TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The Shawnee County Health Department hosted its 9th Annual Heartland Community Baby Shower on Saturday, Oct. 14, with the goal of providing education and medical resources to local pregnant women.
Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods (HHN)’s Healthy Babies Workgroup organized this event after identifying infant mortality as a major health concern in Shawnee County. Safe sleep practices were a highlight of this year’s event.
“While our main goal today is to teach children safe ways to sleep, we also know that children are not alone in their journey to motherhood, and here are resources for the community to support them. There’s a lot of information out there, and there’s a place you can call and get information.” Shawnee Health Director Teresa Fisher said.
Safe Sleep Instructor Daniel Twemlow said: “We know that consistent safe sleep messaging is extremely important.” “Hearing it before birth, hearing it at other doctor’s visits, hearing it at the hospital, and hearing it when you take your baby for checkups are the basics of safe sleep. It’s a really important way to get the message across that it really matters.”
Expectant mothers had access to multiple health care resources. In addition, the health department provided free tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) and influenza vaccines to eligible mothers and caregivers.
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