Adriana was expecting her first child when she separated from her husband. Suddenly she was not only dealing with the stress of becoming a first-time mother, but a single mom.
She was referred to the United Way-funded Centering Pregnancy program at Sixteenth Street Community Health Center and soon her fears began to subside. Moms who participate in the group prenatal care program learn ways to cope with stress and develop a support network of other pregnant women.
“Adriana was quiet when she first came to the program, but as she began taking classes, her self-confidence increased,” says program coordinator Laura Vargas.
Group prenatal care has proven effective in improving birth outcomes, especially incidence of preterm labor and delivery – the leading cause of infant mortality.
In 2011, United Way of Greater Milwaukee made reducing infant mortality a priority, and is committed to raising awareness about the issue.
As part of the Centering Pregnancy program, expectant mothers are taught about nutrition, fetal growth and development, mental health, family and parenting, labor, baby care, postpartum care, infant growth and returning to work or school.
Adriana knows she will have the skills to care for her new daughter, Alexandra, in future years and now she is even mentoring other new moms.
Learn more about United Way’s Healthy Birth Initiative.