Chattanooga, TN - On November 4, 2009, the Baby Basics Committee held the first-ever fall baby shower in honor of the women who have completed the Baby Basics program. More than 30 moms attended the shower with their babies,older children, and family members in tow. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the chance to spend the evening together.

We are so excited to have had the opportunity to celebrate these women who are making a difference in the lives of their children. Each of the invited moms has completed the Baby Basics program, a health literacy program designed by the What to Expect Foundation to empower pregnant women to access, understand and act upon healthcare information. Because rates of infant,child and maternal mortality are far lower for educated women, these women have actively committed to bettering the lives of themselves, their children and their families. The attendees enjoyed an amazing spread of homemade food, which was beautifully organized and presented by Active Ginger Birnbaum and made by the Baby Basics Committee. In addition, they played fun shower games, including Baby Bingo and a version of “Guess the Number of M&Ms in the Baby Bottle.” In order to accommodate the Hispanic moms and families, RE:START provided a Spanish translator, which was such a blessing! All of League ladies who volunteered were extremely helpful, and we truly couldn’t have put on the event without them.

The event was a well-deserved and much needed break for these moms, many of whom are wearing many hats at all times. Not only was the shower a great way to celebrate and honor these dedicated mothers,it was also a fun outing for everyone who attended. We are looking forward to an exciting and fun-filled baby shower in the spring!