Mega Doctor News
The third annual Baby Bump & Beyond Expo, hosted by The Maternity Center at STHS McAllen and STHS Edinburg will offer insight, education and resources to help expectant and new moms with their motherhood concerns
From witnessing a baby’s first smile, coo and laugh to watching them grow and develop, becoming a mother is an exhilarating experience.
However, it can also be stressful, especially for first-time moms.
From moments of self-doubt and worry about their ability to parent effectively to the weight of caring for a child, managing a household and balancing work responsibilities, mothers can experience significant stress and anxiety.
Studies indicate that about half of all expectant mothers express nervousness or fear about motherhood, with one in four feeling completely daunted by the prospect, per The Bump.
Meanwhile, 20% of women experience maternal anxiety disorders, according to the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, with the highest rates occurring during early pregnancy (25.5%).
“From pre-birth worries and postpartum concerns to the ongoing challenges of parenting, it’s common for women to experience stress and anxiety related to motherhood. The important thing to remember is that nervousness surrounding motherhood is normal,” says Leticia Sosa, MSSW, LCSW, LCDC-I., KAP, CLYL, EMDR- Therapist, Director of Outpatient Services, South Texas Health System Behavioral. “By educating yourself about the challenges, expectations and common experiences of motherhood, you can be better prepared while feeling less overwhelmed and more confident.”
So, to help relieve some of the anxiety and stress that comes with preparing for childbirth and parenthood, The Maternity Center at South Texas Health System McAllen and STHS Edinburg will host its third annual Baby Bump & Beyond Expo on Saturday, August 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Taking place at STHS McAllen, the free community event will include special presentations that address the many concerns about the labor and delivery process, caring for an infant and maintaining your own mental health after they’re born.
Topics will include infant health, breast-feeding, care post-delivery, adjusting to parenting and postpartum depression.
“Through our annual Baby Bump & Beyond Expo, The Maternity Center at STHS Edinburg and STHS McAllen hope to better prepare Rio Grande Valley women for motherhood,” says Tom Castañeda, System Director of Marketing & Public Relations, South Texas Health System. “Expectant and new mothers will have the opportunity to hear from healthcare professionals on a variety of subjects related to pregnancy, labor and delivery and the life adjustments required due to the arrival of their new bundle of joy. And they’ll get the chance to get answers to their most pressing questions in a room with women experiencing the same excitement and anxiety.”
The expo will also feature healthy cooking demonstrations, pregnancy- and post-pregnancy-safe exercise classes, no-cost health screenings, raffle prizes and a community resource expo featuring community organizations, agencies and businesses providing important services to expectant and new moms.
In addition, attendees will have an opportunity to tour The Maternity Center at STHS McAllen, as well as learn more about The Maternity Center at STHS Edinburg.
“They say that preparation is key. That’s especially true when it comes to the arrival of a new addition to your family,” says Castañeda. “By taking a hospital maternity tour, moms-to-be will get all the information they’ll need to make their day of delivery go as seamlessly as possible, including learning where to report they arrive at the hospital in labor, becoming more acquainted with the setup of the facility’s delivery and postpartum rooms, nursery and waiting rooms, and meeting some of the labor and delivery nurses and staff who may be working when you go into labor and give birth. It’s all important information that can help reduce an expectant mom’s stress levels when they rush to the hospital.”
For more information on STHS McAllen’s Baby Bump & Beyond Expo, visit the STHS Facebook Events page or call the STHS Marketing Department at (956) 388-2020.
| Who: | South Texas Health System McAllen |
| What: | Baby Bump & Beyond Expo |
| When: | Saturday, August 23, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Where: | South Texas Health System McAllen301 W. Expressway 83McAllen, TX 78503 |
