TOPICS
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Family & Consumer Sciences |
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Parenting with a Plan! Program
The Parenting with a Plan! program started in 2008 at East St. John High and will be expanded to include West St. John High in 2011.
This specialized program provides training to teenage students on topics that have included: Caring, Nurturing, Diapering and Feeding of Babies, Fetal and Infant Mortality, Family Nutrition, Child Safety and Child Car Seat Safety, Domestic Violence, Post Partum Depression, Legal Aspect of Dating Older Guys, WIC, Breastfeeding and other topics. Guest speakers for the various topics included: Roxanne Campbell, registered nutritionist; Linda Savoie, child safety coordinator; Wayne Barnes, domestic violence counselor of New Orleans; Judge Mary Becnel; and Alicia Barthe'-Prevost, regional nurse consultant with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.
To date a total of 45 girls have completed the program and each received a certificate of complrtion following the seven-week training program.
Alicia Barthe'-Prevost, a registered nurse with Region 3, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, was a guest speaker for the Parenting with a Plan! program at East St. John High School on Dec. 3, 2010. Alicia talked about recognizing postpartum depression. Some of the warnings signs of PPD include: trouble sleeping or too much sleep; changes in appetite; feeling irritable, angry, or nervous; feeling exhausted; lack of interest in the baby; lack of interest in friends and family; feeling guilty or worthless; feeling hopeless; crying uncontrollably; trouble concentrating; low energy and thoughts of harming the baby or self. These warning signs appear differently in each individual. She gave the girls pointers on how to speak up when they’re feeling down by talking about their feelings with people they trust, such as their doctor, family member or friends. She encouraged them to eat a healthy diet, exercise for more energy and join a PPD support group. The girls were encouraged to seek treatment if feelings of unhappiness lasted longer than two weeks. To seek professional help, visit the website at www.njspeakup.gov. or call 1-800-328-3838. Alicia talked about the highs and lows, ups and downs, the many moods of PPD. She informed the girls about the baby blues of crying easily, which usually goes away in a couple of weeks.
Dr. Rachel D. Bezdek, M.D., Gynecology and Obstetrics with the Rue de Sante’ Women Center presented Your Health from Head to Toe. Dr. Bezdek stressed the importance of eating the right foods to nourish the mind, teeth and bones, heart, lungs, muscles and immune system. She stressed the importance of getting enough calcium, vitamins, protein and iron to keep the body healthy before, during and after pregnancy. Caring for the teeth is important and that means drinking lots of milk. Getting eight hours of sleep at night is very important in relaxing the body and keeping the mother healthy. Dr. Bezdek answered questions for the girls regarding their individual situations.
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| Last Updated: 1/5/2011 2:34:59 PM |
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