Silver Cross Offers Childbirth Education Classes in August

Silver Cross offers an array of classes to help new parents prepare and expect the best from their birthing experience in the hospital’s beautiful Women and Infant Services Birthing Center. For more information or to register for one or more Childbirth Classes, visit www.silvercross.org/specialdeliveries or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).

Baby Bereavement Support Group

Silver Cross Hospital offers a support group for parents who have experienced loss during pregnancy, at birth or shortly after, or from early SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). The Baby Bereavement Support Group will meet Thursday, Aug. 13 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Hospital’s Conference Center, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., Pavilion A, New Lenox.

Birthing Center Tours

Silver Cross Hospital will offer free Birthing Center Tours for expectant families at 1900 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox. The tours will be offered every Saturday in August at 1:30 p.m., and on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tours will also take place on Tuesdays, Aug. 11 and 25 at 7 p.m. to help parents prepare and expect the best from their birthing experience in the hospital’s new luxurious birthing suites.

Breastfeeding Classes

A certified lactation consultant will teach the basics of breastfeeding, including establishing a milk supply, breast pumps, avoiding difficulties and more on Wednesday, Aug. 5 and 12 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Silver Cross Hospital, Pavilion A, Conference Center, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox. Cost is $15 per person for this one-day class.

Breastfeeding Support Group

The Silver Cross Birthing Center’s certified lactation consultants will host a free support group meeting on Monday, Aug. 10 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 28, from 10:30 a.m. to Noon in the Hospital’s Conference Center, Pavilion A, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox. New mothers have many questions and concerns about breastfeeding in the weeks leading up to and after birth. Breastfeeding support groups are a wonderful way to exchange information and experiences. Infants are welcome to attend. First time participants should register in advance.

Postnatal Pilates

The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Silver Cross will host a five-week post-natal Pilates series for women 6 weeks to 6 years post-partum beginning Monday, Aug. 17. Designed for all fitness levels, the classes will be held in the Silver Cross Health Center, 12701 W. 143rd St., Homer Glen from 6 to 7 p.m. Each class will include 15 minutes of educational material specific to the post-partum mom. The remaining 45 minutes will consist of Pilates-based stretching and strengthening focusing on the pelvic floor and core muscles. Cost is $60 for the series.

Prepared Childbirth Class

Silver Cross Hospital will offer a Prepared Childbirth three-day class on Tuesdays, Aug. 4, 11 and 18, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. All classes will be held in the Silver Cross Hospital, Pavilion A, Conference Center, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox. Participants will receive instruction from a registered nurse on breathing, relaxation and floor exercise techniques. She will also review the labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum processes. Cost is $80 per couple. There is no charge for patients under the care of an OB/GYN with the Aunt Martha’s Joliet Community Health Center or the Will County Community Health Center.

About the Silver Cross Women and Infant Birthing Center

Silver Cross has brought together cutting-edge medical technology with spa-like amenities to make the birthing experience all the more memorable. The Birthing Center at the New Lenox Hospital has 12 luxurious birthing suites designed for labor, delivery and recovery so parents can have the convenience of staying in the same room through recovery followed by a stay in one of 30 private mother-baby suites. Each private suite is fully-equipped with a bathroom with a shower and immersion tub to help with labor pains, blanket warmer, refrigerator, wireless internet access, 30” flat screen TV system, and a comfortable sofa-sleeper so family members can stay around the clock. And for deliveries requiring surgery, there are two complete cesarean suites. Silver Cross’ Nursery is designated as a Level 2E and Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital neonatologists and pediatric hospitalists are onsite 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And if needed, Lurie Children’s pediatric cardiologists are available to analyze a baby’s echocardiogram in real time through a video linkage with Silver Cross.

For more information about the new Silver Cross Women and Infant Birthing Center visit www.silvercross.org/specialdeliveries.

For a referral to an obstetrician/gynecologist or pediatrician on staff at Silver Cross, visitwww.silvercross.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL.