Healthy Beginnings (Prenatal education)

Image of mother kissing infant boy's head

Healthy Beginnings is a free prenatal education program designed to meet your personal needs during and after pregnancy. The program includes one-on-one visits with a nurse who will provide updated information about your baby’s development and help you meet the physical and emotional changes associated with pregnancy. Healthy Beginnings is a resource for infant feeding education and support however a mother chooses to feed her baby. Certified lactation counseling is available for individual appointments. Infant care education is offered during pregnancy and after to supplement your baby's pediatric care.

We encourage three Healthy Beginnings to provide you with education and support for a healthy pregnancy, safe delivery, and healthy baby. The visits are planned at the beginning of your pregnancy, at 24-28 weeks, and at 34-36 weeks. We can assist you in scheduling these, and additional visits as needed, along with your regular OB appointments.

Who Can Participate in Healthy Beginnings?
Visits with the nurses at Healthy Beginnings are free of charge and are available to patients of providers affiliated with the Mid Dakota Clinic Center for Women or any Mid Dakota Clinic provider. During your first visit, you will receive a book with detailed prenatal information and an invitation to call us with your questions. Information about pregnancy and adoption resources will be provided in some instances to help the birth mother make an informed decision.

What Will You Learn at Your Healthy Beginnings Visits?
First Visit
You will receive a book with detailed prenatal information. We’ll talk about routine tests and visits, nutrition, vitamins and medications, and when you will begin to feel movement. If you smoke, we offer smoking cessation information and resources to help you quit. You can also receive information about pregnancy and parenting resources that are available in our community. We’ll review warning signs, give tips on ways to relieve morning sickness and exercise safely, and even help you select an OB provider if you don’t have one.

Second Visit
We will discuss second and third trimester fetal development, mid-pregnancy physical and emotional changes that are specific to your pregnancy, and your goals for your delivery and hospital stay. We will discuss available education classes such as childbirth preparation, breastfeeding, and sibling classes. You will receive paperwork to pre-register for your delivery at CHI St. Alexius Health hospital.

Third Visit
We will discuss late-pregnancy physical and emotional changes, signs of labor, your plan for delivery, what to expect during your hospital stay, and postpartum care. Taking the time to plan for birth helps you feel more prepared for your delivery. Follow-up care with Healthy Beginnings will be offered after this visit.

Additional Education
Through Healthy Beginnings, you will learn about classes and additional education opportunities that are available to help you and your family prepare for birth and the exciting journey beyond.

All of your visits with the Healthy Beginnings nurse are free and individualized to meet your needs. Additional Healthy Beginnings visits can be scheduled for:

Infant Feeding Education and Consultations with a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC)

Breastfeeding
Pumping and bottle-feeding
Formula-feeding

Infant Care & Safety Education

Basics of newborn care
Infant sleep safety
Car seat safety
Infant choking and CPR demonstration

Ask about our What About Me? - Sibling Class to help prepare older silbings for the birts of the newest addition to your family. This class will help ease the transition of bringing baby home.

Questions

Monday-Friday, 8 am – 5 pm
Call your regular OB/GYN doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant first. If he or she is out of the office, call 701.712.4500 or 800.472.2113 and request to speak with the OB/GYN doctor on call.

After 5 pm, Weekends & Holidays
For urgent questions during these hours only, call CHI St. Alexius Health Labor & Delivery at 701.530.4250 or 800.247.1159.

Emergencies
Report to the nearest emergeny room.

For Non-Urgent Questions
You can send a message to your OB/GYN provider using the Mid Dakota Clinic Patient Portal at mymdcchart.com.

Your doctor may refer you to Healthy Beginnings at the Center for Women or you may make an appointment yourself. For appointments, call 701.712.4501 or 855.530.6001.

Healthy Beginnings (Prenatal education)

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