Please send items to dscherban@gazettenet.com.
Cooley Dickinson Women’s Health has begun a new program which provides education and support for pregnant and postpartum women who are recovering from opioid use.
The program, New Beginnings, began March 20, but women can join at any time. Sessions will be primarily focused on women who are earlier in recovery and women who are on medication-assisted treatment (Subutex and methadone) during their pregnancies.
To be eligible while pregnant, a woman must be a patient with Cooley Dickinson Women’s Health, according to Cooley Dickinson Certified Nurse Midwife Amy Walker. But the postpartum group is open to anyone, no matter where delivery took place.
Pregnant participants meet every other week for group prenatal care, which for New Beginnings will include issues of recovery and support in addition to general education and peer connection on pregnancy and birth. Issues addressed specifically for recovery from opioid addiction include stress management/relapse prevention; nutrition during pregnancy; neonatal withdrawal; breastfeeding and newborn care; and what to expect from Social Work and DCF (Department of Children & Families). One-on-one time with a nurse midwife also will be available. Session dates will be discussed at the time of enrollment.
The postpartum group meets weekly on Tuesdays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Midwifery Center Community Room, 10 Denniston Place, Northampton.
Walker has worked extensively with the Cooley Dickinson Opioid Task Force and Hampshire Hope to address this often-overlooked aspect of the opioid crisis that can have profound effects on both mothers and babies.
For further information on group content and enrollment, contact Walker at 413-586-9866 or awalker15@cooleydickinson.org. To register online, visit cooleydickinson.org/events/new-beginnings/.
Linda Manor Assisted Living in Leeds will host its third “Successful Aging Summit” April 17, between
9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
A continental breakfast and lunch are included in the day’s free events.
Following breakfast at 9 a.m., Heather Jagodowski, CDP, Program Coordinator with the Alzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, will give the keynote address.
Morning sessions beginning at 11:15 a.m. include presentations on Tai Chi, men’s health, Medicare and medication.
Following lunch, afternoon sessions, starting at 1:45 p.m., will include moving, non-opiate pain management, enjoying nature, grief, brain fitness, legal documents and bone density.
Registration may be made by email at dboussard@bhs1.org , online at www.lindamanorassistedliving.org/summit, or by calling 413-588-3302 by April 13.
Tuesday, 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., University of Massachusetts Webster Dickinson Dorm, 151 Orchard Hill Road, Amherst
Tuesday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Cooley Dickinson Hospital, 30 Locust St., Northampton
Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., University of Massachusetts Student Union, 41 Campus Center Way
April 2, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Public Library, 2 Canal St., South Hadley