Community Baby Shower celebrates, educates families

To help Delaware families give the best start to their newborns, Christiana Care Health System hosted a Community Baby Shower in May at the Gateway Conference Center, Wilmington Hospital.

The special event, in partnership with the Delaware Division of Public Health, featured education on safe sleep and developmental milestones, along with baby gifts and drawings for prizes.

Christiana Care health ambassadors helped to connect new parents and pregnant women with health care services and other resources, sharing support and encouragement at information stations on nutrition, safety, breastfeeding and other family-focused topics, so babies and their parents can thrive.

The Health Ambassador Program, funded by the Delaware Division of Public Health, has hosted community baby showers in the city of Wilmington since 2013.

“We developed the Health Ambassador Program as a community-based intervention to promote health before, during and after pregnancy,” said Carla Aponte, program manager. “Our objective is to connect pregnant women and families to health care, social services and education to increase their health and well-being. The Health Ambassador Program is a concerted, community health effort to improve maternal and child morbidity and mortality.”