The Berrien County Health Department is planning a Community Baby Shower for first-time expectant parents this month.
Dorothy Parker with the health department’s Nurse Family Partnership tells us many new parents don’t realize what kind of support is available to them in the community.
“So this would be a time for them to talk with a doula or talk with someone early on in case they may need that service down the road,” Parker said.
For example, Parker says the Nurse Family Partnership can provide pregnancy support and advice starting at 28 weeks of pregnancy and stay with a mom through her baby’s second birthday. A nurse can answer mom’s questions throughout that time. Another support Parker says not many people know about are doulas, who help a mom with the actual labor.
“They can work with them on breathing exercises to kind of ease the pain during labor.”
Both the Nurse Family Partnership and Birthmark Doula Services will have tables at the community baby shower. Others to be on hand include Berrien RESA’s Early On program, WIC, and the Michigan Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Program.
Parker says the event will also include a raffle, baby shower games, gift bags for each expectant parent who comes out.
This is the first time the health department has hosted a community baby shower, and if goes well, others could follow. The event will be on Saturday, May 17 at Mosaic CCDA on M-139 in Benton Harbor from 1 to 4 p.m.
You can register for the shower right here. Just scroll to the bottom of the page.
