Department Spotlight: Department of Parent Childbirth Education
Prenatal preparation doesn’t just include Lamaze class anymore. Consider this – yoga, infant massage, and infant CPR instruction – these are a sampling of more than 20 classes offered by the Department of Parent Childbirth Education.
It is BWH’s version of enrolling in baby university; a comprehensive educational program that includes workshops and courses for moms, dads/partners and big brothers and sisters.
The energetic and enthusiastic staff from the Department of Parent Childbirth Education are doing their best to make the transition of having a baby, a smooth one. “Our goal is to teach the family about childbirth and parenting before the actual birth. Equipped with the proper skills and knowledge, the first few months at home with a new baby will be a less stressful experience,” said Deborah Robbins, RN, MPA, program manager, Department of Parent Childbirth Education.
The department has greatly expanded their offerings over the past year. In an effort to prepare individuals for the birth experience and parenthood, there are programs to fit the needs of BWH’s varied patient population. For example, with Massachusetts leading the nation in the number of twins born each year, the department has developed a “multiples” program. The class is taught by BWH nurses who have twins of their own and includes information on coping with the discomforts of a growing uterus, birth and life with multiple newborns.
“All of our staff nurses have prior experience in Labor and Birth and/or Newborn Intensive Care. These educators are dedicated to teaching and building confidence in our parents-to-be,” added Robbins.
Eileen Amy, RN, brought her diverse talents to the department about seven years ago. Her efforts have focused on shaping an educational program to better serve the needs of Boston’s diverse community. Amy, a mother of two, balances her job as a parent with her position as a bilingual nurse educator. Before completing her nursing and master’s degrees, she worked in interpreter services at BWH. Now, Amy teaches childbirth preparation, breastfeeding and infant care and behavior classes for the hospital’s outpatient and inpatient Obstetric Practice.
“As a nurse, the role of teacher comes natural to me. In my job I concentrate on helping parents to connect with and understand the birth experience, so that they can begin a positive relationship with their babies,” said Amy.
For many families that visit BWH, it isn’t just mom and dad who need help preparing for the arrival of a new baby. One of the department’s most popular programs is the Siblings Class. New big brothers and sisters have the opportunity to take tours of the Connors Center and peek at new babies through the window of the nursery. The tours are followed by classes that teach children how to safely interact with and understand life with a new sibling.
“As teachers, we are very fortunate to encounter families that are in an exciting stage of their lives. We strive to do the best job instructing and educating people so that they can relax, enjoy and celebrate the birth experience,” Amy added.