Title: Community Baby Showers: An Outreach Event Targeting Low-Income Pregnant Women
Author:
Section/SPIG: Maternal and Child Health
Issue Date:
In 2004, the Alameda County Public Health Department’s Improving Pregnancy Outcomes Program (IPOP), a grantee of the federal Healthy Start program, began implementing an effective approach to reaching pregnant women by hosting community baby showers. In 2004, IPOP hosted four pilot community baby showers in targeted areas. As they became more popular through increased program visibility and word-of-mouth, attendance increased from four to 26 pregnant women, and from no fathers to six fathers.
Community baby showers are intimate, fun celebrations with three purposes: case finding of target area pregnant women for case management services; recruitment of perinatal health workshop participants; and linkage of pregnant women with maternal and child health services and resources. Additionally, a free nutritious lunch, cake, gifts and child care are provided at each baby shower. Evaluations show that the attendees: 1) appreciated knowing that there are people who care about them; 2) had “a lot of fun;” 3) appreciated the gifts and prizes; 4) learned “a lot;” and 5) want the baby showers to continue. As their popularity continues to grow in 2005, an average of 35 pregnant women participate in each quarterly baby shower.
The baby showers provide targeted women an opportunity to self-identify as pregnant without the stigma of being labeled “at-risk” for a poor birth outcome. In fact, the opposite is true — the women feel happy, uplifted and excited because their pregnancy is being supported with referrals to services, contacts with professionals who can answer questions, exposure to education and information, gifts, food and fun.
The showers also offer participants an interactive, group-based, pregnancy basics class in a pleasant and welcoming environment. Selected content of the IPOP Pregnancy Basics curriculum is highlighted, including: stages of pregnancy; risks of smoking and using drugs during pregnancy; signs of preterm labor; importance of good nutrition, exercise and rest; and referrals to resources. In addition, the showers provide pregnant women with: 1) opportunities to talk with a pubic health nurse and/or community health outreach worker; 2) referrals to case management care, perinatal education workshops, and resources they need; and 3) the opportunity to attend an event honoring and supporting them.
"It makes me feel happy because I am giving the mom an opportunity to celebrate the upcoming birth of her baby. Many times with the community we serve, a baby's birth is viewed as more of a burden than a joy. When women are able to show up at the baby shower, they are standing by their decision to have their baby despite all the obstacles.” said Yokia Mason, IPOP community education staff who facilitates the Pregnancy Basics portion of the agenda.
Throughout the event, the attendees enter raffles of baby gifts such as a bed/playpen, stroller, breastfeeding boppy, bouncer, baby bathtub and supplies, clothes hamper, diapers, diaper bag, baby clothing, books etc. In addition, each woman receives a gift bag filled with incentive items such as a Back-to-Sleep baby t-shirt, pedometer, water bottle, a booklet on fetal development during each month of pregnancy, and baby safety gadgets such as cabinet locks, electric socket plugs, etc. Shower game prizes also include gifts for the expecting mother such as a bathrobe and slippers, a grocery or department store gift card, spa bag, and manicure-pedicure gift certificate to
name a few.
Written materials are provided in a participant packet of information covering secondhand smoke and tobacco cessation, preterm labor, maternal depression, kick counts, alcohol and other drugs, a self-referral form to case management programs, a copy of the Alameda County Resource Guide, and an announcement of the upcoming perinatal education workshop series on Pregnancy Basics and Healthy Eating & Living for Mom and Baby.
According to IPOP health educator Dana Cruz Santana, MSW, MPH, some of the women who participate in the community baby showers have never had a baby shower during previous pregnancies or will not have one otherwise if they are expecting their first child. Either their families and friends lack the resources to have a baby shower, or the women have very little social support.
The community baby showers have attracted wide community support through monetary donations, as well as baby clothes and items, and volunteers who assist with the publicity and hands-on coordination of the event.
For questions or further information, contact:
Kay Adams, MPH
MPCAH/IPOP Health Promotion & Community Education Coordinator
Alameda County Public Health Department
1000 San Leandro Blvd., Suite 100
San Leandro, CA 94577
Kay.Adams@acgov.org