. Postpartum care
