The OB/GYN team at Independence Health System is here to prepare you and
your family for one of life's most important events through education,
information and preparation. Classes are offered both online and in-person
in the Butler, Clarion, and Westmoreland Areas. Educational resources
are also listed below and can be viewed/downloaded or printed if needed.
Nesting Room
Sometimes moms and babies leave the hospital at different times. It is
important for new families to be as close as possible when mom and baby
are not discharged together.
Nesting rooms are provided for the mother and one adult support person.
Siblings are not permitted to stay or visit in the nesting rooms.
Because you are no longer a patient, you will not be permitted to receive
visitors in your nesting room.
Visitors need to visit the baby’s bedside with you or the other adult
with a baby ID band.
For safety reasons, visitors are asked to use the waiting rooms when waiting
to visit with the baby.
All other visitors are to visit with the family in the visitor’s
lounge or in the Special Care Nursery as per nursery guidelines.
All safety rules of the hospital are enforced during nesting.
Sheets and towels will be provided by the hospital. Families will need
to provide their own toiletries and medications.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner will be provided to the mother during the infant’s stay.
Mothers are expected to be present in the nursery for all feedings.
Every effort is made to provide nesting rooms. Continued availability is
based on patient census and adherence to guidelines.
To download the Nesting Room Guidelines,
click here.
Finding a Provider Who Can Care for Your Baby
Being a parent isn’t kid stuff! That’s why we are ready to
help with a list of providers who can care for your new baby. To schedule
an appointment for your newborn, please call the office of your choice.
To view the full list of
Westmoreland Area providers,
click here.
To view the full list of
Butler and Clarion Area providers,
click here.
Car Seat Safety Check
Is your baby's car seat safe? A car seat is extremely effective in protecting
your baby when installed and used correctly. Ensure your child’s
protection and have your car seat checked for safety and proper fit by
a professional.
Click here to search for upcoming State Police car seat safety checks near you.
Infant Safe Sleep Education
The Safe Sleep Academy was developed by the Cribs for Kids® National
Infant Safe Sleep Initiative.
Every year in the United States, more than 3,500 infant deaths occur due
to accidental suffocation, asphyxia, or undetermined causes during sleep.
Since 1998, the mission of Cribs for Kids® has been to prevent these
deaths by educating parents and caregivers on the importance of practicing
safe sleep for their babies and by providing portable cribs to families
who, otherwise, cannot afford a safe place for their babies to sleep.
The following resources are available to educate the community about safe sleep:
Safe Sleep Ambassador Training is online educational training that launched
in 2018 and was updated in 2023. It is self-paced and designed for anyone
who is practicing, advocating for or supporting families in a commitment
to safe sleep.
https://safesleepacademy.org/safe-sleep-training/
The Safe to Sleep® campaign, led by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in collaboration
with other agencies and organizations, educates parents and caregivers
about ways to protect babies during sleep by reducing the risk of Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths.
https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/about
Classes Offered
Independence Health System wants you to be prepared and have peace of mind
about caring for your infant whether you are a brand-new mom or seasoned
parent. Our Infant Care classes will help you learn about how to care
for your baby post-delivery, proper diaper changing, bathing and feeding
techniques and more.
In-Person Education
Parenting Basics Newborn Care and Infant Safety - Butler and Clarion Areas, registration required
This live in person class covers the basics of taking care of a newborn.
Some of the topics include: feeding, preparing bottles, diapering and
diaper rash care, bathing, and calming a crying baby. Time is spent going
over car seat installation, baby proofing your house, and when to call
the doctor.
On-Demand/Virtual
Infant Care - virtual, registration required
Topics include: diapering, bathing, bottle feeding safety, and more.
To register for the online class, please call the Independence Health System
Call Center at 1-877-771-1234. A confirmation email will be sent to you with the video link.
To view and sign up for classes and events,
click here and search by the title of the event.
