The Need: A Healthy Beginning for Every Baby
Preventing Pre-Term Birth
The Little Blessings campaign will help support the Maternal and Child Health Center’s pre-term labor clinic, where high-risk mothers receive specialized care, including treatment with 17-P, a medication designed to prevent pre-term birth. At the end of 2010, 42 women were enrolled in the pre-term labor clinic.
Help Endure a Loss (HEAL) Program
The Little Blessings campaign will help the HEAL program broaden and sustain its support for grieving families. Plans include new furniture for the HEAL room, such as a cradle, rocking chair and reclining chairs for sleeping.
Breastfeeding Education and Promotion
Of the approximately 1,000 women who give birth each year at Atrium, about half are first-time mothers. The Little Blessings campaign will help support breastfeeding patient education, especially for these “beginner” moms. The campaign also will ensure that Family Birth Center nurses receive the training they need to become strong breastfeeding advocates and coaches.
Family Birth Center Innovations
The Little Blessings campaign will provide enhancements for the Family Birth Center, such as a portable birthing tub for the growing number of women who want this alternative birth experience; devices such as birthing balls and bars to assist women in labor; a spa-like atmosphere for women in labor, including aromatherapy room diffusers, access to massage therapy and soothing music from CD/MP3 players; and screens to provide privacy for babies and families in the special care nursery.
More Resources:
- The need and how babies, their families and our communities will benefit
- Meet some of the people you’ll help
- Donate to the campaign