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FORT BLISS, Texas – Fort Bliss held its first Baby Expo at the Soto Physical Fitness Center here June 29.
The expo was created to support expectant mothers and families by providing them with information about resources and services from on and around the installation.
Staff Sgt. Lauren Feick, the installation Pregnancy Postpartum Physical Training Program noncomissioned officer in charge, Division Surgeon Section, 1st Armored Division, had the idea for the event when she realized the need.
“I put on the Baby Expo because I wanted everyone to have this opportunity to see everything that’s available on Bliss,” Feick said.
Fort Bliss has many resources for mothers and families; however, they may be under-utilized due to lack of exposure.
“We weren’t lacking resources. We were just lacking the outreach,” Feick stated. “Every army post has ACS, every army post has OBGYN, right? But the fact is, they weren’t putting themselves out there.”
The Fort Bliss U.S. Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, the Pregnancy/Postpartum Physical Training Program, Holistic Health and Fitness Program and the Texas Department of Transportation all came together to support the event with booths and prizes.
The event hosted 32 vendors offering information and services for mothers and families. Outdoors there were a variety of food trucks to choose from, and in the parking lot, the Texas Department of Transportation set up lanes to check and install children’s car seats for free.
While attendees explored the booths and vendors, they could also listen in on educational seminars given by volunteer guest speakers. The speakers educated the crowd on women’s health, provided insightful statistics and answered participant questions.
Lt. Col. Danielle Molinar, chief nurse from the Department of Primary Care at WBAMC, spoke on the importance of maternal care and making sure that women in the military are educated and provided with proper resources.
“It’s important that we recognize this population, and this is an event that is centered around this population,” Molinar said.
Many mothers and expectant mothers appreciated the seminars. Sgt. Taylor Rodriguez, an expectant mother from 2nd Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Division, thought the guest speakers were the most impactful part of the expo, because of the information provided to new and expecting moms.
“It’s been really nice and useful information to know as Soldiers, especially as pregnant Soldiers,” Rodriguez said.
Overall, the event hosts considered the first Fort Bliss Baby Expo a success.
“As long as pregnant moms, postpartum moms and families are getting the resources that they need, I find that a success,” Feick stated.
She also said that the baby expo will become an annual event, claiming next year’s will be bigger and better.
| Date Taken: | 07.05.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 07.08.2023 08:17 |
| Story ID: | 448596 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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