Non-profit uses Elks grant to host first community baby shower

The Community Health Centers of South Central Texas Inc., with the help of a $2,000 grant from Gonzales Elks Lodge No. 2314, will host the county’s first community baby shower for moms to be at their administrative offices.

The original date of Thursday, Jan. 25 has been postponed due to flooding in the Gonzales area and a new date and time will be announced later.

“We’ve seen that concept work, particularly in our Bastrop area that we service, but here in Gonzales, we’ve never seen that happen,” said Rafael De La Paz, CHCSCT chief executive officer. “We’re really excited to be able to duplicate those efforts in Gonzales.

“The key thing was we had to have a learning initiative as part of it as well, so the moms can learn be able to learn something from us to be able to share it with their children as well,” said Sharon Smith, CHCSCT public relations/executive assistant. “So that way, early childhood learning is gonna happen at the home.”

Smith said CHCSCT has reached out to obstetrics patients being seen by family nurse practitioner Patrick Caldwell at the Gonzales center, as well as Wesley nurse Janelle Lester of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Inc. and the WIC Services Program (Women, Infants & Children), which offers nutrition education, healthcare screenings, breastfeeding support, and basic health screenings and referrals for mothers of infants and young children up to age 5.

Caldwell is expected to speak to shower participants about the stages of pregnancy, what to expect afterwards and how to find and seek post-pregnancy care, Smith said, adding that they will also include information and literature about postpartum depression and mental health from licensed professional  counselor Gabriel Gallardo.

Smith said there will also be information about dental care for both moms and children, because “after four to five months, they can actually start feeling around and making sure that their mouth is clean and teach them not to sleep with the bottle.”

WIC will share resources on how to get formula as well as proper nutrition for moms and babies. They will also discuss the WIC educational garden, which teaches families how to grow and prepare their own produce.

Lester, the Wesley nurse, will also be speaking to the participants about a six-week class she teaches about the stages of becoming a mother as well as providing information about the Texas Diaper Bank, Smith added.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Inc. is a faith-based, holistic health and wellness program committed to providing care to uninsured and at-risk individuals through education, health promotion and collaboration.

Local sponsors are helping make the event successful as well, said Debbie Marshall, CHCSCT regional client services manager. HEB has donated all the food for the event, while the Gonzales Healthcare Systems labor and delivery department has donated a door prize and will provide information on what these new moms can expect when they come in to have their babies.

Moms who come to the event will be given a diaper bag that includes a baby wash set, washcloths, hand sanitizer, lotion, facial tissues, a cup and several other goodies.

“The goal there is to educate them, but to keep them in Gonzales and to let them know, ‘Hey, this is here for you. This is what our labor and delivery department has for you. There's no need for you to travel to Kyle or anyplace else,’” Marshall said.

“In order for us to have change and better outcomes with our population and who we serve, there is a collection of resources that have to come together to move the needle,” De La Paz added. “As Debbie said, it's ensuring that these soon-to-be moms and recent moms know that there's resources in the community that are there to serve them.

“That is the key component of it. That's the educational part of it, but it's also a learning component of it, ensuring that that those mothers also understand not only there's education opportunities for them, but there's education opportunities for their children.”