Learning Objective #1: The learner will be able communicate the benefits of breastfeeding and importance of nutrition during pregnancy.

Learning Objective #2: The learner will be able to recognize the hazards of smoking during pregnancy

---

As Maternal/Child Nurses in our community, we have noticed lifestyle changes have impacted perinatal health. It is necessary for our education process to change to meet these lifestyle changes. There have been decreasing attendance in prenatal classes. Patients believe that classes are unnecessary due to emphasis on epidual anesthesia for pain management. Life style changes have also added to the decrease in class attendance with many moms –to- be and dads working different schedules. Time becomes precious. This is the pervasive perception in the community. Our patients are therefore not receiving any information on nutrition, smoking cessation or breastfeeding until they reach the hospital. Our breastfeeding rate is lower then the New York City average. We are seeing an increasing number of obese women at term. Any mother who has decreased her smoking during pregnancy returns immediately post-partum. We are proposing an introduction to our classes in the community (ex. Babies R Us). Three classes offered before the 20th week of pregnancy to focus on nutrition, smoking cessation and breastfeeding. We feel this would involve extensive community outreach and the involvement of our Ob/Gyn. practitioners. Our classes would also introduce the community to Staten Island University Hospital and all their services. This would ultimately lead to better customer satisfaction.