Your new baby will be here before you know it. In the days ahead, the more you learn about your birth experience, the more you’ll be able to relax and welcome your new child with open arms.

“Fear of the unknown can hinder a mother’s ability to focus during labor, increasing stress and anxiety,” says Graciela Moreno-Chavana, RN, CCE, OB Educator at South Texas Health System. “This added stress prevents couples from experiencing a positive birth experience. That’s why attending one of our classes is so important.”

What to expect
Childbirth classes educate moms-to-be on everything they need to know before the baby is born — including the stages of labor, pain relief and delivery (natural birth vs. cesarean section) — and after — including breast-feeding and newborn care.

“Women also learn about the psychological and emotional changes that will happen to them before and after they give birth,” notes Yvonne Garza, RN, CCE, OB Educator at South Texas Health System. Additional topics covered include:

• How to spot and treat postpartum depression
• How to protect your baby from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Shaken baby syndrome

Register Now
All classes include a tour of the Birthing Center of South Texas at McAllen Medical Center. Expectant mothers are encouraged to bring a friend or loved one, and attend a class at least one to two months before their due date.

Be good to yourself and to your baby. Attend one of the following 2007 classes, held on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Classroom 4E at McAllen Medical Center.

In English:
August 18
September 15
October 20
November 17
December 8

In Spanish:
August 25
September 29
October 27
November 10
December 1

To register for a class, call Direct Doctors^SM Plus at 1-800-879-1033.

c/o Marketing Department 1400 W. Trenton Rd. Edinburg, Texas 78539