CHARLESTON, W.Va. – New moms and moms-to-be took home some knowledge and some baby swag from Friday’s UniCare Baby Shower in Charleston. It’s the 6th annual event for the health care plan provider.
The event was held at the Charleston Civic Center where mom’s and their babies were treated to lunch, door prizes and information that could have a major impact on their child’s future.
Guest speakers focused on issues like safe sleep, substance abuse and baby health screenings.
“If one mom has one key thing that they do different or that they’ve learned to keep their baby healthy, then it’s all worth it,” according to UniCare’s Billie Moore.
UniCare is holding 7 baby showers around West Virginia this year. Moore said the goal is to help pregnant women, especially first-time, young mothers, get the help they need in order to be prepared for those first months as a parent. She says the knowledge UniCare is passing on may be the only time these moms hear it.
“They can be more confident in their ability to be a good mom and raise a healthy baby,” stressed Moore.
The baby shower also gave moms a chance to network. They shared their stories of motherhood such as tips on how to breast feed, quiet a cranky baby or pick up on signs of possible problems. It’s moms helping moms in a fun environment.
The knowledge they took home from the baby shower isn’t the end to UniCare’s assistance.
“We hope that we help them with those questions and then maybe later we can connect them with resources that they can go to if they have more questions as that baby grows,” said Moore.
She stressed the choices new mothers make now could impact that baby for life. That’s why it’s so important to get good advice and follow it.