For the first time, LSA hosted a Labor and Delivery class, in collaboration with the Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership.  Five expectant mothers and one dad participated in the workshop, which was conducted in Spanish.  The class included advice on diet and nutrition, the stages of labor, preparing a birth plan, and how to handle potential challenges.

The class was led by Kyra Caruso, a DONA certified birth doula, certified lactation consultant and certified Lamaze childbirth educator, based in Brooklyn, NY (walktalkyoga.tumblr.com).  The mothers in the class included both first time and experienced mothers.   Ms. Caruso encouraged all of the mothers to share their experiences.  “Every woman brings a different story,” she said.  “They can really benefit from each other.”

“This class is especially important when you’re talking about immigrant mothers,” said Sr. Suzanne Deliee, RN, who is a member of our nursing staff and leads breastfeeding and parenting workshops.   “They have no support system here,” she pointed out.  “They’re not with their elders.  The socialization aspect of this class is extremely important.”

Part of the class included breathing and exercises. “I was hoping to show them that more vocal breathing is okay,” said Ms. Caruso, who explained that deep guttural breathing is very beneficial during labor.

Some of the mothers in the Labor & Delivery Class have gone on to participate in the six-week Breastfeeding Workshop offered by Sr. Suzanne at LSA.

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