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, from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays or Thursdays or weekend series: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 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.
Aug. 12-18
-- 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, Aug. 13, at C3621 Penn State Hershey Medical Center and 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Aug. 16, 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.
-- Postpartum Breast-feeding -- Mothers and Babies Together -- (Topic: An ounce of prevention to avoid some common breast-feeding problems): 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, Aug. 14, 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.
-- 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, Aug. 15, at the Mohler Senior Center, 660 Cherry Drive, Hershey. Call Pamela Carr at (717) 531-0003, ext. 285032, for more information. This program is free to the public.
-- 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, Aug. 16, 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.
-- Carbohydrate Counting for 2s (Type 2 Diabetes): Meeting will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at H1059, near Starbucks, at 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, Aug. 16. 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. at 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: John Homza, local chiropractor, to discuss stress management): 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, Aug. 16, in the University Fitness Center's multipurpose room. Call Janelle McLeod at (717) 531-6321 for information. This program is free to the public.
Aug. 19-25
-- 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, Aug. 20, in C3621 Penn State Hershey Medical Center and from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Aug. 23, 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.
-- 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, Aug. 20, 206 Penn State Women's Health Center, 670 Cherry Drive, Hershey. For information, call (717) 531-8123. This program is free to the public.
-- Postpartum Breast-feeding -- Mothers and Babies Together -- (Topic: Pumping and storage of breast milk): 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, Aug. 21, 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.
-- 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, Aug. 21, at the Mohler Senior Center, 660 Cherry Drive, Hershey, and costs $21. For information or to register, call (717) 531-6981.
-- Early Pregnancy Class: This class helps expectant mothers understand fetal growth and development, the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy and nutritional needs during pregnancy. Participants learn and practice basic body conditioning exercises. The class meets from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, at the Mohler Senior Center, 660 Cherry Drive, Hershey, and costs $11. For information or to register, call (717) 531-6981.
-- Leukemia, Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma Support Group: This class is for patients who have leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma and their families. Meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, in the auditorium anteroom of 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.hmc.psu.edu/cancer online. This program is free to the public.
-- Cancer Support Group: Meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, in dining room A at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. For information, call (717) 531-4291. This program is free to the public.
-- 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, Aug. 23, 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.