New parents can learn what to expect at HSHS St. John's

Expecting parents can have their “what to expect” pregnancy questions answered by attending any or all prenatal education programs offered by HSHS St. John’s Hospital.

The St. John’s Women and Infants Center offers a wide range of services for mothers and babies and even fathers. Classes include Baby Basics, Breastfeeding, Childbirth Express, Daddy Bootcamp, and Parenthood. Most classes are led by a registered nurse and some feature additional experts who are eager to help parents better prepare for their new babies.

“The goal for our prenatal education programs is to make sure moms and families are as prepared as they can be for delivery, as well as returning home with their babies,” shared Jen Beauchamp, BSN, RN, CLC, CPST, patient and community educator at St. John’s Women and Infants Center. “We invite all expectant mothers and support persons to attend our educational classes.”

Most classes are free to women who deliver their baby at St. John’s Hospital. Classes take place at the Women and Infants Center and participants must follow all hospital guidelines and requirements regarding COVID-19 safety including wearing masks. 

According to the March of Dimes, prenatal education is an important component of supporting healthy pregnancies. Prenatal education promotes the maintenance of healthy lifestyles at the end of pregnancy and helps expectant mothers manage stress, support a healthy diet, avoid harmful chemicals and situations, recognize warning signs and symptoms that mean something may be wrong with their pregnancy, as well as prepare for labor and delivery.

The full calendar of classes at St. John’s Hospital Women and Infants Center can be viewed here. For more information or to register for classes, call 217-744-2229. 

As a Level III Perinatal Center, St. John’s Hospital can provide the highest level of care for mothers and babies in south-central Illinois. The Women and Infants Center welcomes more than 1,800 babies every year. The antenatal unit is staffed by maternal/fetal medicine specialists 24/7 for expectant mothers who may need extra care during their pregnancy for issues such as pre-term labor or high blood pressure. St. John’s also has a 40-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) staffed 24 hours a day by neonatologists specially trained to care for babies born too early, as well as babies born with a serious illness.