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What to expect: Webinar tonight for residents experiencing pregnancy, birth and postpartum period amid pandemic

MARQUETTE — For Marquette County residents who are wondering how to navigate pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Doulas of Marquette is offering a series of free live webinar sessions to help prepare expectant and new parents, with the next webinar to be held at 6:30 tonight.

The program, entitled “A healthy start: Pregnancy, birth, and postpartum in the time of COVID-19,” will provide information on preparing for labor, birth and postpartum amid the pandemic. It will also provide information on COVID-19, current hospital policies, and community resources available to expectant families. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

“We encourage all individuals and families expecting a new little one to attend a session – even if they are experienced parents,” Melinda Britton, certified doula, program facilitator, and owner of Doulas of Marquette, said in a press release. “The program will provide valuable policies and information regarding the labor and delivery process during COVID-19, current health information that relates to those expecting as well as other helpful labor and delivery education. We hope this program will help reduce concerns and give families a chance to ask questions and support each other.”

It’s important to offer the program, organizers said in the release, as amid the coronavirus outbreak, Marquette County is home to an estimated 600 expectant individuals.

“Many expectant mothers and their partners rely on friends, families, and other expectant parents, as well as community programs focused on childbirth education for support,” organizers said in the release. “As a result of COVID-19 and social distancing measures to limit potential exposure, these families are unable to engage in typical expectant family activities. In addition, many educational programs have been canceled or limited to pre-recorded video-based resources.”

New and experienced parents are encouraged to attend at any trimester and will receive e-resources following the educational program. Sessions will be held on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, offering alternating afternoon and evening sessions.

While the next session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today, two additional sessions remain through August, organizers said.

Participants do not need to identify themselves by name or video on the Zoom conference call. Those attending the session can enter to win a $20 Marquette Food Co-op gift card.

Free registration has been made possible through a grant from the COVID-19 Community Response Fund through the Community Foundation of Marquette County and United Way of Marquette County. The fund is working to help meet immediate needs in the community related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With hundreds of expecting parents in Marquette County, we are grateful for our donors who have made this needed educational support possible,” Gail Anthony, CEO of the Community Foundation of Marquette County, said in the release.

To register or learn more about upcoming sessions, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-healthy-start-pregnancy-birth-and-postpartum-in-the-time-of-covid-19-tickets-103831101620. Registration can also be made directly through Doulas of Marquette at www.doulasofmarquette.com or 906-869-0000. Participation is open to the first 25 individuals/couples to register for each session.

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