The Breastfeeding Support Group meets weekly on Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:00 PM at the Dolan Family Health Center at 284 Pulaski Road in Huntington. All breastfeeding mothers and their babies from throughout the community are welcome to attend. Delivering your baby at Huntington Hospital is not a prerequisite for participation in this support group. Meet new moms, share your breastfeeding experiences, and enhance your knowledge. Please call (631) 351-2358 to register.

Infant Massage
This four-session course is offered for parents and their babies age three weeks to crawling. Parents learn about the benefits of nurturing touch in addition to step-by-step massage and relaxation techniques from registered nurses who are certified by the International Association of Infant Massage. There is a one-time fee for the four-session program. Please call (631) 351-2362 to register.

Infant CPR
“CPR for Family and Friends” is an infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation class offered free of charge to patients who delivered their babies at Huntington Hospital. American Heart Association guidelines are followed in the two-hour session. Please call (631) 351-2362 to register.

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to ten percent of women following the delivery of a baby and may occur any time within the first year after giving birth. PPD can range from the more common “baby blues” to severe depression that threatens the well-being of both mother and baby.

PPD symptoms may include:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Lack of energy
• Changes in appetite
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling overwhelmed or hopeless
• Feelings of guilt
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Thoughts of suicide (in extreme cases)

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, please call your physician or a mental health professional immediately. If you feel as if you may harm yourself or your baby, go to Huntington Hospital’s Emergency Room immediately.

PPD can be successfully treated, often with a combination of antidepressants and therapy.

For more information, please contact the Postpartum Resource Center of New York at www.postpartumny.org or call their helpline at (631) 422-2255.