Deborah Howell (Host): Education is an important facet of every life, including maternity. Today, let's learn more about the importance of maternal education in the community with two experts in the field. I'm Deborah Howell, and our guests today are Christy Habermel, Registered Nurse and Maternal Care Educator, and Briana Alvey, a Maternal Care Educator.

Both are affiliated with the Women's Hospital. Welcome, Christy and Briana.

Christy Habermel, RN, BSN: Thank you.

Briana Alvey, APRN: Thank you.

Host: So glad to have both of you here. What are some of the classes available to the community, and who should sign up for these classes? Christy, let's start with you. FPTP.

Christy Habermel, RN, BSN: FPTP stands for From Pregnant to Parent, and this class encompasses all things for both mother and baby. This is a very popular class with our first time expecting parents. For mom, we discuss information about changes during pregnancy, what to expect during labor, the delivery and the postpartum period.

 We discuss changes that take place with the body, when mom should go to the hospital and what she should expect when she gets there. No one delivery is the same. So we include information on both a vaginal delivery and a C-section, as well as discuss the pain management options available while in the hospital, which is usually a hot topic, as you can imagine. Finally, for mom, we discuss the postpartum changes that she should expect, both in the hospital and at home.

As for baby, we discuss what to expect in the hospital as well as once they take the infant home. And we include information on safe sleep, car seat safety, breastfeeding. Participants will also get to do some hands on baby care in the From Pregnant to Parent class, including swaddling, burping. We do a diaper change and we give the babies a bath with our little baby doll mannequins. So that's fun.

There are two options for this class. We have parents can either opt to do the the class all in one day or they can break it up into two separate evenings. The all day, we call it a marathon class, just because it is an all day class, but it gets everything done in one day, and that's a very popular option for most parents.

 That option is held once a month on a Saturday, and then the From Pregnant to Parent Express class is held on two consecutive Wednesday evenings each month.

Host: Sounds wonderful. Briana, why don't you tackle the next class, which is Natural Childbirth.

Briana Alvey, APRN: Sure. We really encourage everybody to take the From Pregnant to Parent class, but this is kind of an extension class. We targeted this for expecting parents that are wishing to learn more about comfort measures if they desire non-medicated birth experience. So, like I said, it encompasses all the comfort measures in the From Pregnant to Parent class, but this just goes into a little bit more detail.

We include things like breathing techniques, aromatherapy, massage. We also encourage moms to learn about all the options, just in the event that she should change her mind while she's in labor. We encourage flexibility a lot. So we do also, in this class, include information on IV pain medication, nitrous oxide, and then, of course, the ever popular epidural procedure. Usually we offer this class every other month on a weeknight and it's about two hours long.

Host: Sounds good. Christy, can you tell us a little bit about the Breastfeeding and Beyond class?

Christy Habermel, RN, BSN: Yes, ma'am. Breastfeeding and Beyond class, like the Natural Childbirth class, is another extension that can be taken with addition to the From Pregnant to Parent class. This class is taught by a lactation consultant and they offer everything mom will need to know to get started on breastfeeding and all the way through pumping should she be willing to pump while she returns to work after her postpartum period is done. So those participants will learn the benefits of breastfeeding, how the body makes the breast milk, how to know the infant is getting enough to eat, as well as a proper latch, which is very important whenever we are starting the breastfeeding process. That latch is the most important part.

Host: Yeah no latch, no nutrition.

 nutrition.

Christy Habermel, RN, BSN: Absolutely, yeah. Moms are welcome to bring their personal breast pumps in. Our lactation consultant will be happy to help her set that up and help her learn how to use it so that she can be ready once the baby arrives.

Host: That is just wonderful. Briana, this next one is an interesting one, and perhaps, I don't know, but rather new to the field. Can you tell us a little bit about the pediatric CPR class?

Briana Alvey, APRN: Absolutely. It's one of my personal favorites because I'm very avid in the fact that everybody should learn CPR in some manner. This class is open to anyone, whether or not you're pregnant, postpartum. Maybe you're an aunt that's going to be babysitting the new baby and you want to learn it to feel more comfortable.

So it's really open to anyone and mom doesn't have to be present for the class either. Now while you won't actually be certified in CPR after taking this class, you will have that opportunity to learn basic technique and be able to do the hands on practice with mannequins. We teach the basic CPR skills, how to deliver proper chest compressions and breaths.

We also do a brief introduction to the AED, which as you know is becoming more popular in a lot of public areas.

Host: I'm going to stop you there for a second. Could you just tell everybody what AED is in case they don't know?

Briana Alvey, APRN: Oh, a defibrillator. Also, another personal favorite is infant and child choking. So the participants have the opportunity to actually get their hands on and do these maneuvers because it is a little bit different. Now, we don't do adult CPR or choking in this class. It's more geared toward just the child and the infant.

We like them to be comfortable with their skills. And so we do offer some valuable feedback. If they're you know, not getting proper compressions or breaths, we go ahead and give them some feedback so they feel more comfortable with that. We usually teach this class, on a weeknight also, and it's usually about two hours long. In addition, they'll get a CPR manual sent home with them when they leave; so they can refresh anytime they feel they need to.

Host: That's fantastic. All right, let's not leave out the grandparents because, of course, they're very important in the mix. Christy, what's the Expecting Grandparents class all about?

Christy Habermel, RN, BSN: I love the Expecting Grandparents class. It's one of my very favorite classes to teach. This class is offered for any Expecting Grandparents regardless of age or experience. And I've even had some aunts take the class, some great aunts. I've had a whole family of grandmas, great grandmas, and aunts take the class.

So this is, it's a great class. Instructors focus on things that have changed since their participants had babies themselves. So we're not trying to teach these people how to take care of a baby. They have been there and done that and they are very well versed in how to change diapers and things like that.

 Some popular areas of interest are car seat safety, safe sleep, and infant feedings. The students are introduced to new safety guidelines and given the opportunity to ask any questions they may have. Generally, this is an interactive class where everyone has a great time. They usually walk away feeling much more comfortable with their new role as a grandma or grandpa. And, you know, as they say, learning all the new stuff that they have to learn.

Host: Yeah, and there is a lot of new stuff.

Christy Habermel, RN, BSN: There really is.

Host: All right, Briana, it's back to you for a class called Safe Sitter.

Briana Alvey, APRN: Okay, another one of my favorites. As you can tell, Christy and I love what we do. This class is, the target audience is for adolescents, really around ages 12 through 14, but there are certain other situations. So we're not going to really turn anybody away. In fact, my son was in the very first class that we taught.

So it's not only for girls, but also for boys. Anybody that's wanting to start a babysitting business or just feel more comfortable, maybe the parents, you know, have younger siblings and they want to start leaving the older siblings in charge of the younger siblings or whatnot. So this class is really fun.

It's based on some real statistics that show the graduates of the Safe Sitter program, they're really more equipped to handle emergencies that can potentially arise. We spend the whole day, spend it learning how to recognize unsafe situations, how to offer their babysitting services to the public without it being unsafe for them.

 We also, of course, my favorite, we include some basic CPR and choking rescue, so they're comfortable with that. And then the students have an opportunity for hands on practice, just like most of our other classes. So they get their hands on the mannequins, they do a diaper change, they learn, like I said, first aid, what to do, when to call an adult, when to call 911.

They usually really have a really fun time and they get to socialize with each other and it really ends up being a fantastic day for most of the kids that are there.

Host: I just love it so much. Briana, are these classes designed for first time parents only?

Briana Alvey, APRN: No, they are not. In fact, we get a lot of repeat customers. Sometimes you just need a refresher. My kids were three years apart and I felt like I forgot a lot in that three years age difference. So definitely not restricted to first time parents. Anybody can come regardless of how many kids you had.

Host: And Christy, can someone accompany mom to these classes?

Christy Habermel, RN, BSN: Absolutely. We actually encourage mom to bring her partner or her support person to the classes. Much of our From Pregnant to Parent classes also pertains to the support person and how important their role is as well. So we, we really encourage her to bring along someone with her if she can.

Host: Good. And Christy, can these classes be taken online?

Christy Habermel, RN, BSN: Yes, for those who are unable to physically come to class, there is a From Pregnant to Parent and a Breastfeeding eLearn course available. Once they're registered, the participant will be mailed a booklet that also includes access to the Enjoy Information that the From Pregnant to Parent and Breastfeeding class is structured around.

And that book offers access to several videos and available printouts for moms. So, while she won't get the hands on experience that she would in the in-person class; this is a sufficient option to learn all the basic info and especially someone who's on a time crunch. Maybe they've waited a little too long to get signed up for those in-person classes. This would be a good option for them.

Host: And how does someone go about signing up for these classes?

Christy Habermel, RN, BSN: We have a website. It's www.deaconess.com/healthybaby. All of our classes are on that website. They are welcome to choose a date and sign up on there, or they can always call Briana or myself. Our office phone number is (812) 842-4275 and we're always happy to help anyone get registered over the phone.

Host: Well, this is just some really, really excellent information, Christy and Briana. Thank you both for all the good information around maternity health and for being with us today.

Christy Habermel, RN, BSN: Thank you for having us.

Briana Alvey, APRN: Thank you.

Host: And that wraps up this episode of the podcast series from Deaconess, the Women's Hospital, a place for all your life. For more information, once again, go to deaconess.com/healthy baby, or call one of the maternal educators at 812-842-4275. Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and all the other Deaconess Women's Hospital podcasts.

For more health tips and updates, follow us on your social channels. I'm Deborah Howell. Thanks for listening, and have yourself a great day.