Author: Tiffany Bolinger
Planning Unit: Christian County CES
Major Program: Family Development General
Plan of Work: Inspiring the adoption of healthy lifestyle choices to improve overall well-being.
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Early and regular prenatal and infant care is vital for healthy babies. The US Census Bureau reported, based on their 2019 American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 22.1% of people are living in poverty in Christian County. For these individuals, the lack of income many times results in inadequate access to health care and resources. Combine that with a global pandemic and the health of expectant mothers and their babies becomes a real concern.
In response to the above issues, Christian County held a two part Virtual/Drive-Thru World’s Greatest Baby Shower on January 28th and February 4th, 2021. The Christian County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with Sanctuary Inc., Christian County Public School Family and Youth Resource Centers and the Christian County Health Department.
The baby shower was a free educational virtual program held on zoom 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, breasting and latch among many others. The “Ask-an-Expert” session allowed participants to ask questions to three local health care providers including a Nurse Practitioner, Registered Dietician, and Certified Lactation Consultant. Nineteen expectant mothers ranging in age from 20-38 attended.
Individuals who participated in the zoom and completed an online evaluation qualified to attend a drive-thru event held the following week. At the drive-thru even participants received prenatal and newborn supplies.
Post program evaluations showed that 100% of the participants found the information useful and 90% 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.
Some of the comments on the evaluations were: “This program is such a blessing to me!”; “Great Information! Everything was so helpful! Thank you so much!”; “I just love rehearing information. It’s been 3 years and you forget a lot!” Since having the event we were told that a few of the participants have contacted the lactation consultant as well as the dietician to schedule an appointment.
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