Want to learn more about breastfeeding and labor? Ready for a hospital tour? We offer classes for moms, dads, brothers and sisters. Classes begin early in pregnancy and continue after the baby's birth.
These classes are very popular, so it is important to register during your fourth month of pregnancy to ensure a spot.
Please note: As a precaution against the spread of 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu, as of October 15, 2009, no one under the age of 18 is permitted to visit any Hampton Roads area hospital. This visitation policy change applies only to visitors, not to those seeking medical care, and includes siblings of newborns in Women's and Infant's units. As a result, all sibling tours of maternity units, including the Prepared Brothers and Sisters tour, are temporarily unavailable. Adult visitors who have flu like symptoms are also not permitted in area hospitals, including Sentara hospitals. Learn more.
Classes:
Exercise Programs
Breastfeeding
Parenting
Prepared Childbirth
Hospital Tours
Support Groups
Sentara Womens Health Source
Exercise Programs
Aerobics
Sentara offers special prenatal and post-natal aerobics classes for women who want to be in top shape for delivery, or lose extra "baby pounds" afterward.
Cost: Free with SHHFC membership or delivery at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center.
Location: Sentara Hampton Health and Fitness Center
Call: (757) 766-2658.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding - Single Class
Geared toward expectant mothers, class includes a discussion of preparation for breastfeeding, mechanics of nursing, care of the breastfeeding mother and baby, nutrition, possible problems, and weaning. Fathers-to-be are encouraged to attend too.
Cost: $35
Location:
Sentara Princess Anne
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
To register call: (757) 455-7500 or register online
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center - One Thursday evening each month (Free, please call (757) 259-4233 to register.)
Free Breast Feeding Class, Suffolk
Learn the basics of breastfeeding. Learn the advantages, cost factor, positions, benefits, and the care of yourself before, during and after lactation. (This class is included in the 1-Day Childbirth Class.)
Cost: Free
Location: Sentara Obici Hospital, Garden Level Classrooms C&D
To register, call 1-800-SENTARA or register online.
Breastfeeding Information Line - Free
Breastfeeding support doesn't stop once you go home! If you delivered at a Sentara hospital, access to a lactation consultant is available seven days a week. Page us between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and we will call you back to answer questions and provide assistance.
Cost: Free
Location:
Sentara Leigh Hospital, call (757) 475-8942
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, call (757) 475-8942
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, call (757) 395-8289
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, call (757) 984-7299
Breastfeeding Support Group
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m.
Cost: Free
Location:
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center
To register, call (757) 984-7299
Home Health Lactation Visit
Home Health Lactation visits are available through Sentara Home Care Services. Have a certified lactation consultant visit you in the comfort of your home to help address feeding issues that may cause difficulties in your breastfeeding experience.
Cost: Check with your insurance company to see if this service is covered.
Call: Sentara Home Care at (757) 549-7755
Parenting
Taking Care of Baby
A Three-hour class designed to help teach expectant parents the basics of caring for your newborn. Includes bath demonstration, cord care, dressing the baby, and more.
Cost: $45 per couple
Location:
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
Sentara Greenbrier Healthplex
To register call: (757) 455-7500 or register online
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center- One Thursday evening each month, free. Call (757) 259-4233 to register.
Infant/Child Emergency First Aid
A three-hour class for parents, grandparents and babysitters to learn basic safety and emergency response strategies. Also includes Infant and Child CPR information (Demonstration only, no certificate). For ages 14 and older only.
Cost: $25 per person or $35 per couple for a single class
Location: Sentara Virginia General Hospital
To register call: (757) 455-7500 or register online
Growth and Development
A two-hour class for new parents and parents-to-be. This course includes information about basic newborn growth and development in the first few months of life.
Cost: Free
Location: Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, one Thursday each month, free
Call: (757) 259-4233
Prepared Childbirth
1-Day Childbirth Class
In this class, expectant parents are prepared for the physical and psychological experience of labor, birth and the postpartum period. Emphasis is placed on understanding the childbirth process and exploring methods of relaxation, which can be used during labor. It is recommended that childbirth class be taken in the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy. (This class includes the Free Breast Feeding class.)
Cost: $55 per couple (pay at the door)
Location: Sentara Obici Hospital, Garden Level Classrooms C&D
To register, call 1-800-SENTARA or register online.
4-Week Childbirth Class
In these classes, expectant parents are prepared for the physical and psychological experience of labor, birth and the postpartum period. Emphases is placed on understanding the childbirth process and exploring methods of relaxation, which can be used during labor. It is recommended that childbirth classes be taken in the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy.
Cost: $55 per couple (pay at the door)
Location: Sentara Obici Hospital, Garden Level Classrooms C&D
To register, call 1-800-SENTARA or register online.
5-Week Prepared Childbirth Class
A five-week course is for first-time parents or parents who did not attend education classes with their first babies. You can learn about the emotional and physical skills you will use in the childbirth process. The course includes anatomy, the birth process, exercises, relaxation techniques, danger signs, signs of labor, effacement, dilation, how to time contractions, phases of labor, induction of labor, fetal monitoring, back labor, coaching, pushing, postpartum, and alternative pain relief methods.
This course is the same as the 6-week course, except there is NO TOUR of the Maternity Unit.
Cost: $65 per couple (pay at door with check or credit card)
Location: Sentara Greenbrier Healthplex
To register, call (757) 455-7500 or register online.
6-Week Prepared Childbirth Class
A six-week course for first-time parents or parents who did not attend education classes with their first babies. Learn about emotional and physical skills used in the childbirth process. Includes anatomy, birth process, exercises, relaxation techniques, danger signs, labor signs, effacement/dilation, timing contractions, phases of labor, inductions, fetal monitoring, back labor, coaching, pushing, postpartum, alternative pain relief methods and maternity unit tour.
Cost: $65 for Six Classes: 1 night/ 6 weeks
Location:
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
Sentara Greenbrier Healthplex
Sentara Health Management in Virginia Beach
To register call (757) 455-7500 or register online
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, Various weekdays/weekends, $70, call (757) 984-7255 to register
Weekend Childbirth Class
Weekend (Friday 6:30pm-9:30pm) (Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm) For first-time parents or parents who did not attend education classes with their first babies where you can learn about the emotional and physical skills you will use in the childbirth process. The course includes anatomy, the birth process, exercises, relaxation techniques, danger signs, signs of labor, coaching, pushing, postpartum, and alternative pain relief methods. (Dress Comfortably. Bring 2-3 pillows and a blanket or comforter)
Location:
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
Sentara Greenbrier Healthplex
Sentara Princess Anne
Cost $80 per couple payable at the door
To register call: (757) 455-7500 or register online
Hospital Tours
See a complete list of tours and register online
Obstetric Tour
A one-hour maternity unit tour of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Sentara Leigh Hospital or Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. It covers information on procedures, registration, parking and birthing rooms.
We ask that you not bring children to this tour.
Cost: Free - Single Tour
Location:
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
Sentara Leigh Hospital
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
To register call: (757) 455-7500 or register online
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center also conducts tours of the maternity unit on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., as well as the 3rd Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. To register, please call (757)259-4233.
Rookie Dad
For first-time dads or dads that just need a refresher. One Thursday evening each month.
Cost: Free - Single Class
Location:
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center
To register, call: (757) 259-4233
Support Groups
Are You Grieving?
The loss of a baby, whether it is during pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy, is a life-altering event which impacts a woman for years to come. While a variety of support mechanisms are in place to help the bereaved mother today, this wasnt always the case. Many women whove lost babies years ago, have lingering questions and have yet to come to terms with their feelings of grief, loss and sadness. To help with closure, we offer the following:
Empty Arms Support Group
A support group for bereaved parents who have lost a child due to miscarriage, still birth, or newborn death.
Date: 2nd and 4th Monday evenings, 7-8:30 p.m.
Location: Call for details
Cost: Free
Call: 757-388-3364 or Ann Prescott at (757) 545-2667
Brochure: Miscarriage
Brochure: Support for Grieving Parents
Expectant Arms Support Group
A support group for bereaved parents who have lost a child due to miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death and are now expecting again.
Date: Various
Location: Call for details
Cost: Free
Call: (757) 388-3364 or Ann Prescott at (757) 545-2667
Free Counseling
You may benefit from talking confidentially with our bereavement counselor at Sentara Womens Services. There is no fee for this service. Ann Prescott, RN, MSEd, FT, may be reached by calling (757) 545-2667 or emailing ahpresco@sentara.com.
Remembered with Love, Always Support Group
Women who experienced a pregnancy or infant loss years ago were not always given the support and attention necessary for emotional healing. Until about 10 years ago, family, friends, or even physicians responded to the loss of an infant by saying, you can always have another baby. Just put this behind you. Forget about it.
Today we recognize that the grief of infant death or pregnancy loss does not automatically go away just by ignoring it. Now there are many options and sources of support available for women who lose a baby, whether it is through miscarriage, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, or infant death.
If you lost a baby years ago, you may not have received the support you needed.
We would like to provide that support. Remembered with Love, Always is a program developed to help women who have experienced the loss of a baby years ago find healing from grief long held inside and make peace with the past. Under the caring guidance of a certified grief counselor, you will learn how to finally acknowledge and honor your babys memory while lessening the burden you have carried for so long.
Planned activities include:
-making memory boxes
-holding memorial services
-a group memorial quilt
-journaling
-story telling and story writing
-support group sessions
-creating rituals for healing
Date: Varied, please call.
Location: You may choose the following, 1.) private time with a grief counselor specializing in pregnancy loss, or 2.) talking with others your age who lost babies years ago and sharing yoru stories.
Cost: Free
Call: Ann Prescott, RN, MSEd, FT at (757) 545-2667. Leave a message with your name and phone number. Your call will be returned promptly. Confidentiality will be respected and maintained.
Support Groups at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center take place every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 - 11:30 a.m. To register, please call (757) 259-4233.
Other Community Events and Support Groups
Sentara Womens Health Source
Contact Sentara Womens Health Source
- To register for classes
- Get more information on lectures and tours
- Ask questions related to your maternity needs
Need additional brochures or class registration information? Call (757) 388-3364.