By Sarah Schulz
sarah.schulz@theindependent.com

Wait, tours? Well, yes, if the baby shower is being held at St. Francis Medical Center's Family Birthing Center.

The hospital recently received a grant of $6,054 from the March of Dimes to fund additional maternal-child health programs, said Lana McCoy, maternal child outreach education coordinator.

The Baby Shower is planned to kick off this spring and will be open to all women at any point in their pregnancy or who are planning a pregnancy in the near future. The event will have a party atmosphere and information will be given out on the variety of community resources and hospital programs, such as how to access prenatal care, preventing gestational diabetes and reducing stress, that are available, she said.

The program is an educational opportunity for the hospital and other agencies such as Childcare Solutions, SAFE Kids Tri-Cities, the Crisis Center, Tobacco Free Hall County and WIC (Women, Infants and Children).

The Baby Shower will be held periodically throughout the year and women will be welcome to attend even before they see their healthcare provider, she said.

"We are very excited about the design of the Baby Shower and the opportunity to present very important healthcare information to expectant mothers and families," McCoy said. "We believe the project can make an important difference in the pregnancy and birth for each mother we are able to reach."

According to a press release from St. Francis, key prenatal indicators collected by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services show that Hall County trails state percentages in three critical areas: Ideal length of gestation, ideal weight of newborns and the trimester in which healthcare begins. These areas contributed to the March of Dimes contacting St. Francis about the grant.

Another new offering for pregnant women and new mothers is a yoga class. The course will be made possible through a partnership with the YMCA and McCoy hopes it will be taught monthly. The dates and times of the class will be announced later, she said.

This summer, a healthy options class will become available. It will be aimed at women early in their pregnancy who need help dealing with symptoms common in the first trimester.

It will also promote a healthy lifestyle throughout the pregnancy and touch on topics such as dental care, proper nutrition and food safety, substance and environmental hazards, safe travel, proper rest, stress reduction, perinatal depression detection, domestic violence and exercise, she said.

"It's a catch-all class on taking care of yourself," McCoy said.

She hopes to make the healthy options class available in both English and Spanish.

Increasing the number of women/families attending the programs already in place is also part of the hospital's goal. Those classes include a breastfeeding class, sibling class, BabyCare Basics, infant massage and the Healthy Starts program.

The BabyCare Basics class is a "crash course" on labor and birth that includes information on what to expect at the hospital, comfort suggestions, diapering, circumcision, cord care, choosing a doctor, SIDS and discussions of medication and anesthesia options, she said. Prospective parents are also taught swaddling techniques and basic newborn care in the class, she said.

The infant massage class is offered through R&R Therapeutic Massage Clinic and is aimed at parents of newborns. Massage helps improve infants' immune systems, helps babies learn how to relax, promotes bonding and can help relieve discomfort from gas, colic and teething, according to information from St. Francis.

The breastfeeding class includes information on preparing for breastfeeding, the needs of a newborn and a mother, pumps, pacifiers and how to balance employment and breastfeeding, according to information from St. Francis.

The sibling class, "Sharing Love," helps ready older brothers and sisters for a baby's arrival. The hands-on class teaches children about infants and gives parents tips for preparing for the change a baby will bring, according to information from St. Francis.

The Healthy Starts program has been offered for a number of years and will continue to be promoted. It is available to any pregnant woman and parents with a newborn or a child up to 5 years old who meets certain screening criteria. McCoy said the program focuses on support of single parents and assistance for high-risk families with prenatal home visits and regular home visits following birth to promote and enhance positive parenting skills. A seven-week parenting course focusing on children's needs is also available as part of the program.

McCoy said there are fees involved with some of the classes. More information is available from McCoy at 389-5888.