Our Moms, Our Babies: Connecting Families to Maternal Health Resources

On December 11, Methodist Hospitals welcomed the community to its annual Community Baby Shower, Our Moms, Our Babies, at the Gary Public Library. The event brought together families and local organizations for a day of resources, presentations, and giveaways from multiple community partners, including Community Advocates of Northern Indiana (CANI).

Among those who attended was Deenoel Clayton, a mother of three, who joined the event with her seven-year-old son, four-month-old son, and ten-year-old daughter. Clayton shared that she appreciated being able to attend the event with her children and found the experience both welcoming and informative.

“We went around to different tables where they gave us different resources, from mental health to health insurance,” Clayton said. “They had a great healthy lunch for everybody, and we learned a lot through the different presentations — from safe sleep to mental health resources for women who are pregnant or postpartum. We also learned about breastfeeding and its importance. There were many presenters and a lot of information shared.”

CANI’s Outreach Director, Nicole Otis, participated as one of the presenters, leading a session focused on pregnancy and substance use. In addition to the presentation, CANI offered free behavioral health and BMI screenings for interested community members and shared information about the Luv Mom Program, which provides free maternal health support, including doula services, nutrition education, and safe sleep resources.

During her presentation, Otis discussed how substance use during pregnancy — including alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products, marijuana, and other drugs — can impact both maternal and infant health.

These conversations are especially important in Indiana, where the rate of smoking during pregnancy is more than double the national average of 4.8%. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight. After birth, infants may face weakened lung development or a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Community Advocates of Northern Indiana is proud to offer a wide range of services to support families before, during, and after pregnancy — including help with quitting smoking and accessing maternal health resources. To learn more or enroll in one of our programs, contact CANI at (219) 885-9755 or email info@canihelp.org.in.

Supporting healthy pregnancies and families takes a community. No one should have to face these challenges alone — and together, we can make a difference.