Baby Boom

Expectant mothers from across the county got plenty of gifts from the county health department Thursday at the annual baby shower.

First they got a wealth of knowledge they could use to ensure their newborns would be healthy and well-cared-for.

Then they got an abundance of tools to help them keep their babies well-fed, active and educated.

About 16 moms showed up for the morning shower at Apalachicola's City Hall in Battery Park, part of an outreach conducted by Healthy Start, coordinated by Kayla Barber, R.N.

First came education, on everything from childbirth to breastfeeding, from car seat safety to bathing, diapering and swaddling and safe sleep.

David Walker, who directs the anti-tobacco outreach at the health department, spoke on the dangers of smoking while pregnant, complete with images of blackened lungs.

In a later interview, Alma Pugh, who works for the Healthy Families program, said cigarette addiction is one of the most difficult challenges the health department faces in working with pregnant moms.

"With cigarettes, it's very hard to discourage them," she said. "We give them a lot of information on the effect of drugs. We bombard them with information, and we can refer them for help. We do all of that."

Pugh said one factor in helping moms avoid drugs during pregnancy is that they are made aware the Florida Department of Children and Families has a drug-testing program that could subject the mom to sanctions by the agency.

"Our biggest problem is repeat teen pregnancies," said Barber, with teens ranging in age from 13 to 19.

The program also uses education to help moms avoid pre-term babies, which are under 37 weeks, with full term at 40 weeks.

Barber said that with four out of five expectant moms at the health department willing to consent to involvement with Healthy Start, the county is at the state standard.

"They have an idea about pregnancy, but they have a lot to learn, that's for sure," she said.

Teens who are married, with a father fully involved in their pregnancy, are not the typical situation, she said. "We have a lot of engaged people," said Barber.

Those young men who take responsibility for the life they have created are offered opportunities to learn alongside their partners. "We invite them to childbirth classes," said Pugh. "If they're in the home, we ask them to schedule it when the dad will be there.

"We listen to baby's heartbeat and dads love that," she said. "We try to pull them in. They're not excluded. It's their choice what they want to do."

Right now, moms can go to Gulf County and visit the obstetrics clinic held there twice a month, and which will soon have ultrasound. "Right now you have to go to Panama City," said Barber.

Women in Carrabelle and Lanark Village can go to Tallahassee, and transportation can be provided.

After lunch, courtesy of the Philaco Women's Club, served by Debbie Colvert and Anne Siculiano, Barber got the young women involved in a spirited game of Baby Bingo, where they learned info on pregnancy, and Name That Baby Tune, where they won prizes for knowing songs like "This Old Man" and other favorites.

The highlight for many of the women came with the raffling of door prizes, with everyone getting at least two prizes. These included portable playgrounds, Snuglis, high chairs, a book on "What to Expect the First Year," a Happy Giraffe bouncer, a Merry Monkey gym, breast pumps and more.

Each woman received a $35 gift certificate to the IGA (which specifically excluded alcohol or cigarettes) and a carnation for Mother's Day.

In addition to county health department programs that include WIC, tobacco prevention, and Head Start, community partners for the event included Seahorse Florist, Franklin County Literacy. March of Dimes, Community Action, Oyster Radio, The Times, Rotary Club and Philaco.

Healthy Start focuses on such topics as mom care, childbirth education, smoking cessation, bereavement counseling, breast feeding education and parent and child development education.

For more info, call the health department at 653-2111.