Healthy Beginnings (Prenatal education)

Healthy Beginnings is a free prenatal education program designed to meet your personal needs during pregnancy. The program includes one-on-one visits with a nurse who will provide information about your baby’s development and help you meet the physical and emotional changes associated with pregnancy. Healthy Beginnings is also a resource for breastfeeding support and infant care assistance after baby is born.

Three Healthy Beginnings visits are scheduled along with your regular doctor’s appointments. You will receive a wealth of encouragement and support to help you have a healthy pregnancy, a safe delivery, and a healthy baby. The visits are planned for the beginning of your pregnancy, at 24-28 weeks, and at 34-36 weeks of pregnancy. Additional visits can be scheduled as needed.

Who Can Participate in Healthy Beginnings?
Visits with the nurses at the Healthy Beginnings program are free of charge and are available to patients of doctors affiliated with both Mid Dakota Clinic Center for Women and Mid Dakota Clinic. During your first visit, you will receive a book with detailed prenatal information and an invitation to call or e-mail us with your questions.

If you have urgent questions after 5 pm, on weekends, or holidays, call CHI St. Alexius Health Labor & Delivery at 701.530.4250, or toll-free 800.247.1159.

Information about pregnancy and adoption resources will be provided in some instances to help the birth mother make an informed decision about either keeping or adopting out her baby.

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. We’ll review warning signs, give tips on ways to relieve morning sickness and exercise safely, and even help you select a doctor if you don’t have one.

Second Visit
We’ll discuss second and third trimester fetal development, mid-pregnancy physical and emotional changes and complications, final preparations, and pre-registration for CHI St. Alexius Health. We will also discuss registration for classes, such as childbirth preparation, breastfeeding, and sibling classes.

Third Visit
We’ll cover your hospital stay, your baby, and any other questions you may have. Taking the time to plan for birth helps you feel more prepared for your delivery.

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, and 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 CHI St. Alexius Health ER at 10th St. and Rosser Ave.

Classes
Through Healthy Beginnings, you will learn about classes that are available to help you and your family prepare for birth.

Child Birth Preparation (Lamaze) and Refresher
Childbirth classes are usually started about eight weeks before the due date and are attended by the mother-to-be and her support person of choice. There is a fee for this series. You must register in advance by calling the CHI St. Alexius Health Education Center at 701.530.7700 or 800.843.9628.

Sibling Class What About Me?
This one session class is offered every 3rd month and is intended to help children adjust to the idea of having a new baby in the home. We will also teach big brothers and sisters how to safely play with and help care for the new baby. This class is meant for ages 3-8 years. There is a fee for this class. Pre-registration is required by calling Healthy Beginnings at 701.712.4591.

Healthy Beginnings (Prenatal education)

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