Advocate Sherman partners with local organizations to offer free prenatal education

Elgin, Ill. - Three local organizations have partnered with the Family Birthing Center at Advocate Sherman to offer free prenatal education classes throughout the greater Elgin area.

Area residents who are recipients of some form of public aid and seek care at the Greater Elgin Family Care Center or Aunt Martha's are eligible for the prenatal and breastfeeding classes, which will take place as a four-week series each month, in both English and Spanish.

The next series at Aunt Martha's, located at 3003 Wakefield Drive, Carpentersville, will take place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Nov. 3, 10, 17 and 24. The next series at the Greater Elgin Family Care Center-Seneca Health Center, located at 450 Dundee Ave., Elgin, will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Nov. 5, 12, 19 and Wednesday, Nov. 25. It is recommended participants attend all four sessions.

The Well Child Center in Elgin also will accept the classes in lieu of its required breastfeeding and labor/delivery classes. Greater Elgin Family Care Center and Aunt Martha's also will provide raffle prizes for those participants who attend all classes.

As a part of each series, participants will learn what to expect on their delivery date, which includes warning signs to report, what to pack, when to come to the hospital, pain medication and intervention education, C-section information and breastfeeding options. They will be invited for a tour of the Family Birthing Center at Advocate Sherman Hospital, located at 1425 N. Randall Road, Elgin.

Next month, the series will take place at the Seneca Health Center on Dec. 3, 10, 17 and 23, and Aunt Martha's on Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22. Preregistration is required each month.

To register, clients can contact their family case manager. For more information, call Aunt Martha's at (847) 851-8600 or the Greater Elgin Family Care Center at (847) 608-1344.