Marquette General Women's & Children's Center
Prenatal and Parenting Programs
Birth and Family Education Programs 2011 Class Schedule
Prenatal Programs
Family Birthing Center Tour: Parents receive valuable prenatal information, an introduction to the Women’s & Children’s Center Birth and Parenting programs, a tour of the Family Birthing Center, Community Resources, gifts and prizes.
Childbirth Preparation: Expectant parents will become familiar with the physical and emotional aspects of birth through a combination of presentations, discussions, demonstrations, and practice. Parents may choose from a 3-week series or a 1-day session and are urged to call early to register for a class near their due date. Cost is $50 and includes a textbook and all prenatal classes except CPR.
Breastfeeding Class: This class offers helpful information and techniques to promote successful feeding and also ways to help make it a part of your lifestyle. Cost: $10 or free with Childbirth Preparation registration. More Information >>
Dads 101: While moms attend the Breastfeeding Class, dads will meet to discuss their role as a coach, what to expect during labor, how to provide support to mom, and manage the first few weeks at home with a newborn--- all from a dads perspective! Cost: $10 or free with childbirth preparation or breastfeeding class registration. More Infomation >>
Little Steps: Expectant and new parents will acquire helpful skills to care for their newborn. Parents will learn about newborn characteristics and care, development, understanding cues, calming a crying baby, importance of play, as well as numerous other topics. A pediatrician will do a short visit to answer your questions as well. Cost: $10 or free with Childbirth Preparation registration.
Sibbling Silly: Children (ages 3-8) will learn what new babies do, how to help mom and dad, their role as a big brother or sister, and become familiar with the Family Birthing Center. They will practice safe ways to hold and care for a baby and also how to change diapers! Cost: $10 or free with Childbirth Preparation registration.
Books that help prepare siblings for a new baby -
Parenting Programs
Parent Partners: All first-time parents will receive a friendly phone call, providing them with information about local resources and answer questions they may have now that they’re home from the hospital. Marquette county moms will have an opportunity for a free home visit, providing them with gifts at the arrival of their new baby.
Family & Friends CPR (Infant/Child): This class is ideal for parents, grandparents, and those (12 and over) interested in learning this technique. Participants will not receive certification. Cost: $15 per person/ $25 per couple.
Toddler & Preschooler Play Groups: Parents or another caregiver and children will have an opportunity to make new friends and learn new skills while enjoying the hands-on-learning environment at the UP Children’s Museum. Music, finger plays, parachute games, as well as other motor skill activities and snacks are offered. Monthly sessions are offered every Tuesday morning from 10-11am and 6-7pm. Cost: $12 per month per family.
Infant Playgroup: Parents and their infant child will have an opportunity to bond with each other through finger plays and songs while creating a network of support among other mothers and fathers of infant. Topics of concern for new parents will be presented at each session. Cost: $10 per month per family. Meets from 10am-11am on Mondays in the Women’s & Children’s Center at MGH.
More Information >>
Breastfeeding Mother's Group: Meet to discuss the joys and challenges of breastfeeding with other breastfeeding mothers. A lactation specialist will be in attendance at each group session. This meets the third Monday of each month at 1:00 in the WCC classroom. Cost: Free More Information >>
Parenting Toddler Workshop: This is a 3-week workshop designed for parents and caregivers with children ages 1-4. Walk away with hands-on tools to help your child thrive. More Information >>
Have Fun Parenting and Grandparenting: This 2-week class id designed to help parents, grandparens and other caregivers prepare young children for school and a lifetime of learning. The first session is for adults only and the second week if for adults with their young child. Cost: Free More Information >>
10 Steps to Positive Discipline: This program has been developed by Dr. Becky Bailey of “Loving Guidance” to help parents and professionals working with children of any age, switch from reacting to responding appropriately to children’s behavior. Cost: $10
Surviving Your Adolescents: How to Manage and Let Go of Your 13-18 Year-Old This class provides guidelines for handling the complex situations and dilemmas teenagers often present. It is intended to be concrete and down-to-earth, offering specific suggestions. Each family will receive a “Surviving Your Adolescents” book to support information learned in class. Cost: $15
Family Birthing Center and Women’s & Children’s Center
Support Services
Kids On The Block Puppet Shows: This puppet troupe talks to children (ages 4-12 years) with humor, candor, and sensitivity about topics of disability awareness, social concerns, educational differences, and medical issues. In upbeat, insightfully scripted presentations and a period following in which young members of the audience get to ask questions directly to the characters, the Kids On The Block provide children with an unforgettable educational experience because the "kids" so vividly and effectively model relationships between disabled and non-disabled people. Topics include: cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, learning disabilities, bicycle and car safety, and hearing impairments. The Kids On The Block puppet performances are great for school classrooms or can also be presented during youth activity programs. Call to schedule a show.
Car Seat Safety Checks: A minimum full 30 minute appointment is needed for each car seat in each vehicle. Seats are evaluated for: suitability for the age and size of the child, and fit in the vehicle. Please bring the manual for your new seat and vehicle manual, and if possible, your infant child. Donations are accepted. Call to set up an appointment.
Car Seat Rental/Purchase Program: Infant and toddler seats are available for short-term rental (one-month or less), for $10. Long-term rental is not available. Infants seats are also available for low-cost purchase on the Family Birthing Center for delivering mothers who may have forgotten their car seat or who may have a financial hardship.
For more information click on the following car seat safety links -
National SAFEKIDS
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Breastfeeding One on One: You and your newborn are invited to this informal one to one session. A certified lactation consultant will offer helpful information and support to new moms as they learn the art of successful breastfeeding. Fee: $10 per session. Call to set up an appointment. More Information >>
Kids On The Block Puppet Shows: This puppet troupe talks to children (ages 4-12 years) with humor, candor, and sensitivity about topics of disability awareness, social concerns, educational differences, and medical issues. In upbeat, insightfully scripted presentations and a period following in which young members of the audience get to ask questions directly to the characters, the Kids On The Block provide children with an unforgettable educational experience because the "kids" so vividly and effectively model relationships between disabled and non-disabled people. Topics include: cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, learning disabilities, bicycle and car safety, and hearing impairments. The Kids On The Block puppet performances are great for school classrooms or can also be presented during youth activity programs. Call to schedule a show.
Child Life Specialist: Child life specialists are trained professionals with expertise in helping children and their families overcome life’s most challenging events. Armed with a strong background in child development and family systems, child life specialists promote effective coping through play, preparation, education, and self-expression activities. They provide emotional support for families, and encourage optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences, particularly those related to healthcare and hospitalization. Because they understand that a child’s wellbeing depends on the support of the family, child life specialists provide information, support and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members. They also play a vital role in educating caregivers, administrators, and the general public about the needs of children under stress. More >>
Breast Pump Rentals: More Information >>
Social Work Services: The social worker for the Women's & Children's Center helps patients and their families during their stay on the Family Birthing Center, the Pediatric Unit, the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery, and on an outpatient basis in the Specialty Clinics. The social worker is a member of your health care team and can help in many ways, such as patient/family concerns, assisting with financial concerns or lodging, locating community services, communication, and planning for discharge to another facility or home.
Resolve Through Sharing Bereavement Program: This program provides support to families who are grieving the loss of their baby due to miscarriage, stillbirth, or newborn death. A support group will begin on September 14th at Messiah Lutheran Church from 6:00-7:00pm and meeting on the second Wednesday of each month. More Information >>
