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Midcoast Region
MidCoast Mamas
with Erin Kirkpatrick, Mid Coast Maternity
Please join our postpartum support group to find the village you deserve! You will get to meet other new moms and find out that many of the struggles you may be experiencing are common and you are not alone. You will also get good ideas for coping. We vent, we celebrate, we cry, we encourage, we drink coffee and eat snacks! You can weigh your baby here and ask any questions at all to another mother or a nurse.
The group meets every Wednesday morning at 10:30am at MidCoast Hospital. Sometimes we meet in Conference Room 1, right next to the cafeteria. If that room is not available, our back up location is the waiting room outside the Maternity unit. The group is led by our breast/bottle feeding specialists. Mothers with children 0-6 months are welcome.
Will run
Nursing Support Group
with Lynn Tauss, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital and Waldo Hospital Events
This informal support group for breastfeeding families provides interaction as well as individual assistance when needed. Women wanting more information about breastfeeding are also welcome. This group is facilitated by a lactation consultant from the Women and Infants unit.
Please call (207)301-8337 for more information.
Preserving Health
with Sheryl McWilliams, MaineHealth Lifestyle Medicine Brunswick
A free, 7-session series focusing on methods to cultivate and preserve nature’s bounty, including planning and preparing your garden, dehydrating food and canning vegetables.
Facilitated by Sheryl McWilliams.
2nd Thursday of the month | 6:30-8 p.m. (no sessions in July or August)
- March 13: Planning for the Future: Garden design, breaking the ground, till vs. no-till, etc.
- April 10: All Things Seeds: Selection, sourcing, starting and preservation
- May 8: Will It Grow? Planting, weeding and nurturing
- June 12: Growing the Soil: How to produce healthy, nutrient-dense plants
- September 11: Gathering the Bounty: Harvesting your produce
- October 9: What to Do with a Bumper Crop: Food storage and preservation
- November 20: Putting the Garden to Bed for the Winter
Registration is required for each individual session.
Transition to Parenthood Peer Group Belfast
with MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital and Waldo Hospital Events
Join us for a free, nurse-led group for parents and parents-to-be. We offer a welcoming place for new and pregnant parents to talk, listen and get support from others during the transition to parenthood. Babies welcome! Snacks and beverages will be provided. Registration is encouraged, but drop-ins are welcome. For more information or to register, call 207-505-4332.
This group meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month, from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Preparing for Labor & Birth
with Erin Kirkpatrick, Mid Coast Maternity
Join us for an in-depth discussion of what to expect when the time comes to give birth to your baby!
Part 1 is in-person at MidCoast Hospital. During this 3.5 hour session, you will learn about the three phases of labor, how to cope, and how to be a supportive partner. We will discuss many coping strategies, as well as practice laboring positions and hands-on support techniques. This session also includes a tour of the maternity unit and birthing rooms. Session 1 is from 9:30am-1:00pm.
Part 2 is held the next day via zoom. During this 3 hour session, you will learn about the various pain medication options that are available, what is involved in inductions and c-sections, what to expect with your newborn and your hospital stay, as well as how to be more prepared for the postpartum period. In the year 2025 Session 2 will be 9:00am-12:00pm. In the year 2026 Session 2 with be 3:00pm-6:00pm.
Partners/support people are encouraged to attend but do not need to register online. We recommend taking this course between 30-35 weeks if possible. Our hope is that you will leave this educational weekend feeling like you have the knowledge you need to make informed decisions, and the confidence to navigate the transition from pregnancy to parenthood. We look forward to working with you!
You will receive an email from the instructor 1 week prior to the scheduled class with the zoom link for part 2. Please check your spam/junk folder for emails from erin@lighthouselactationmaine.com.
Transition to Parenthood Peer Group Rockport
with MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital and Waldo Hospital Events
Join us for a free, nurse-led group for parents and parents-to-be. We offer a welcoming place for new and pregnant parents to talk, listen and get support from others during the transition to parenthood. Babies welcome! Snacks and beverages will be provided. Drop-ins are welcome. Please call 301-8343 for more information.
This group meets on the 2nd Monday of each month, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Writing Through Grief
with Sarah Kilch Gaffney, MaineHealth Lifestyle Medicine Brunswick
The Arts of Wellness: Writing Through Grief
We will all face intense grief at various times in our lives. Sometimes, it will come in the form of the death of a loved one, and at other times it may take different forms: illness or injury, divorce, natural disasters, disability, family estrangement, loss of a job, taking on a caregiving role, and many others.
In this free workshop, participants will join writer Sarah Kilch Gaffney to learn how expressive writing and journaling can help us navigate grief in all its forms. Participants will hear readings, try out writing prompts, and learn about the benefits of expressive writing and journaling, as well as take home some helpful tools and ideas. No writing experience is necessary, anyone experiencing any kind of grief is welcome, and all workshop participants will get to bring a journal home with them to continue their practice.
December 11, 2025, 5:30-7 p.m.
Registration is required. Space is limited.
For more information call 207-373-6585.
Understanding Breastfeeding
with Candace Crocker BSN RN IBCLC, LincolnHealth Childbirth Education
Our classes reflect Lincoln Hospital's dedication to our philosophy of family-centered care. Classes are taught by an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant from the family birth center who will bring her knowledge and experience to her teaching. We will review how milk is made, why breastfeeding is so important, feeding cues and positions and so much more. We use short videos and discussion to ensure you and your baby are off to a great start! Also covered is prenatal colostrum harvesting as well as hand expression, pumping and storage of breastmilk. The class is informal and allows for open discussion. Please call the Lincoln Hospital Family Birth Center for questions at: 207.563.4536
Will run