Healthy Start Coalition of Brevard collaborated with Discover Life Church in Melbourne, Florida and hosted a Community Baby Shower on Saturday, May 6th, 2023, from 10am to 1pm.
This free Community Baby Shower was for unwed, expecting mothers. They were showered with gifts, games, giveaways, light refreshments, and support from our local community!
Moms and those that attended were also provided with the following educational topics during the event:
Speaker from Brevard Cares: Sleep safety for parent and child
Speaker from Titusville Fire Department: Car Seat Safety
Speaker from WIC: Breastfeeding and Pump Education
Speaker from Renewed Counseling: Mental Health
Speaker from Essential Pregnancy Center: Her Story as a Single Mom
Healthy Start is grateful to the sponsors that helped make this event possible. Thank you to Essential Pregnancy Center and Sunshine Health for your generous sponsorships and attending the event, your sponsorships helped purchase needed baby items for the moms that attended this Community Baby Shower.
Thank you to the vendors that attended from our community and the donated gifts for the moms for this event. Among the vendors were representatives from Brevard Cares, Healthy Start Coalition of Brevard, 211 – Help Me Grow, Brevard County Health Department – WIC, Renewed Counseling, Titusville Fire Department – Car Seat Safety, and Early Learning Coalition. We are grateful for the support of our community agencies.
Thank you to Discover Life Church in Melbourne for planning, hosting, and seeing a need for our community. Thank you for all that you do.
Abbott is initiating a proactive, voluntary recall of certain lots of 2 fluid ounce/59 milliliter bottles of Ready-to-Feed liquid products for infants and children, including the brands Similac® Pro-Total ComfortTM, Similac® 360 Total Care®, Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive, Similac® Special Care® 24, Similac Stage 1, Similac® NeoSure®, Similac Water (Sterilized) and Pedialyte Electrolyte Solution. This recall is due to a potential for compromised seal integrity.
If a product is included in the recall, do not use the product. For all feeding-related questions or questions about your child’s health, contact a health care professional.
To identify if your product is included, please visit similacrecall.com to view a list of impacted lot numbers or use the lot number checker on the webpage. It is important to verify the lot number on the bottom or the side of the bottle as not all 2 fl. oz/59 ml product is included in the recall.
If you have questions, please contact Abbott’s Consumer Relations hotline at 1-800-986-8540.
For additional information, please call 1-800-551-5838 Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm EST to speak with a customer service representative.
While
we can’t say which way the wind will blow the hurricane, we want to ensure that
pregnant women and their families are taking the necessary precautions in case
things take a turn for the worse. It is vital to have a plan for disasters such
as hurricanes to avoid added stress on a family, especially during pregnancy.
These
tips should come in handy in creating a family communications plan so mom, dad
and any other family members involved know what to do as a team before, during
and after a hurricane or in an evacuation.
To begin with, everybody needs to have a Disaster Supplies Kit and secure any missing items if possible and make sure their cars are filled with gas, etc. But if you are pregnant or have an infant, it is important to plan accordingly.
Disaster Safety for Expecting and New Parents
Disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, and floods, can be unpredictable and devastating. Learn general tips to get prepared before a disaster and what to do in case of a disaster to help keep you and your family safe and healthy.
For pregnant moms, March of Dimes has
a recommended packing list found here. Make sure to pack enough bottled water to keep hydrated and do
not lift large or heavy objects – have a friend or family member help you. If
you are close to your due date, talk to your health care provider about what to
do in case of emergency.
For moms with
infants, March
of Dimes has many helpful tips for families facing emergency
situations:
• Keep a list of numbers that are important including your health care provider, case manager and hospital and keep a copy of you and your baby’s medical records and your baby’s immunization records. • Babies have an increased need during emergency situations for comfort provided by breastfeeding and it can also provide stress relief for mom. It is the best recommendation during hurricanes as you do not need refrigeration or clean bottles.
If you
are concerned about the health of you or your baby, contact your health care
provider or emergency room immediately.
After
the hurricane blows over, there are still many precautions to take. Do not
bring any babies or children into a home that has been evacuated from until it
has been checked for gas leaks, electrical system damage and sewage and water
line damage.
Watches and Warnings The National Weather Service issues a hurricane watch when the threat of hurricane conditions falls within 24-36 hours, and when conditions are expected in 24 hours or less a hurricane warning is issued. It is important to follow the advice of government officials and local law enforcement, so please listen when told to evacuate under their direction for the safety of you, your baby and your whole family.
Resources:
The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the nation’s only hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 (call or text 1-800-985-5990) to residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress or other mental health concerns related to natural or human-caused disasters.
Callers and texters are connected with trained and caring professionals from a network of crisis centers across the country. Helpline staff provide supportive counseling, including information on common stress reactions and healthy coping, as well as referrals to local disaster-related resources for follow-up care and support.
Brevard County, FL – In the face of the ongoing nationwide shortage of baby formula, the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions and its members are sharing guidance and resources to families struggling to keep their babies healthy. Coalitions are actively working with local and state partners to identify options for parents.
Recent reports indicate that 43% of the nation’s baby formula products are currently out-of-stock. The Healthy Start Coalitions recommend breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for babies, although they recognize that this is not an option for some families. Families should not water down formula mix, make homemade formula, or use animal milk or any milk alternative, as these can lack a proper nutritional balance and pose a risk to young children. The Healthy Start Coalitions are recommending that families who need to find formula look into the availability at smaller stores and pharmacies or try purchasing formula from reputable online sources. Families should check with their pediatrician about changing formula, or for any advice needed.
“We share the public’s concerns about the current nationwide shortage of baby formula, and we’re actively working with the Florida Department of Health, policymakers and community partners to help find relief for those affected,” said Cathy Timuta, Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions. “Our local Healthy Start Coalitions will continue to collaborate with local and state partners to help bring solutions to parents at this challenging time, and will provide local resources wherever possible.”
Timuta said families looking for additional information about best practices can find dependable, verified information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Locally, the Healthy Start Coalition of Brevard has identified the following resources for families:
Manufacturer Resources:
Abbott: Store Locator: https://www.similac.com/where-to-buy-similac.html Consumer Hotline: 1-800-986-8540 Customer Service: 1-800-227-5767, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST A physician can submit an urgent product request by completing and submitting this form.
Gerber: Store Locator: https://medical.gerber.com/storelocator/ MyGerber Baby Expert (www.gerber.com/mygerber-baby-expert) can connect you with a certified nutrition or lactation consultant by phone, text, Facebook Messenger, web chat, or video call, who can help you identify a similar formula that may be more readily available.
Florida Resources: •Florida’s Family Health Line provides local referral services statewide. They can be reached by calling 1-800-451-2229. •You may be eligible for Women and Infant Care Services (WIC) through the FloridaDepartment of Health. For more information on this resource, visit https://www.signupwic.com/. •Contact your local food bank. •Visit the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida (https://milkbankofflorida.org/) •Local hospitals may provide education, support, and resources to assist families.
For local information, please contact the Healthy Start Coalition of Brevard at 321.634.6101.
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About the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions
The Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions is a network of statewide partners committed to bettering the lives of Florida’s babies and their families. Learn more at HealthyStartFlorida.com.
