Baby supply drive kicks off Baptist Health's 100 Days of Service centennial celebration
PADUCAH, KY (January 25, 2024) - Moms and babies are the first recipients in Baptist Health’s 100 Days of Service campaign that marks the health system’s centennial. Baptist Health Paducah physicians and staff gathered diapers and baby supplies that were delivered to The Hope Clinic in Benton and Eddyville on Jan. 23, Maternal Health Awareness Day.
The 100 Days of Service celebration is off to a great start with the collection of 3548 diapers, 5906 wipes and bottles of baby wash and rash cream to donate to The Hope Clinic, which provides free and confidential assistance to mothers and their babies.
“By donating these diapers and wipes to such a wonderful organization that helps the community, Baptist Health employees are giving back,” said Rhonda Draper, Maternal Nurse Navigator. “It is about showing love and support.”
The drive was a natural for hospitals ranked #1 in Kentucky for delivering babies – 1 in every 4 babies are born at a Baptist Health hospital. Bins were placed around Baptist Health Paducah earlier this month to collect the supplies that were delivered Tuesday.
“Maternal well-being affects the health of future generations and has been identified as a top health need in our communities,” said Blair Tolar, MD, a Baptist Health Medical Group OB/GYN in Paducah who chairs the Women’s and Newborn Care service line for Baptist Health. “Our service line team, with members from each hospital, works to improve maternal and fetal health, prepare new parents, ease birth, and encourage breastfeeding – among other efforts.”
Maternity care has come a long way since the 1920s, when moms delivered their babies while under anesthesia, stayed in the hospital for 10 to 14 days and often went home by ambulance. Today, women work with their provider on a birth plan, room-in with their baby and typically go home after two days following vaginal childbirth.
Baptist Health’s mother-baby services received a major shot in the arm in 2023, with a record gift of $5 million from the Louisville-based Kosair for Kids charity to support expecting moms from pregnancy through postpartum. In recognition, the maternal health service line was named “Baptist Health Mother & Baby Care supported by Kosair for Kids.”
As the 100 Days of Service celebration continues, Baptist Health Paducah will offer free heart health screenings and more at the W.C. Young Community Center in Paducah on Saturday, Feb. 24 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.