Prenatal Classes

Prenatal classes at Memorial Hospital in Chester are held on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the hospital's conference room and are free of charge to the public. Classes still scheduled for 2010 will be September 25 and November 20. Instructors for the classes are Jill Arbeiter, R.N., and Julie Hartman, LPN. Arbeiter worked in Memorial's OB Department for 25 years and holds an inpatient certification in obstetrics. Hartman also worked for many years in Memorial's OB Department.

"Since epidural anesthesia is available to most laboring moms, many may feel that prenatal education is not necessary," the instructors said. Both Arbeiter and Hartman disagree with that line of thinking.
Included in the class curriculum are such subjects as maternal nutrition, pregnancy complications, infant feeding,child safety, growth and development of the newborn, discipline and child rearing, Cesarean sections and anesthesia options are discussed and films are shown that educate the expectan t family about many aspects of childbirth. Lamaze breathing and relaxation techniques are introduced and practiced.
Pre-registration is preferred for these classes. Anyone interested in registering or wishing to obtain more information, may call Memorial's nursing office, 618-826-4581, Ext. 1223.