Prenatal Education for Families

Christina is a Registered Nurse with past experience in Home Health, ICU, NICU, Labor and Delivery, Mother/Baby, and School Nursing. Christina has her Master’s degree in Nursing Education, is an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, a Dancing for Birth Instructor, an American Red Cross CPR instructor, a Child Passenger Safety Instructor (car seat tech), and specializes in providing information! She oversees the educational programs for our expectant parents but really prefers teaching to overseeing, so is usually found teaching a class at Sisters of Charity Hospital, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, or Mt.St. Mary’s Hospital. Christina teaches a bit of everything at all locations but loves the interactive classes the most. Learning safety techniques such as First Aid for Choking is so important for any family, she emphasizes that these classes are not JUST for new parents – anyone who cares for children is welcome to come ensure they know how to safely use a car seat, learn CPR, or attend a BabyTalk or Grandparent class. Christina has a passion for ensuring women are confident in their ability to birth their babies and wants to make sure women have all the tools they need to fuel that confidence. After five births of her own, she knows that birth can be a joyful, vibrant experience and wishes each expectant couple the best in their journey!

Rev. David Lewis is a regular volunteer with the WomenCare Prenatal Education program. As an experienced Child Passenger Safety Technician, he helps ensure parents know how to safely use their child’s car seat for the best protection of a newborn or older child. David can be found on Seat Check Saturdays at Mt.St.Mary’s Hospital and then at the Catholic Health Regional Training Center helping parents learn to install and use their seats safely. He can also be found at other events around the community or being superman while caring for his seven children!

Diane has taught Lamaze childbirth classes for many years while working in Labor and Delivery. She has seen the results of being fully prepared for the experience of childbirth and encourages expectant families to prepare both mentally and physically for the birth of their baby. Diane teaches the Lamaze focus class at Sisters of Charity Hospital as well as being one of the facilitators at the Activity Childbirth classes. Diane also gives amazing tours of Sisters Hospital where a family can explore the rooms, learn about regular care at Sisters, and become familiar with resources available.

Donna is the primary weekend prenatal educator at Sisters of Charity Hospital. She has a varied background in nursing with most recent experience in Labor and Delivery and Mother/Baby nursing. Donna has a background of multiple types of delivery with her own beautiful (but grown up!) children and is able to answer questions and provide reassurance to decrease birth anxiety. She teaches every type of class available with the prenatal education program at Catholic Health!

Shannon J. CD (DONA) teaches our Activity Childbirth Classes, BabyTalk Classes, Tours, and can be seen at Sisters, Mercy, or even Mt.St.Mary’s. She also teaches classes in the community to provide convenient times and locations for our expectant parents. Shannon has four years of experience with childbirth education, including Lamaze Style classes and Evidence Based Birth classes. Being a mother of 6, Shannon has learned how valuable it is to have quality education and support during pregnancy and birth. While working with expectant mothers, Shannon noticed many new parents would benefit from additional information to reduce fears and improve their birth experience. Shannon is also a Certified Birth Doula and Postpartum Doula. Shannon has been a Birth Doula in for 5 years. Shannon became a Doula after supporting and guiding friends through their labors and births of their children. She is also still serving the community as an active doula and founder of Calming Nature Doula Center.

Ashley is a mom of four, DONA certified birth doula, certified lactation counselor and an experienced health educator with a Master’s Degree in Health Education and an Undergraduate Degree in Health and Wellness. She is a 200 hour certified yoga teacher, specializing in prenatal and kids yoga. Ashley is also certified through HypnoBirthing International as a childbirth educator and a certified instructor of CPR and First Aid through the American Red Cross. You will find Ashley teaching our Activities Childbirth, Breastfeeding, Infant and Child CPR, Comfort Techniques, Lamaze Focus and Prenatal Yoga classes while checking proper installation of car seats. Ashley is a passionate educator immersed in all things birth and parenthood. Her goal is to provide quality education to assist in positive and empowered birth experience.

Susan is a Registered Nurse with extensive experience in Labor and Delivery, Mother/Baby, Special Care Nursery, the Baby Cafe, and Home Health. Susan is an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), and a Child Passenger Safety Instructor (car seat tech). Susan has 4 children of her own. She loves to help prepare families for their journey to parenthood. She understands that while the birth of your baby is exciting, there can also be a lot of change. She hopes that through education, parents can better understand the birth process, decrease their anxiety and advocate for themselves to have the birth experience they desire. She is also passionate about breastfeeding and helping moms to achieve their goals. Susan teaches and assists with all classes. She is often seen at Mercy Hospital giving tours to expectant parents. Susan loves to bring humor into her classes and always has a story to tell.

Marlene is a self-directed nurse with 40+ years medical surgical experience in a medical teaching hospital. She has a Master’s Degree in Nursing Executive Leadership and Change and works as a Nursing Student Preceptor, Nursing Staff Mentor, and PTECH Mentor. She is a Diabetes Educator and you will find her immersed in community events and teaching our gestational diabetes classes while also checking the safety of car seats through our car seat safety classes. Marlene is married with two adult children and loves supporting them in their endeavors. She also visits and spend much time with her mom of 93 years in her new move in assisted living.