In recognition of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Safe Sleep month, Wyandotte County Unified Government released the following list of resources for expecting mothers and for mothers experiencing the lost baby or newborn.  

The Wyandotte County Fetal & Infant Mortality Reduction (FIMR) Community Action Team, supported by the UG, offer prenatal classes which include Safe Sleep education, and a Maternal and Child Community Health Worker, who provides one-on-one education and support to pregnant and postpartum women throughout Wyandotte County.  

In addition, The Unified Government Health Department provides “Healthy Families Wyandotte,”a program where pregnant women, caregivers, and parents can learn how to improve their health and their child’s health and development. The program is free and eligible for Wyandotte expectants, parents or caregivers with infants up to three months of age.

How the program works:

  • A personalized home visitor will visit participating families during pregnancy and/or after the child is born until the child is three years old. 
  • The home visitor provides support and education for families by working toward achievements, completing developmental screenings, and working with families on activities like making homemade toys.  
  • In addition, the home visitor works with families on safety, nutrition, personal health, safety, high-quality care for the child, and other health issues.

To learn more about Healthy Families Wyandotte, call 913-573-8855. For other services provided through the Public Health Department, including prenatal classes and prenatal clinical care, call the main UGPHD number at 913-573-8855.

Safe to Sleep

The National Institutes of Health runs the Safe to Sleep® program, which provides education and resources to help families and caregivers understand the importance of providing a safe sleeping environment for infants, to help reduce cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the sudden, unexpected death – that doesn’t have a known cause even after a full investigation – of a baby between 1 month and 1 year of age. However, providing a safe sleeping environment can lessen the occurrence of SIDS. 

For more information, go here: 

https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/.

Experiencing Loss 

AdventHealth in Shawnee Mission, KS provides a support group for individuals who experience loss of a pregnancy, infant or toddler.

The meetings take place on the first and third Thursday of every month, from 7 to 8 p.m.  in the Community Education Room, located at 9100 W 74th St, Merriam, KS.

The group also hosts “pregnancy after a loss”group with meetings held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, 7 to 8 p.m., also held in the Community Education Room.

For more information and resources, call (913) 632-4223.

Alexandra’s House, a hospice facility in Kansas City, MO, offers grief counseling for those experiencing loss of pregnancy or infant, and extensive support services for those in need. 

For more information, go here:ww.alexandrashouse.com or by calling the facility at (816) 931-2539.