Pregnancy and Birth Resource Guide
Breastfeeding
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Birthing Center
The hospital offers a lactation consultant to help you get started breast feeding. Educational videos are also provided to help you learn to care for your baby.
La Leche League
Brattleboro
Carole: (802) 254-5264
Michelle: (802) 254-5765
Mother-to-mother breastfeeding support for pregnant women and moms of babies/toddlers.
Keene
(603) 563-9260 or (603) 532-6481
Offers monthly discussion with other pregnant or nursing mothers; babies and toddlers are welcome; working mothers and mothers-to-be are especially encouraged to attend.
Doulas
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Birthing Center
Dawn Kersula: (802) 257-8278
Offers the services of volunteer doulas. The word "doula" comes from a Greek term used to describe a woman who ministers to new mothers. The doula movement, which began about ten years ago, has gained in popularity in recent years, and today is recognized as invaluable for women who have little or no support during labor from partners or other family or friends.
New Mom/Baby Classes
Babytime Classes
E. Dummerston, VT
(802) 254-8080 or kate@dummerstonarts.com
For parents with babies up to pre-crawling. A 6-week program including baby massage, baby movement, learning infant cues, the importance of tummy time, and other interesting scientific and fun ways to understand and be with babies. COST: $60.
Cheshire Medical Center
Keene, NH
(603) 354-5454, ext. 2410
Beyond Birth - Caring for Moms & Babies; "Moms" Club; Mom and Babies Yoga; Mom & Baby Exercise Class; and Breast Pump Rentals and Car Seat Checks. Unless otherwise noted, all childbirth and parenting education classes and support groups are free to those women who deliver their babies at Cheshire Medical Center.
Monadnock Community Hospital
Peterborough, NH
(603) 924-7191, ext 4174
New Parent and Baby Care Class – Hands-on baby care, visit with a pediatrician, and information about new mother care; Breastfeeding Your Baby – Advantages of breastfeeding, how breasts make milk, how to nurse a baby, pumping and going back to work, breast pumps, milk supply, and how to avoid problems; Nursing Mothers Group – Learn about the benefits of breast feeding for both babies and mothers, how to avoid problems, pumping and going back to work. The group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month from 10:00 am to noon at the Monadnock Community Hospital Conference Room 1 & 2; and Wellness Classes – Held at The Bond Wellness Center, these classes offer new moms a unique program to help know the body and stay healthy. Call the Wellness Center at (603) 924-4650 for more information.
New Moms Network
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
Dawn Kersula: (802) 257-8226
A program where moms and babies get together every week to learn (through speakers) and discuss various problems encountered and their solutions (in non-led group sessions).
Organizations
Easter Seals
Keene, NH
Tracy Wagoner: (603) 352-0165
Easter Seals provides early supports and services (early intervention) to children birth to age 3 and their families.
Healthy Babies, Kids & Families
Brattleboro, VT
(802) 257-2880 or (802) 257-2881
Healthy Babies, Kids & Families can help you connect with high quality health care and support services in your community. Nurse or family support workers focus on your individual needs and can assist with planning for your pregnancy, delivery and becoming a parent; finding medical and dental care for you, during pregnancy, and for your child until age six; answering your questions about health risks, infant care, child development, and safety; information about a healthy diet for you and your children; locating community resources for your family, including classes on pregnancy and childbirth, breastfeeding, fathers' groups or Children With Special Health Needs; finding parent-child education, child care and early education opportunities such as play groups, Headstart, or preschool programs; locating counseling, occupational and physical therapy, and advocacy and support services; and information about child care, school, transportation and work.
Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services
Keene, Winchester, Charlestown and Peterborough, NH
(603) 352-2253, ext. 212
Maternal Child Health Services – child and family support for prenatal and parenting families in all areas of health and wellness. Offers monthly playgroups for various ages of child and include education on parenting topics and health-related topics for parents. Immunizations are available by appointment for people without a current healthcare provider. They also offer VNA-Post-Partum visits for pregnant mothers.
Monadnock Family Resource Center
Keene, NH
(603) 357-6870
The mission of MFRC is to “inspire and promite family empowerment by providing information, resources and activities.” Programs include: BabyTime, Family Time, Parent Outreach Program, and MothersCare. MFRC offers a number of support groups as well.
Prouty Center for Child Development
Brattleboro, VT
(802) 257-7852
The Winston Prouty Center provides early education and early intervention to young children birth to five years of age. The Center has 2 distinct yet connected children's programs. The Family Infant Toddler Program is the statewide Part C services to Vermont families with infants and toddlers who have either a developmental delay or a medical condition that may affect development. The Early Learning Center is an early care and education program with a focus on the integration of children with unique learning styles and abilities.
Putney Family Services
Putney, VT
(802) 387-2120
Offers community classroom/apprenticeships, odd jobs for kids, Walk-in Health Clinic, Playgroups, Family Friends, and Parent Education.
RISE…For Baby and Family
Keene, NH
(603) 357-1395
RISE provides early supports and service to children birth to three years old and their families.
Sophia’s Hearth
Keene, NH
(603) 357-3755
Family support offered through facilitated playgroups for families with children four weeks to three years old, supplemented with one-on-one support and parent workshops.
The Welcome Baby Program
Windham County, VT
Kerri: (802) 254-3742, ext. 127
Offers a one-time free (and fun!) visit to parents who live in Windham County with infants. The Welcome Baby Program introduces parents to the resources of the school system and the community. Traditionally, a community volunteer welcomes the baby into the community and delivers a bag with gifts from local businesses, brochures from area agencies, health and safety information, tips on child development, and information on parenting and local opportunities to network with other parents. This visit is also available to families with newly adopted young children and new residents with young children.
Pregnancy Classes
Birthing From Within®
Putney, VT
(802) 236-7657
Gourmet childbirth classes with midwife Annique Sampson. A holistic approach to childbirth preparation supports the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual aspects of pregnancy, birth and parenting. COST: $125/couple. Medicine for the People.
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
Brattleboro, VT
BMH offers many prenatal and postpartum classes including Lamaze. Other prenatal classes include Breastfeeding Basics, Baby Basics, and prenatal exercise. There is also a Sibling Class held quarterly to bring a child in to see where his or her future baby brother or sister will be born.
Cheshire Medical Center
Keene, NH
(603) 354-5454, ext. 2410
Childbirth Education - Full 7-Week Series; Childbirth Education - 2 part Weekend Class; Childbirth Education - Teen & Young Adult Class; Childbirth Education - Refresher Class; Prenatal Breastfeeding Class, Prenatal Aquatic Exercise Class; Prenatal Yoga; Prenatal Smoking Cessation Education & Support Group; Managing Labor Pain; Dealing with Emotional & Physical Changes During Pregnancy; and Sibling Class. Unless otherwise noted, all childbirth and parenting education classes and support groups are free to those women who deliver their babies at Cheshire Medical Center.
Monadnock Community Hospital
Peterborough, NH
(603) 924-7191, ext 4174
Preparing for Birth Class – To help first time expectant women and their partners to prepare for labor, delivery and the newborn period; "Fast Track" Childbirth Class – One evening class, which includes a tour of the Maternity Unit, question and answer period, overview of the specifics of delivering at MCH and brief breathing and relaxation exercises; New Parent and Baby Care Class – Hands-on baby care, visit with a pediatrician, and information about new mother care; Breastfeeding Your Baby – Advantages of breastfeeding, how breasts make milk, how to nurse a baby, pumping and going back to work, breast pumps, milk supply, and how to avoid problems; Relaxation for Labor/Birth Breathe Easy; and Prenatal Aquatics – Fun pool exercises for pregnant women, held on Tuesdays from 6:30-7:15pm. Call the Wellness Center at (603) 924-4650 for more information.
Support Groups
Adoptive Parents Circle
Keene, NH
Elizabeth Raposa: (603) 357-6870, ext. 114
Light meal and children’s program. Monadnock Family Resource Center, 30 Washington St.
Circle of Parents
Keene, NH
Elizabeth Raposa: (603) 355-3082 or eraposa@mfs.org
A group to help manage the stress of parenting. Sponsored by the Parent Outreach Program.
For Single Parents Support Group
Peterborough, NH
(603) 924-6306
An on-going program for single parents to help strengthen the family. Includes supper and a children’s program at The Family Center.
Kinship and Foster Care Support Group
Brattleboro, VT
David Bayer or Jennifer Mazur, facilitators, at (802) 254-3742
Join other grandparents, relatives, and other foster parents caring for young children for support, ideas, and resources. Childcare available by reservation one week in advance. Held at the EES Conference Room.
“Off Our Rockers”
Grandparent/Kinship Circle
Keene, NH
Elizabeth Raposa: (603) 357-6870, ext. 114
Support group for grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, who are parenting children. Free meal & MFS children’s program. Sponsored by the Parent Outreach at Monadnock Family Resource Center, 30 Washington St.
Parents Together Support Group
Bellows Falls, VT
Brattleboro, VT
Noreen Oles: (802) 254-6686
Mutual self-help support group, guided by trained co-leaders, for anyone in a parenting role; childcare available; healthy snack provided.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group
Monadnock Community Hospital
Peterborough, NH
(603) 924-7191, ext 4174
A safe place to talk and share, for anyone who has experienced a pregnancy loss, still birth or infant death.
Single Parent Support Group
Keene, NH
Elizabeth Raposa: (603) 355-3082
Free childcare, meal provided. Sponsored by the Parent Outreach Project. Held at the Headstart Building, School Street.
Check out the Parent Express Calendar of Events for more information on dates and times for classes and support groups as well as other parenting programs offered throughout the area.