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Family Birth Care

Mercy Iowa City offers a variety of education programs for prospective, expectant, and new parents.

For more information about any Mercy program or for registration, contact Mercy On Call at 319-358-2767 or 800-358-2767 or by e-mail.

Parking Info

Beginning with Baby

Happiest Baby on the Block NEW!

Breastfeeding & More Heartsaver Baby
Breastfeeding Classes Infant Massage
Car Seat Checks | Classes New Brother/New Sister
Childbirth Education/Lamaze Parenting Series
Childbirth Preparation Preparing for Pregnancy
Easing Through Pregnancy  Put Safety First

Mercy Iowa City provides a permission form that parents can complete and leave with a caregiver in case the child needs medical/surgical treatment while they are away.

Beginning With Baby
This four-hour class addresses bringing baby home. "Now what" questions about baby care, safety, parenting, and new responsibilities will be addressed. Guest speakers will include parents who have recently had a baby. Class held in McAuley room, Mercy Medical Plaza. Class fee is $15 per couple. This material is integrated in the five-week Childbirth Education/Lamaza classes.

Sunday, April 25, 1-4:30 p.m.  
Sunday, July 18, 1-4:30 p.m. Sunday, September 26, 1-4:30 p.m.

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Breastfeeding Classes
One-session class recommended prior to delivery. A support person is welcome to attend at no charge. Class is taught by registered nurses that are board certified lactation consultants. Class held in the first floor conference room, Mercy Hospital. Fee: $10.

Mercy's certified lactation consultant, Claudia Barber, RN, conducted online chats about breastfeeding; here is a recap.

Upcoming classes:

Saturday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, March 29, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Tuesday, April 20, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Monday, July 26, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 15, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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Breastfeeding and More
Weekly group for breastfeeding families. Expecting parents are also welcome. No fee. Group meets Thursdays, noon to 2 p.m., McAuley room, Mercy Medical Plaza. Call Mercy On Call for specific dates.

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Car Seat Checks
Free drive-through checkpoints are offered periodically by certified safety seat technicians in conjunction with the Johnson County SAFE KIDS Coalition. These checks are designed to assess the safety and appropriateness of infant and child car seats. For upcoming dates contact Mercy On Call.


Car Seat Safety Class
This class will help parents better understand Iowa car seat safety laws, car seat instructions, and the safest type of car seat. No fee. Class is held from 7 to 9 p.m., classroom 4, Mercy North

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Tuesday, March 23 Tuesday, May 25
Tuesday, August 24 Tuesday, October 26

Childbirth Education/Lamaze
This class is designed for women in the last trimester of pregnancy and their support person(s). Content address a variety of comfort, relaxation, and breathing skills for labor and delivery (vaginal and cesarean). Other topics include baby care, child safety, parenting, and a tour of the Family Birth Care Unit.

Each class consists of five weekly sessions held 7 to 9 p.m., in the McAuley room, Mercy Medical Plaza. It is recommended that women attend a session that ends within four weeks of her due date if possible. Fee: $60. Minimum of six couples per class.

Upcoming Monday classes in 2010:
April 5—May 3 | Aug. 9—Sept. 13 (no class Sept. 6) | Nov. 1—29

Upcoming Wednesday classes in 2010:
March 331 | April 21May 19 | June 23July 21 | Aug. 25Sept. 22 |
Oct. 13
Nov. 10

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Childbirth Education/Lamaze Weekend Class
The Friday and Saturday sessions address comfort, relaxation, and breathing skills for labor and delivery (vaginal and cesarean). A tour of the Family Birth Care Unit is included. The fee is $45.
Instructors are registered nurses who have attained national certification as childbirth educators through Lamaze International or the International Childbirth Education Association.

Classes are held in the McAuley room, Mercy Medical Plaza.

Upcoming classes: Friday session is 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

March 12 & 13 | April 23 & 24 | May 21 & 22 |
July 16 & 17 | August 27 & 28 | September 24 & 25 | November 19 & 20
 

If a weekend class is canceled due to inclement weather, the class will be held on the following weekend.

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Childbirth Education/Lamaze Refresher Class
This class is for those who have attended a childbirth education series with a previous pregnancy. Refresher participants attend the Saturday session of the weekend class (see above). The all-day session covers relaxation and breathing skills. Refresher participants may also attend the Friday evening session which has information about the birth process. Fee is $30.

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Childbirth Preparation
Two-session class held monthly. Class addresses last trimester with emphasis on preparing for labor, delivery, and baby. Includes a tour of Mercy's Family Birth Care Unit. Class is held on the following Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. in Classroom 4, Mercy Hospital. No fee.

Upcoming Childbirth Preparation classes:

March 2 & 9  
April 6 & 13 May 4 & 11
June 1 & 8 July 6 & 13
August 3 & 10 September 7 & 21
October 5 & 12 November 2 & 9
December 7 & 14  

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Easing Through Pregnancy
One-session class provides information and comfort measures for parents-to-be regarding the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. All classes are on Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m., in classroom 2, Mercy North. No fee.

Upcoming classes:

March 16 | May 18 | August 17 | October 19

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Happiest Baby on the Block
New babies are a blessing, but they can also bring sleepless nights, exhaustion, and stress to their parents. The Happiest Baby on the Block Class is based on pediatrician Dr. Harvey's Karp's approach to baby care. Class topics include the fourth trimester, the calming reflex, the 5 S's, and cuddle care. Fee is $30. This class may be taken before delivery or after your baby is born.

Sunday, March 14, 1-3:30 p.m. Monday, April 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 23, 1-3:30 p.m. Sunday, August 29, 1-3:30 p.m.
Monday, October 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday, November 21, 1-3 p.m.

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Heartsaver Baby Class
This one-session class was developed by the American Heart Association to prepare parents, parents-to-be, grandparents, and child care providers to respond to emergency situations with infants and children. Emergency responses for a choking infant and child and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for an infant and child are taught. Fee: $15 per person or $28 for two.

Call Mercy On Call to register. Class size is limited to 16 participants to ensure sufficient practice opportunity for all participants.

If you are unable to attend, please call Mercy On Call as soon as possible. Due to the high demand for this class there is often a waiting list. If registration is canceled prior to the class, registration fee less a $5 handling charge will be returned. No refunds after class begins.

*Saturday classes held 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; all others from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Classroom 4.

Infant Massage
A three-session class for parents and babies from age 2 weeks to 7 months. Parents are taught how to massage their baby. Massage can relax and soothe a baby and help babies sleep. Classes are held on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m., Classroom 4, Mercy Hospital. Fee: $30.

April 11, 18, and 25

June 27, July 11 and 18
September 12, 19, and 26 October 31, November 7 and 14

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New Brother/New Sister
Sibling class held monthly for children ages 3 to 12. Addresses baby care and safety, good hand washing, and gentle touch. Parents attend the class with their children. A tour of Mercy's Family Birth Care Unit is included. Classes are held on Mondays at 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. in Classroom 4, Mercy Hospital. No fee. Call Mercy On Call to register.

Upcoming classes

March 1 | April 5 | May 3 | June 7 | Juy 12

August 12 | September 13 | October 4 | November 1| December 6

For those unable to attend, call Labor & Delivery at 339-3576 to arrange an individual tour at a mutually convenient time.

Put Safety First
A two-hour session designed to help parents and grandparents put safety first for infants and children. Class addresses childproofing strategies, home, and personal safety. Information from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign will be presented. Classes are held on Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m., Classroom 4, Mercy North. No fee

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Upcoming classes:

April 20 | June 22 | September 28 | November 16

Preparing For Pregnancy
One-session class offered twice a year to prospective parents. This free classes addresses preparing for a healthy pregnancy and baby.

REGISTER

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