Post-Birth and Infant Care Resources

The OB/GYN team at Independence Health System is here to prepare you and your family for one of life's most important events through education, information and preparation. Classes are offered both online and in-person in the Butler, Clarion, and Westmoreland Areas. Educational resources are also listed below and can be viewed/downloaded or printed if needed.

Nesting Room

Sometimes moms and babies leave the hospital at different times. It is important for new families to be as close as possible when mom and baby are not discharged together.

• Nesting rooms are provided for the mother and one adult support person.
• Siblings are not permitted to stay or visit in the nesting rooms.
• Because you are no longer a patient, you will not be permitted to receive visitors in your nesting room.
• Visitors need to visit the baby’s bedside with you or the other adult with a baby ID band.
• For safety reasons, visitors are asked to use the waiting rooms when waiting to visit with the baby.
• All other visitors are to visit with the family in the visitor’s lounge or in the Special Care Nursery as per nursery guidelines.
• All safety rules of the hospital are enforced during nesting.
• Sheets and towels will be provided by the hospital. Families will need to provide their own toiletries and medications.
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner will be provided to the mother during the infant’s stay.
• Mothers are expected to be present in the nursery for all feedings.
• Every effort is made to provide nesting rooms. Continued availability is based on patient census and adherence to guidelines.

To download the Nesting Room Guidelines, click here.

Finding a Provider Who Can Care for Your Baby

Being a parent isn’t kid stuff! That’s why we are ready to help with a list of providers who can care for your new baby. To schedule an appointment for your newborn, please call the office of your choice.

• To view the full list of Westmoreland Area providers, click here.
• To view the full list of Butler and Clarion Area providers, click here.

Car Seat Safety Check

Is your baby's car seat safe? A car seat is extremely effective in protecting your baby when installed and used correctly. Ensure your child’s protection and have your car seat checked for safety and proper fit by a professional.

Click here to search for upcoming State Police car seat safety checks near you.

Infant Safe Sleep Education

The Safe Sleep Academy was developed by the Cribs for Kids® National Infant Safe Sleep Initiative.

Every year in the United States, more than 3,500 infant deaths occur due to accidental suffocation, asphyxia, or undetermined causes during sleep.

Since 1998, the mission of Cribs for Kids® has been to prevent these deaths by educating parents and caregivers on the importance of practicing safe sleep for their babies and by providing portable cribs to families who, otherwise, cannot afford a safe place for their babies to sleep.

The following resources are available to educate the community about safe sleep:

• A free, Infant Safe Sleep educational website for parents and caregivers: https://safesleepacademy.org/
• A free video library of safe sleep education videos: https://safesleepacademy.org/video-library/
• Safe Sleep Ambassador Training is online educational training that launched in 2018 and was updated in 2023. It is self-paced and designed for anyone who is practicing, advocating for or supporting families in a commitment to safe sleep. https://safesleepacademy.org/safe-sleep-training/
• The Safe to Sleep® campaign, led by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in collaboration with other agencies and organizations, educates parents and caregivers about ways to protect babies during sleep by reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths. https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/about

Classes Offered

Independence Health System wants you to be prepared and have peace of mind about caring for your infant whether you are a brand-new mom or seasoned parent. Our Infant Care classes will help you learn about how to care for your baby post-delivery, proper diaper changing, bathing and feeding techniques and more.

In-Person Education

• Parenting Basics Newborn Care and Infant Safety - Butler and Clarion Areas, registration required
  • This live in person class covers the basics of taking care of a newborn. Some of the topics include: feeding, preparing bottles, diapering and diaper rash care, bathing, and calming a crying baby. Time is spent going over car seat installation, baby proofing your house, and when to call the doctor.

On-Demand/Virtual

• Virtual classes are temporarily unavailable.

To view and sign up for classes and events, click here and search by the title of the event.

To sign up for our Maternity and Newborn Education App, click here.