Early and regular prenatal and infant care is vital for healthy mothers and babies.  According to the 2019 American Community Survey, conducted by the US Census Bureau, 16.9% of people are living in poverty in Christian County. For these individuals, the lack of income often results in inadequate access to health care and resources. 

In response to the above issues, Christian County held the World’s Greatest Baby Shower on September 1, 2022, at the Hopkinsville Community College. The Christian County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the Christian County Public School Family and Youth Resource Centers and the Christian County Health Department. 

The baby shower was a free educational program for Christian County’s expectant mothers or mothers of a child under one year of age. The program covered topics such as prenatal nutrition, newborn nutrition, safe sleep, breastfeeding, and latch among many others. The “Ask-an-Expert” session allowed participants to ask questions to local health care providers including a Nurse Practitioner, Registered Dietician, and Certified Lactation Consultant. More than sixty-five mothers and partners attended the event. 

Individuals who participated in the event and completed an evaluation received prenatal and newborn supplies. 

Post program evaluations showed that 100% of the participants found the information useful and 95% learned something they did not know. Many participants shared that they planned to make changes following the seminar such as; changing their diet, giving their child water instead of juice, changing their sleeping arrangements (no longer co-sleeping), and not being afraid to ask for help when they become overwhelmed.