BYU Women's Services and Resources office offers free parenting classes

The office of Women's Services and Resources at the Wilkinson Student Center hosts a weekly in-person parenting class at no charge.

These classes are held every Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. and go on for six weeks starting on Feb. 4. These classes are designed for expectant couples and those preparing to begin their families.

Michele Carnesecca, a registered nurse of over 30 years and Sarah Law, a registered nurse for just over 15 years, are the instructors for these classes. Through the course of the six week program, they go over topics such as pregnancy, postpartum care and overall parenting.

We just wanted this to be a one stop place for parents to go, where they know they'll get evidence-based information from nurses and lactation consultants and mothers, Carnesecca shared.

BYU Women's Services and Resources provided this course to help student parents receive the information they need, as well as support them through their path to receiving their degrees.

When our student parents have the support they need, they will do better in school and will be able to continue to graduation, Dixie Sevison, the director of the department of Women's Services and Resources, said.

Law and Carnesecca wish to teach everything mothers and new families need to know about babies and pregnancy through their classes.

Despite the amount of information available online, Law noted that parents often struggle to know what is reliable. Carnesecca added that many families dont know where to turn, which is why the instructors keep their curriculum evidencebased and continually updated with current research.

We really just want moms and babies and parents to have a good start and the best way to get information is, before they need it, Law said.

Carnesecca said many new parents are looking for guidance beyond the brief moments they get with their childs doctor.

Many times pediatricians don't have the time to spend with individual mothers so they can go to our videos, or come to our classes, and we will teach them, Carnesecca explained. And not only are we offering this for BYU students, but others can get online and they can get our classes as well.

These two shared that while preparing and planning for these classes, they really just wanted those who came in to feel welcomed and that their questions were taken care of.

At the end of each class, the instructors turn the time to the attendees and allow them to ask one-on-one questions that are specific to parents, newborns and pregnancies.

From what they reported to us, they were so grateful for BYU for providing this for them when maybe they wouldn't be able to get this on their own, Carnesecca shared.

Sevison shared that as the office listens to what resources students want and need, they work to build offerings that genuinely strengthen students sense of capability.

I want our student parents and student parents-to-be, to feel more comfortable and secure with their planning and parenting choices, Sevison said. I want them to be able to say: 'I can do this! I have the tools and the support I need. I may not know the answer, but I now know where I can go for help, support, and resources.'

Ultimately, the program exists to help parents step into their new roles with clarity, confidence and a strong foundation of support.

Find more information at the Women's Services and Resources website.