I am extremely excited to share UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge has formed a strong partnership with Blank Children’s Hospital to enhance pediatric care in our community. We have officially welcomed six full-time pediatric-trained nurse practitioners to our Fort Dodge team, who are dedicated to meeting the unique health care needs of children and their families. The Blank Children’s Hospital team provides inpatient pediatric and newborn nursery care in both Des Moines and Fort Dodge. These providers closely work with a child’s primary care provider and specialists during hospitalization.

The innovative UnityPoint Health partnership was created to help keep up with the increasing demands in Central Iowa, while expanding access and inpatient pediatric care to the Fort Dodge region. It also builds upon our already existing connection with specialists at Blank Children’s for neurology, endocrinology and pulmonology who provide outreach care in our pediatric clinic.

Additionally, our partnership with Blank Children’s Hospital has increased the number of classes and resources we can offer to help new parents prepare for their baby. We now offer additional classes on what to expect during delivery, tips on comfort measures during childbirth, breastfeeding, postpartum and so much more.

With children and parents in mind, I’m also excited to share we have recently launched a campaign called Donate A Diaper. The campaign is focused on giving back to the community, while also gathering important feedback on what the community has to say about women’s health services. Read below about the struggle and need for diapers within our community and how together we can help.

The Struggle

Some parents have to choose between paying rent, buying food, or having necessities such as diapers for their babies. For struggling parents, diapers fall to a low priority and programs such as food stamps and WIC (women, infants, and children) assist with the cost of formula and baby food, but neither cover diapers and baby wipes.

Crucial Need

∫ A healthy infant uses 10-12 diapers in 24 hours, and a healthy toddler uses 6-8 per day. In limited-income households, a baby may remain in a single soiled diaper all day, or sometimes days at a time, increasing health risks.

∫ Cloth is often not an option. Licensed childcare centers many times require parents to leave disposable diapers for their child/children.

∫ Parents who cannot afford to leave disposables with childcare providers often leave the workforce or quit school until their children are out of diapers.

How to Help It doesn’t matter if you’ve had a baby, where you had your baby or whether you’re planning on having a baby — UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge wants to hear from you and give back to the community! For every like, share or comment, we will donate a diaper to the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Kaden’s Kloset. Plus, we will donate a diaper for every question answered within the survey. Go to unitypoint.org/DonateADiaper to learn more and take the survey.

Leah Glasgo is president and CEO of UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge

Virtual Baby Shower

If you, or someone you know, is expecting check out the upcoming virtual baby shower we will be hosting in partnership with Blank Children’s Hospital.

‘Oh Baby! A Virtual Baby Shower’ Thursday, March 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The 90-minute webinar will provide parents information on: counting kicks, understanding birth, breastfeeding, newborn care, and baby safety. Participants will also be able to take a virtual tour of the maternity center. Everyone who registers and attends the virtual baby shower will receive a complementary baby bundle, with a value of nearly $50 courtesy of Mindful Beginnings/Kohl’s Care. Plus, they’ll be entered into a drawing to win a pack n play.

Sign up at unitypoint.org/OhBabyFD