BMH ANNOUNCES FREE HEALTHY BABIES PROGRAMS FOR MAY

Spring programs for the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital New Moms Network continue into May. On Thursday, May 1, 9:30-11:00, the session will be what is called a “Potpourri” day where moms may bring a question, answer a question, and generally just enjoy each other’s company with their new babies.

On Thursday, May 8, there will be a Mother’s Day Celebration. New moms are asked to bring a small container in which to take home a floral arrangement! The following week, on May 15, the group will be presented with a program called “The Big Yuk”. Smoking Cessation Counselor Tracy Binet-Perrin, will talk to the group about second-hand smoke.

On Thursday, May 22, Michelle Womack from Parks Place in Bellows Falls will give a presentation called “Getting the Lead Out: Lead Safety.” The last session of the month, on May 29th, Loren Cole, LICSW with Family Solutions, will talk about emotions. Her presentation is called “New Mom Emotions: It’s Not Just Depression”.

The New Moms Network programs are open to all new parents (not just the Moms) no matter where the baby was born, and are presented for free by BMH. Dawn Kersula, RN in the BMH Birthing Center and Perinatal Education coordinator, arranges these sessions.

In addition to the free weekly New Moms Network program, the Birthing Center at BMH offers other continuous classes for childbirth education with the next class for Breastfeeding Basics, scheduled for Wednesday, May 14. Baby Basics is scheduled next the following month on Wednesday, June 11. These two free classes are conducted every month, alternating with one another, at 6:30 PM, also in the BMH 2nd Floor Classroom. The next bi-monthly BMH Sibling Class is scheduled for Sunday, June 22nd at 1:00 PM. Call (802) 257-8877 for more information or to register.

A 6-week Lamaze childbirth series will start next on Tuesday evening, May 6th. The classes are held in the 2nd Floor Classroom at BMH, 7:00-9:00 PM. There is a one-day Intensive Lamaze Birthshop class on Saturday, May 17, and the next Refresher Morning Lamaze Class is on Saturday, June 21st.

For more information, or to register for a Lamaze series or single class, call 802-257-8877. The cost of the series is $75, which can be covered by the Healthy Babies program and some insurance plans.

For information about the BMH Birthing Center, call Dawn at 802-257-8278.