Expectant parents connect with health experts at ‘community baby shower’ in Montgomery

Dozens of expectant mothers in the Montgomery area had an opportunity to meet directly with pediatricians and representatives from a variety of child and family health organizations during a “community baby shower.”

The event at Bellingrath Middle School was presented by the Montgomery Education Foundation’s Bold Goals Campaign and the Pages Over Pixels initiative by the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Multiple organizations were on hand to answer questions and share information about maternal health, early childhood development and family support services to new and expectant mothers.

“It really was a good day and the moms all left with some good resources,” Dawn Owens, director of the Montgomery Bold Goals Campaign, told AL.com. “They were so appreciative of everything.”

Owens said Saturday was the first time the initiative had come to Montgomery following earlier events in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham.

All attendees received diapers, wipes, sanitary products and books. The parents were also able to enroll in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free books to children from birth to age 5.

“There were moms and dads there and they had great questions,” Owens said. “To be able to be close to experts who have the information that you need is so valuable.”

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