Transcription:

Cheryl Martin (Host): At the top of the list of mothers to be is to have a healthy pregnancy and birth, so the baby gets the best start in life. San Juan Regional Medical Center is here to help providing tailor made classes and support services for expecting mothers and their families free of charge. Learn more next. This is Celebrate Health, the podcast sponsored by San Juan Regional Medical Center. I'm Cheryl Martin. With me as childbirth patient educator, Kathy Coleman. Thanks for being with us, Kathy.

Kathy Coleman: Thank you for having me.

Cheryl Martin (Host): Tell us a little bit about your background and your job at San Juan Regional Medical?

Kathy Coleman: I am the childbirth unit patient educator. I have a master's degree in education. I am specifically concentrated in anatomy and physiology, from my education years. I am also getting certified through the CAPA program for childbirth education. And all of this helps me relay information and, help ease parents fears and concerns as they go through this very exciting time in their life.

Cheryl Martin (Host): How would you describe your job?

Kathy Coleman: I love my job. It is one in which you get to work with people that are about to experience a very happy event, but also an opportunity to educate people and help them have the best possible childbirth experience and, give them information that they need to know about having a newborn.

Cheryl Martin (Host): So what childbirth classes are offered?

Kathy Coleman: Right now we have the Childbirth Education series, which is a four week course. Each class lasts two and a half hours, and we start off covering the basics of a healthy pregnancy. Then we discuss the processes of labor and delivery. Then in the third week, we look at postpartum care for both mom and baby, and then we finish up in the fourth week by covering the topics of breastfeeding and newborn care. We also have an accelerated version of that course, and that takes all of that information and touches on it in a much broader context.

It is intended for parents that have already had a child and just wanna refresher course. In addition to that, we have a Postpartum Care and concerns course. That's a single class that mothers can take. They can bring dad if they feel like it. or they can just come with baby. And we talk about what to expect in those. First six weeks of recovery time and then beyond postpartum lasts about the first six months after a baby is born. And then we also have a newborn care accelerated class.

So if parents were unable to take the childbirth series class and they just wanna know about how to care for a newborn, They can take that class either right before the baby's born or right after. It's offered multiple times a month, and just learn what to expect with their newborn and strategies for dealing with crying babies and breastfeeding troubleshooting and things like that. And then, the last course that we currently have offered is our teen pregnancy course, and that course starts in October.

It is a six week series course that lasts for two and a half hours, one day a week for six weeks, and discusses. Similar issues to what they would learn in the childbirth series, but from the perspective of being a teen parent, which has some very unique challenges to it. And those are currently what we have each month we try and bring out an additional class. And so patients should always be looking on the community classes feed to see what's available that month and to register.

Cheryl Martin (Host): Kathy, when should pregnant moms take the class?

Kathy Coleman: Really, it can be taken any time during pregnancy, but typically parents take it in the third trimester. but it's, absolutely open for any time. Of course, the postpartum care class would be taken closer to the end of the pregnancy. And then newborn care could be taken towards the end or after baby is born.

Cheryl Martin (Host): Now are the classes only for first time expect mothers?

Kathy Coleman: No, anybody can take the class, but they are approached from the standpoint of a first time mothers.

Cheryl Martin (Host): And from your perspective, why should someone take this childbirth education class or the other classes that you offer?

Kathy Coleman: One of the main reasons that a parent should take the childbirth education class is that it helps ease anxieties and fears by gaining knowledge of what the process is and what to expect. I always like to say as a teacher that knowledge is power, and if you understand how something works, it takes away that component of uncertainty.

Cheryl Martin (Host): How do they sign up?

Kathy Coleman: Parents sign up by going to the San Juan Regional Medical Center website and there is a community classes button, and they click on that and then select the childbirth unit and then pick the class that they wanna take from there. And register classes are free, so it's just a matter of signing up for a timeline that works best for the parents.

Cheryl Martin (Host): Just curious, do you ever get feedback from mothers talking about benefits of taking the course after they've had a successful pregnancy?

Kathy Coleman: Yes. One of the things that I do is that I follow up with parents is they're getting close to due date to see if they have any additional questions. And then after the baby's born, I follow up and check in with them and the mothers that I talk to after delivery really felt like it was very helpful to have taken the class. They were able to approach the process with confidence. They knew what the nurses and doctors were talking about when they asked them about things like the vitamin K shots or an epidural. So the feedback is very positive.

Cheryl Martin (Host): That's great. Kathy, in closing, anything else you wanted to add that we didn't cover?

Kathy Coleman: I really encourage parents to consider taking a childbirth education class. The program is working very rapidly to come up to speed. Again, back to pre covid days. And during Covid, classes were virtual, but classes are in person and it's just a wonderful opportunity to ask questions and to be prepared for this life changing event.

Cheryl Martin (Host): Plus they get to meet other women who are on the same journey.

Kathy Coleman: Yes, they do and they often form attachments to each other and many times their due dates are very similar. four parents in class right now, and they all are due within a five day span.

Cheryl Martin (Host): Oh wow. Well, Kathy Coleman, thanks for telling us about this wonderful program. The courses offered all free of charge. And if you'd like to learn more about San Juan Regional Medical Center's, childbirth education classes. Just visit sanjuanregional.com, that's sanjuanregional.com. And if you found this podcast helpful, please tell others and share it on your social channels. Thanks for listening to Celebrate Health. We hope you'll join us again.