EMS & Injury Prevention System Branch

Becoming A Mother Workshop Series: Preparation for Parent Success

Joanne Viloria, Program Coordinator—Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii

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For parents, birth is a powerful event that leads to one of the biggest transitions in life. In order to help alleviate the anxiety, frustration or postpartum depression (PPD) many new parents commonly experience, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii (HMHB) has introduced a monthly series called “Becoming a Mother,” designed to help parents bridge the gap from pregnancy to parenthood with ease.

The workshop series highlights practices and principles that help moms: 1) Discover their inner guidance, so they can trust themselves, 2) Step into their power, so they can be confident, 3) Trust their baby, so they both can thrive, and 4) Develop social supports, because mothering matters.

Becoming a Mother” equips moms and dads with information and skills to develop healthy family relationships and parent-child bonds through five separate, but complementary, sessions. Along with a new routine and added responsibilities, the “Becoming A Mother” program prepares moms and dads for parenthood and assists parents in becoming more aware of PPD signs, support and management techniques. The proper tools for PPD identification and management will aid in preventing life-threatening injuries to both mom and baby such as intentional and unintentional falls and injuries due to not taking the appropriate safety precautions including car seat use, safe sleep best practices, and properly using electric outlet covers and safety latches.

The workshop sessions occur every third Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. through January 21, 2016. For more information, please visit www.hmhb-hawaii.org or contact the MothersCare Line: (808) 951-6660.