With many expectant mothers in the Pottstown community experiencing challenges, Community Health & Dental Care and Family Services of Montgomery County recently co-hosted a Community Baby Shower to honor, celebrate, support, and encourage 20 new and expectant moms at Montgomery County Community College’s North Hall.

A March of Dimes Report Card for 2023 in Pennsylvania, showed:

• In 2022, one in 11 babies (nine percent of live births) were born preterm in Montgomery County.
• The rate of preterm birth in Montco is highest for black infants (12.1 percent), followed by Hispanics (10.2 percent), Asian/Pacific Islanders (8.4 percent), and Whites (7.8 percent).
• Lack of prenatal care. In Pennsylvania, 15.9 percent of birthing people received care beginning in the fifth month or later.

The Community Baby Shower provided pre-registered attendees with a warm and supportive environment, a lunch sponsored by Pottstown Hospital, and opportunities to meet with representatives from community organizations who provided educational resources and information about services to support the journey of motherhood.

Resources included education about the importance of pre- and post-natal care, car seat instruction, pediatric provider referrals, and more. With the support of generous donations from area businesses, each attendee received goodie bags filled with clothes, baby gear, diapers, gift cards, books donated by Mother Goose, and more.

Learn more about how Community Health & Dental Care ensures access to appropriate levels of care for all people in its service area, regardless of their ability to pay.