Centering Pregnancy
Feeling nervous about your pregnancy? Not sure what to expect?
Centering Pregnancy is a special group for pregnant women that includes more time and attention in a group setting. You’ll meet with your provider and other women, who are due near the same time as you, for 10 sessions during your pregnancy.
To learn more, call (216) 210-4908.
Childbirth Education Classes
MetroHealth offers a robust series of childbirth education classes, breastfeeding support and classes for family members. It’s an added benefit of being a MetroHealth patient! To learn more, call (216) 778-3381 or e-mail [email protected].
Childbirth Preparation Class
Our childbirth educators are certified and experienced perinatal nurses. Classes include information about labor and birth, comfort options and pain relief, coping skills for labor and birth, and caring for yourself and your baby after birth.
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Boot Camp for New Dads
Geared to first-time fathers, this class is taught by veteran dads. You will learn how to make it through the first months of parenting and come out a competent, on-the-job father.
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In-Home Support for Your First Baby
If you’re pregnant with your first baby, you likely have a lot of questions and concerns. The Nurse-Family Partnership at The MetroHealth System can help you have a healthy pregnancy and delivery – and offer support through baby’s 2nd birthday.
The Nurse-Family Partnership is a free program for women pregnant with their first baby. You will be paired with a registered nurse who will come to your home and provide support, advice and information to help you have a healthy pregnancy and be a great parent after baby arrives.
The program offers a range of services to help pregnant and new parents thrive, including:
- What to expect during labor and delivery
- Monitoring blood pressure and weight
- Help with breast feeding
- Connecting clients to housing, food and transportation resources
- Enrolling in insurance and other benefits
- Connecting clients with substance abuse programs
- Help with completing education, such as graduating from high school, earning a GED, and enrolling in college or technical education programs
- Educating parents about safe sleep practices
- Following baby’s health to make sure they are growing, getting vaccines and meeting milestones
You can enroll in the program if you are:
- pregnant with your first child
- 28 weeks pregnant or less
- low-income or enrolled in a program like WIC or Medicaid
- a resident of Cuyahoga County
To learn more about the program or to enroll, call our office at 440-592-3837 or the Cuyahoga County office of Help Me Grow at 216-930-3322.
Breastfeeding
MetroHealth supports families who choose to breastfeed their new baby. To learn more about the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, download our brochure in English or Spanish.
Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding | Diez pasos para una lactancia maternal exitosa
Classes and Support Groups
Your Decision, Your Choice!
Learn about the many benefits of breastfeeding and what you can start doing now to prepare you on your breastfeeding journey. Classes are taught by Certified Lactation Consultants and Breastfeeding Counselors. English and Spanish options available.
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Clases De Lactancia
Infórmese sobre las numerosas ventajas de la lactancia materna y lo que puede empezar a hacer ahora para prepararse en su camino hacia la lactancia.
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Breastfeeding Support Group
You don’t have to take your breastfeeding journey alone. Lean on community—and expert advice—in our breastfeeding support groups.
In-person
Mondays, 1-2 p.m.
MetroHealth Main Campus
Outpatient Pavilion, Pediatric Clinic
Registration not required.
Call 216-778-3337 for more information.
Virtual
Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m.
Registration required.
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Order a Breast Pump
Breast pumps are important tools to help your baby continue to get breast milk when you’re not with your baby. Some breast pumps are fully covered under your insurance plan, and MetroHealth can help you navigate ordering a pump.
Step 1: Determine your eligibility
Call your insurance company to find out which pumps are covered by your plan. Some pumps may be fully covered, and some may only partially be covered.
If you do not have medical insurance but receive WIC benefits, our staff can help you navigate getting a WIC rental pump.
Step 2: Do your research
Look up pros and cons of different pumps. Common things to think about:
- Will you have an outlet available when pumping? If not, you may need something chargeable or battery-operated.
- Will you be returning to work/school or pumping often? You may want to choose something with a higher-level suction (260mmHg+) to maintain milk supply and lower your chance of breastfeeding problems like blocked ducts.
- Do you have breaks and time to sit down and pump? If not, think about wearable hands-free options to ensure you are able to maintain frequent milk removal to so that breast milk supply doesn’t drop. (NOTE: Federal Law requires adequate breaks and a private space for lactating parents. Visit odh.ohio.gov for more details)
- Additional features: Some pumps are advertised as “ultra-quiet” for more discreet pumping. Some pumps have night-lights or lit up screens for nighttime pump sessions. Certain pumps have a timer to help keep track of the length of your pumping session.
- Most pumps come with a warranty. Look for a pump that has a warranty for at least one to two years!
Step 3: Get a prescription
Once you have determined which supply company you would like to choose, you will need to obtain a prescription from your doctor. Follow the company’s instructions to get a prescription. Once the prescription is approved by insurance, the supply company will provide further instructions on receiving your breast pump.
The MetroHealth lactation team looks forward to helping you along your breastfeeding journey! If you have questions, please contact us at 216-778-3337 or Email Lactation Support to speak with a member of our team!
Tips:
- Do not pump prior to delivery without asking your provider.
- Follow your pump’s instructions for sanitizing prior to use.
- In the first 2-4 weeks of your baby’s life, it is recommended that you exclusively breastfeed to establish a good milk supply.
- You do not need to bring the pump to delivery—if you need to pump in the hospital, we’ll provide a hospital-grade pump.
Infant Safety Class
This one-time class is for expecting or new parents and will provide you with ways to increase safety in your child’s living spaces. Learn how to avoid injuries and keep your baby safe everywhere you go.
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Birth Certificate FAQ
Birth certificates are important legal documents, and we’ll help you get started in the hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions:
My partner and I are married. Do we need to bring ID or a marriage license to complete the birth certificate paperwork?
No. If you are married, both names will be added automatically.
If my partner and I aren’t married how does my partner get added to the birth certificate?
Partners have to be present with a current government issued ID to sign the affidavit with our notary stating that they are the parent. This allows them to go on the birth certificate. We have multiple notaries on staff.
If I want DNA testing to show parental proof how to I get that?
You do not sign the affidavit because the father’s name will not be added until those results are returned. The county provides DNA testing outside the hospital in multiple locations. We will give you the information on testing locations during your postpartum (after delivery) stay. When the results get returned, you will go back to the location where you tested and sign the affidavit to add the father’s name. Results can take 1-2 weeks to return.
Do I get my baby’s birth certificate before I leave the hospital?
Once the initial paperwork is filled out, we will certify the birth and your birth certificate will be available from City Hall within about a week. If there is an affidavit that gets submitted with the paperwork for unmarried parents, the birth certificate will be available in about 4 weeks.
Are there different steps to take if I have a surrogate, or am adopting?
For surrogacies or adoptions there are certain state regulations that most parents are already aware of before they arrive for delivery. We will be glad to help you complete the paperwork after the delivery based on your specific needs.
When do I get my baby’s social security card?
Your child’s social security card is applied for automatically and you will see it arrive in 4-6 weeks through the mail. Please make sure you have an updated address in your hospital files.