Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center offers the following support groups to provide networking and educational opportunities for people with a variety of needs. Prior registration is required.
-- Prepared Childbirth Series: This class prepares expectant women intellectually, emotionally and physically for the childbearing experience and also helps prepare partners to be active, effective support persons. Weeknight series: five-week course, 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday or Thursday, or weekend series: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for three Saturdays. For information on when the next available series begins and to request a registration form, call (717) 531-6981. A $63 fee is required with the registration form.
-- Teen Parents: This group provides support for teenagers with children. For information, call (717) 531-1298. This program is free to the public.
-- Young Mothers: This group offers the opportunity for pregnant, school-aged adolescents to connect with other young moms-to-be and learn the basics of pre- and post-natal care. Meeting will take place at 2:45 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10 and 17, in the Lois High Berstler Community Health Library, Penn State Women's Health Center, 670 Cherry Drive, Hershey. For information, call (717) 531-1298. This free program is available to Penn State Women's Health patients.
-- Prenatal Exercise Class: This class teaches expectant women to incorporate good body mechanics and exercises into daily life and includes specific, nonstrenuous physical conditioning exercises designed to contribute to fitness and comfort during pregnancy and childbirth. The class meets from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10 and 17, at C3621 Penn State Hershey Medical Center and from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 13 and 20, at the University Fitness Center, located on the Penn State Hershey Medical Center campus. Thursday's class is combined with the Postnatal Exercise Class. For information or to register, call (717) 531-6981. This class is free to the public.
-- Smoking Cessation Program: In an effort to support a heart-healthy lifestyle, Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute offers a free smoking cessation support and advice program called "No Ifs, Ands or Butts." The six-week course helps smokers through the entire process from decision-making to quitting to relapse prevention. Two sessions are available: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays in the I.O. Silver Cardiovascular Specialties Clinic, or "brown bag" classes from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays in various rooms within Penn State Hershey Medical Center. The next sessions begin the week of Monday, Sept. 10. Space is limited, so register early by calling the CareLine at (800) 243-1455.
-- Postpartum Breast-feeding -- Mothers and Babies Together -- (Topic for Sept. 11: Helpful breast-feeding hints for the family; topic for Sept. 18: How to know if baby is getting enough): This class focuses on common concerns of the breast-feeding mother. Babies and fathers are welcome. Meeting will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Sept. 11 and 18, at Penn State Women's Health Center, Community Health Library, second floor, 670 Cherry Drive, Hershey. For information or to register, call (717) 531-6981 or visit http://www.hmc.psu.edu/womens online. This program is free to the public.
--Eating Disorders Support Group: This group helps families and friends support individuals undergoing treatment for eating disorders at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Weekly meeting will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 and 18, at the Briarcrest Office Building in Hershey (next to Turkey Hill and Kreider's Dairy Farm Restaurant), second floor, suite 250, group room. The first Tuesday of every month, family and friends meet without the patients. Call Mary Keener at (717) 531-7230 for information.
-- Prenatal Breast-feeding Class: This class identifies the benefits of breast-feeding for the family. Fathers are welcome to attend. Meeting will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the Mohler Senior Center Zimmerman Room, 660 Cherry Drive, Hershey. For information, call (717) 531-4869. Cost is $11.
-- Postnatal Exercise Class: This class teaches new mothers specific, physical conditioning exercises designed to facilitate physical rehabilitation after pregnancy and delivery. Class meets from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 13 and 20, at the University Fitness Center, located on the Penn State Hershey Medical Center campus, and is combined with the Prenatal Exercise Class. Call (717) 531-6981 for information or to register. This program is free to the public.
-- Infant Loss Support Group: This group is for families who have experienced a miscarriage, stillborn birth or the death of an infant younger than 1 month old. Meeting will take place from 7 to 8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 17, in 206 Penn State Women's Health Center, 670 Cherry Drive, Hershey. For information, call (717) 531-8123. This program is free to the public.
-- Fathers' Class: This class helps new fathers adjust to parenthood. Babies are welcome. Class meets from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Mohler Senior Center, 660 Cherry Drive, Hershey. For information, call (717) 531-6981. This class is free to the public.
-- Infant Safety and CPR: This class provides parents with basic information on infant and child safety and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Individuals practice on infant and child mannequins. The class meets from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Mohler Senior Center, 660 Cherry Drive, Hershey, and costs $21. For information or to register, call (717) 531-6981.
-- Leukemia, Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma Support Group: This group is for patients who have leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma and their families. Meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, in dining room C at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. For information, call the patient service coordinator at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at (717) 652-6520 or Tom Edmunds at (717) 531-4291 or log onto http://www.PennStateCancerInstitute.com online. This program is free to the public.
-- Stroke Support Group: This group provides monthly programs of interest to stroke survivors and their caregivers, as well as an opportunity for support and socialization. Group meets from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the Mohler Senior Center, 660 Cherry Drive, Hershey. Call Pamela Carr at (717) 531-0003, ext. 285032, for information. This program is free to the public.
-- Carbohydrate Counting for 2s (Type 2 Diabetes): Meeting will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at H1059 Penn State Hershey Medical Center. To register, call (717) 531-8406; for information, call (717) 531-5178. This program is open to the public. Cost is billed to insurance.
-- Diabetes Support Group (Adult): Meetings consist of speakers and group discussion. Two sessions are scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 20. Afternoon session will take place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Mohler Senior Center, 660 Cherry Drive, Hershey. Evening session will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in dining room C at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. For information, call (717) 531-6892. This program is free to the public.
-- New Dimensions Support Group (Gastric Bypass): Topic: "Drop Your Drawers" -- Post-operative patients strut their stuff in a night of fun to celebrate success after bariatric surgery. The New Dimensions Support Group provides peer support and resources to individuals researching, awaiting or adapting to weight loss surgery at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Friends and family are welcome to attend. Group will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in the University Fitness Center's multipurpose room. Call Janelle McLeod at (717) 531-6321 for information. This program is free to the public.