“Prenatal education is an important component of supporting healthy pregnancies. Prenatal education promotes the maintenance of healthy lifestyles during pregnancy, helping expectant mothers manage stress, support a healthy diet, avoid harmful chemicals and situations, recognize warning signs and symptoms that mean something may be wrong with their pregnancy, and prepare for labor and delivery.” (marchofdimes.org)

Though Casey County and surrounding counties have a wealth of resources for expectant and new mothers, many times the information and contact is missed. The Community Baby Shower has been implemented locally for over five years and allows new and expecting mothers to come together to receive beneficial and potential life-saving information from multiple resources in one setting. Mothers also receive donations to assist with the preparation and raising of their children.

Due to COVID-19 and the concern of safety for everyone, this year’s event was moved to a virtual format. Eight organizations provided an educational presentation along with door prizes for the mothers. A total of 22 new/expecting mothers registered for the virtual event with 15 attending. Each participant was awarded with a $10 gift card, a hand crafted quilt, and a Pack-&-Play play pin along with assorted gifts and materials and resources from participating organizations. The following organizations presented and/or provided materials and prizes for the mothers: Lake Cumberland District Health Department – WIC Department, Lake Cumberland Community Action Agency, KY-Moms Program – Adanta Regional Prevention Center, HANDS – Health Department, Early Childhood Consultant from Adanta, Southern KY Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Casey County Head Start, Casey County Public Library, East and West Family Resource Center, Casey County ASAP, Dunnville Christian Church, and Casey County Cooperative Extension.

Prior to the event the agent coordinated gift drop-off with the presenters. The agent worked with the presenters to arrange the schedule and facilitated the virtual event. At the conclusion, the agent coordinated the gift pick-up with the 15 mothers.

Below is a message from one of the mothers who attended the event:

“I just wanted to send a very sincere thank you to everyone that organized and donated to the online baby shower held on Tuesday.  I really appreciate all the information shared, as well as the gifts that I received!  I think this is such a wonderful event and I am so thankful for the extra support of materials that I will be able to use when my twins are born later this winter.  Thank you so much again!”