CHICAGO — St. Bernard Hospital on the city’s South Side stepped up Saturday to help women who are about to become mothers, and it’s all a part of their annual community baby shower.
“I’m due in October, October 2,” said Anisha Williams, a mother at the community baby shower. “Baby stuff has gotten so expensive.”
Williams is about seven months pregnant with her third baby, and before little Camira arrives, there’s a lot to be done.
That’s where St. Bernard Hospital comes in with their annual community baby shower.
“I recommend it. Ten out of ten, I recommend it,” Williams said.
St. Bernard has been running the baby shower for nearly a decade, primarily helping out the women from their own clinic, or neighboring ones around the South Side.
“We try to balance celebration with education,” said Diahann Sinclair, chief hospital support and community engagement officer at St. Bernard Hospital. “We have a nice meal, give a gift, and balance that with education on things we are noticing.”
Sinclair said that includes a range of topics, covering things like Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and Post-Partum Depression.
“You can’t take care of the physical without addressing the emotional needs as well,” Sinclair said.
And while last year’s event had one major surprise, things ran smoothly again this year, with some much-needed items being offered to expecting mothers.
“Last year, we had one mom go into labor during the event,” Sinclair said. “We have an array of gifts, they get to pick what they need … It’s really a variety. They pick what they want.”