NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens Hosted Maternal-Child Health Forum for Expectant Moms and Their Families
Focused on Maternal-Child Health Cycle and Baby's First 1,000 Days
Nov 21, 2017
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens held its first Maternal-Child Health Forum to benefit young families in the southeast Queens community on Saturday, November 18. Presented by experts from the hospital’s Department of Pediatrics and Maternal-Child Services, the forum provided a wealth of information for expectant moms, parents, and young adults. A panel discussion followed the presentations and included participation from audience members. Attendees received free educational materials and giveaways, raffles, and a healthy brunch. The free event was open to the community, including patients, new parents, parents-to-be, caregivers, and hospital staff.
The forum was attended by approximately 30 members of the community and covered topics such as:
- The maternal-child health cycle before, during, and after the first 1,000 days
- Preconception information to think about before getting pregnant
- What a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy looks like
- Why breastfeeding is so important
- Nutrition for infants and children
- Safety and prevention during childhood
- Childhood safety and preventive health strategies
- Teen health and wellness
“As healthcare continues to focus on prevention and self-management of health conditions, forums such as this one are critical in providing a path to progress and enlightenment for all members of our community so that people can lead their healthiest lives,” said Chris Roker, Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. “We recognize the value of encouraging our consumers to take a proactive approach to their own health as well as that of their families. By examining and assessing the importance of a baby’s first two years of life, those who are starting their families can begin making positive lifestyle choices that will greatly benefit their child’s future development.”
Presentations included:
- “The Maternal-Child Health Cycle: Before, During, and After the First 1,000 Days” and “Promoting Early Childhood Development”, presented by Marcy Stein Albert, MD, Director of Pediatrics, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai;
- “Nutrition for Infants and Children”, presented by Gayle Lashansky, MD, Attending Pediatrician and Pediatric Endocrinologist, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai;
- “Preconception: What You Need To Know Before Becoming Pregnant” presented by Jody Goldberg, MD, Chief of Adolescent Services, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai;
- “Safety and Prevention in Childhood”, presented by Kathrin Balaoura, MD, Associate Director of Pediatrics, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai;
- “What Does a Healthy Lifestyle During Pregnancy Look Like?”, presented by Sherley Gebara, RNC, MHA, IBCLC, Associate Director of Nursing, Women and Children-Inpatient, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens;
- “Why Is Breastfeeding So Important?” presented by Barbara Holmes, MS, RD, IBCLC, Assistant Director/Breastfeeding Coordinator, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens.
“The period between conception and a child’s second birthday – the first 1,000 days — offers a unique window of opportunity to shape healthier and more prosperous futures and sets the stage for a person’s intellectual development and lifelong health,” said Marcy Stein Albert, MD, Director of Pediatrics, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Excellent nutrition combined with healthy lifestyles during this critical stage can have a profound impact on a child’s ability to grow, learn, rise out of poverty and become a productive member of society. If we move toward this time in a positive manner, it can reap positive results by fostering a community’s long-term health, stability and prosperity.”
In recent years, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens’ Department of Pediatrics has been working assiduously toward promoting a progressive approach to pregnancy, childbirth and child-rearing. The hospital achieved Baby-Friendly Designation in May 2014 by Baby-Friendly USA, Inc., the accrediting body and national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in the United States, for sustaining an environment that promotes exclusive breastfeeding. Earlier this year, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens was selected by the NYC Department of Health to receive one of the six Mamava units (a freestanding lactation suite) purchased by the agency due to our ability to maintain the highest exclusive breastfeeding rates as members of the DOH collaborative.
Sponsored by the NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens Department of Pediatrics, the Maternal-Child Health Forum was generously supported by MetroPlusHealth Health Plan and Healthfirst Health Care plan.