Community baby shower provides resources

Seventeen community partners attended the annual community baby shower in the Coshocton Community Room on Aug. 7 to promote their programs in support of pregnant and breastfeeding moms. The partners donated 24 door prizes for the kids, and Baby Shark, sponsored by Coshocton Regional Medical Center, was there to dance with the kids.

Coshocton Head Start and United Way, Precious Treasures Preschool, and others handed out information about breastfeeding, nutritional benefits, healthy snacks for kids and coloring books. There also was a table promoting nutritional food with bite-size fruit and vegetable snacks.

"We encourage dads to come too. We want to support them as well,” said Brittany Taylor, director of Coshocton County WIC. "This years’ theme is 'Wild Fun.' We have a jungle theme and baby animal decorations. Baby Shark is doing a dance activity. At Coshocton County WIC, we want the community to know that we are a breastfeeding promotion program. We have our pink tent available today for breastfeeding moms to have a private space. We plan to put this out to the community, so if you see a pink tent at an event that says Coshocton County Breastfeeding Network Mom and Baby Nook, feel free to stop by if you need it and nurse your baby.”

Kristin Lawrence, the breastfeeding peer at WIC, put together the event to celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

"We are trying to shine a spotlight on breastfeeding moms because it is hard work,” she said. “I have breastfed all three of my babies, and I am proud of that. I think every mom should be. Every year in August, we celebrate breastfeeding awareness. This is my second year."

Tonya Webster is a WIC nurse.

"We are here for nutrition support and breastfeeding support for women who are pregnant, recently pregnant or breastfeeding for infant to kids age 5,” she said. “We are here promoting the program with information about our services for the community."

Tory Prindle is a registered nurse representing The Complex Medical Help Program. The Ohio Department of Health Complex Medical Help Program, in partnership with the Data Ohio Portal, empowers patients to find CMH medical providers by location and specialty through the new Complex Medical Help Provider Directory, which is automatically refreshed daily.

“It acts as a secondary insurance program, and it is very helpful, especially for parents who have high deductibles,” Prindle said. “It can pay for medications, doctors appointments, lab testing, as long as it's related to that diagnosis. We have a child health clinic at the health department, information on back-to-school vaccines, child education classes and prenatal class. We are giving away coupons, coloring books, and crayons and herbal tea, all kinds of goodies.”

The Coshocton County Breastfeeding Network meets monthly and was a big part of putting on this event.