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. Wednesday or Thursday, or weekend series: from 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.
July 1-7
-- Breast Cancer Support Group: Breast cancer patients, survivors, family and friends are welcome to attend. Meeting will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, July 2. For information, call (717) 531-7492. This program is free to the public.
-- Adult Cardiac Support Group: This group is open to anyone dealing with or living with a person coping with heart disease or heart failure. Meeting will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 5, at the University Fitness Center, located on Penn State Hershey Medical Center's campus. For information, call (717) 531-5030. This program is free to the public.
-- Bone Marrow Transplant Support Group: Meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 5, in the auditorium anteroom at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. For information, call (717) 531-4291. This program is free to the public.
July 8-14
-- 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, July 9, in C3621 Penn State Hershey Medical Center and from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, July 12, 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: Breast-feeding and career): 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, July 10, at Community Health Library, second floor, Penn State Women's Health Center, 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.
-- 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, July 10, in 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, July 12, 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.