Expectant Family Program

You have just received the good news that you are having a baby! We know that newborns need all the love and attention they can get. Therefore, Saint Francis Hospital's Expectant Family Program is here to prepare parents and families for the arrival of the new addition and share in the excitement of the birthing process.

Each family member plays an important role in your infant's life. That's why we have developed classes that will support and encourage everyone.

Our classes will help mom and dad learn about the pregnancy, lend guidance on breastfeeding, provide information on vaginal and cesarean births and learn ways to control the pain of childbirth. We also have a refresher course in baby care for grandparents and a sibling class to teach your other children how to be the best big brother or sister possible. If you are blessed by having twins, we also have a special packet containing information about multiple births.

Our classes are held in the Education Center at Saint Francis Hospital, 6161 South Yale Avenue. If bad weather occurs on the day of your class, you can check with us after 4 p.m., or listen to KRMG (740 AM), for possible class cancellations.

Check out all of our classes. We have designed them with you in mind. If you have any questions, need more information or have concerns during your pregnancy, don't hesitate to call us at 918-494-BABY (2229).

We look forward to providing information you'll need for a healthy and happy experience all the way around.

Our classes include:
Childbirth Orientation and Tour
Childbirth Series
Pain Control
Pain Control Refresher
Cesarean Birth
Breastfeeding Basics
Sibling Class
Grandparenting
Wee Workout
Infant Massage

Childbirth Orientation and Tour
We invite you to attend our free Childbirth Orientation held the second Monday of each month from 7 - 9 p.m. This session will provide you with a brief overview and registration information about all the Expectant Family Program classes.

At the orientation, you will receive a packet of information on upcoming classes and will learn what to expect when having your baby at Saint Francis Hospital. Tours of our labor and delivery area, postpartum (rooms or area) and nursery are available following the orientation class.

Orientation class should be taken before your fifth month of pregnancy to ensure availability of the childbirth classes you wish to attend. No pre-registration is required and the orientation is free.

Childbirth Series
The good news has arrived. You're expecting a baby! Our Childbirth Series, consists of three classes and is designed to accompany you throughout your pregnancy.

In Class One, we will discuss prenatal care, exercise, nutrition and your baby's growth and development before birth. During our class tour, you'll also get to see where you'll be before, during and after your baby's birth.

As your baby grows, so will some of your concerns. In Class Two, we will discuss the labor and delivery process, medications and anesthesia options.

As you near the end of your pregnancy, Class Three will provide information about your baby's hospital stay and how to care for your newborn. In this class we will also discuss mom's hospital stay and mom's first few weeks after the delivery.

These classes will help you prepare for the new arrival. We want to make your pregnancy and delivery a special time for everyone.

Pain Control
Whether you picture yourself on a sandy beach or relaxing in a mountain hideaway, visual imagery is one way to change the focus during childbirth. You will learn this and other techniques such as relaxation, attention focusing and breathing in our Pain Control classes.

Your partner is also an important part of this class and the childbirth process. We will teach each expectant dad and other support people how to be a "labor coach" so that they can help you focus and relax. Using your mind along with your body will help you experience a more rewarding childbirth. These techniques may also lessen the need for medication or anesthesia.

The four Pain Control classes meet during the last eight to 10 weeks of your pregnancy. Taking these classes toward the end of your pregnancy will help you keep techniques fresh in your mind. Our Childbirth Series should be taken before the Pain Control classes, so that you will have an understanding of the labor and delivery process. You may register for Wednesday or Thursday classes. Due to demand, missed classes cannot be rescheduled and class size is limited.

Pain Control Refresher
Where do we want to go this time, honey? Should it be the Bahamas or Hawaii?

This couple is not planning their vacation; they are brushing up on a visual imagery technique to use during their second child's birth.

Our one-night Pain Control Refresher course is designed for those who have already attended our Pain Control, or another prepared childbirth program, with a previous pregnancy. You will practice relaxing, focusing and breathing. And we'll even help you plan the next stop on your visual vacation tour!

Register for the Pain Control Refresher course offered during the last four to eight weeks of your pregnancy.

Maybe this year we'll go to Malibu!

Cesarean Birth
We know that cesarean births are not always planned. That is one reason we developed our Cesarean Birth class. It is for those who have had a cesarean delivery with an earlier pregnancy, expect to have one or would like to know more...just in case.

A video will give you insight into the special procedures during a cesarean birth from admission to delivery and throughout your hospital stay. We will help prepare you for the surgery and give you realistic expectations for the recovery.

Breastfeeding Basics
We understand that while breastfeeding is a natural process between mother and baby, it doesn't always seem that way at first. Expectant mothers have many questions about the breastfeeding process and our Breastfeeding Basics class is designed to answer them.

In this class, you will learn to recognize baby's hunger cues for nursing, the process of breastfeeding and breast care so both mom and baby can enjoy feedings.

This series of two classes is taught by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who is a registered nurse. Make breastfeeding a special time for you and your baby.

Sibling Class
When the new addition arrives, your older child is intrigued with the new sounds, smells and activity. Teaching big brother or sister about the newborn before the birth paves the way for healthier relationships. Involvement in the baby's routine is an important step.

In our Sibling Class, your child will learn how to hold a baby, what it means to share with the baby and how to help keep the baby safe. Your child will even get to visit our nursery to see what a new baby will look like.

Many children have misconceptions about how a newborn will look and act. Helping an older sibling understand a newborn's appearance and capabilities will prepare them for the baby's arrival.

Sharing mom and dad's time is often a new experience for a child. Therefore, this class is specially designed to help your child understand the role a new sibling will have in your family. We will also re-affirm that each child is special to mom and dad.

Grandparenting
Grandma and Grandpa are thrilled at the arrival of their new grandchild. Yet, as they begin to take their turn at caring for the infant, reality sets in. It has been a long time since they have done this.

When a new baby enters the family, transitions occur and roles are defined. We know that grandparents are also experiencing new feelings, expectations and reservations. So we have designed a class to focus on grandparents. You could call it a refresher course in baby care.

Our class will help you learn about changes in baby care, and expose you to some of today's baby equipment. Also, we will address how you, your children and your grandchildren can strengthen communication skills.

Some child care techniques and parenting styles may have changed, but having the love and attention of grandparents is timeless.

Wee Workout and Infant Massage Classes
We had Mom, Dad and baby in mind when we created the Wee Workout and Infant Massage classes. These unique classes are designed to help strengthen the bonding process through parent-baby interaction.

Wee Workout
In Wee Workout, you will learn how to enhance development and strength for babies two months through crawling age with parent-baby interactive exercises. Wee workout will help babies with motor activity, language development and social skills. This fun class is taught by a physical therapist. Oh, and by the way, bring a beach ball!

Infant Massage
Infant Massage techniques for babies four weeks to crawling age can do the following:

Help stimulate circulatory and gastrointestinal systems.
Lessen baby's stress and fussiness.
Provide more organized sleep patterns
Promote parent-infant bonding
Improve your baby's sociability.

The Infant Massage program was developed by certified International Association of Infant Massage instructors. All our instructors are certified. When you come to Infant Massage class, be sure to bring along a small bottle of vegetable oil, blanket and pillow.

For a schedule of expectant family classes, please call us at 494-BABY (2229) or come to the next Childbirth Orientation and Tour class.