Becoming a new parent can often be a challenge, between irregular sleeping patterns and taking on unfamiliar responsibilities to care for an infant. Some parents may not know the best practices for swaddling or bathing, while others may be faced with a newborn that has trouble feeding or gaining weight.
It’s in situations like these that expectant and new parents can turn to Pennsylvania Hospital’s Solutions for Women – an initiative, available to both patients and staff, that provides a wide range of clinical services and educational programs to help navigate the stages of pregnancy and parenthood.
In August, Solutions for Women launched Neonatal Swallowing Evaluation Treatment, which offers guidance from speech-language pathologists who specialize in newborn feeding and swallowing. Between appointments to help babies experiencing such difficulty, parents have the option to rent a scale to keep at their homes, allowing them to weigh their baby and report any weight changes to their provider, rather than having to make frequent trips to the provider’s office. PAH introduced the service to enhance access to treatment in the community – a treatment that typically has long wait times for appointments.
“We’re always searching for opportunities to expand our services to meet families’ evolving needs in the community,” said Mayra Medina, associate practice manager for Solutions for Women. “We’re proud to provide seamless support through education, in-hospital lactation services, and outpatient consultation to help families meet their goals.”
Prenatal courses, like Childbirth Prep 101, provide childbirth education and resources, covering breathing and relaxation techniques, stages of labor, and the value of partners working together as a team to prepare for the baby. After a baby is born, there are continued Exploring Parenthood workshops centered on related topics ranging from newborns to early childhood.
In addition, there are postpartum courses focused on specific aspects of care, like Baby Talk, where parents and caregivers can learn about language development, expression, sign language, and how to identify their baby’s non-verbal communication signals, along with a CPR for Family and Friends course that gives CPR training to all individuals – siblings, grandparents, nannies – who contribute to a child’s care.
Medina recalls one patient sharing how attending the classes eased any fears of entering parenthood, and how it boosted their confidence in how they will raise their baby. “It’s rewarding that we’re able to connect patients to these resources and help them learn, evolve, and grow in their families,” she said.