By Andrea Robinson, The Miami Herald
Aug. 2–As baby showers go, the one at Central Broward Regional Park had the standard fare — music, food, games, prizes. But it also had a purpose — to keep South Florida newborns and infants alive and healthy.
A key reason: A black mother in South Florida is almost three times as likely as a white mother to have her baby die before he or she turns a year old.
The reasons for the deaths vary, so healthcare and social services experts want to give out as much information as possible.
Expectant and new parents came out in big numbers, many wanting to learn more.
Larica Jackson and Natalie Lalta, best friends from Fort Lauderdale and mothers of newborns, surveyed the stations where health and nutrition workers presented tidbits on traditional topics such as nutrition and breast-feeding and newer lessons on infant CPR, and fitness in-between pregnancies.
“I just want to get information on different things so I can educate myself,” said Jackson, who brought along 4-month-old daughter Kamaria Cook.
The baby arrived three months early and much of her young life has been spent attached to heart monitors and oxygen machines.
The countywide “Shower to Empower” is part of a community education program to help lower black infant mortality. Broward and Miami-Dade are among eight counties participating in the Black Infant Health Practice Initiative, to study the high incidents of black infant deaths in Florida.
The Broward Healthy Start Coalition hosted the daylong event as a way to “celebrate new life and make sure every baby gets off to a good start,” said Donna Sogegian, executive director.
Healthcare and social service workers in Miami-Dade and Broward want to improve the survivability numbers.
“This is a baby shower that means a lot to us,” said Francois Guillaume, Health Start finance director.
Data from the Florida Department of Health shows the number of black babies dying before turning a year old increased from 10.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2001 to 11.5 deaths in 2006. In Broward, the number of deaths rose slightly, from 11.01 in 2001 to 11.12 in 2006.
Between 2003 to March 2007, Broward County health officials examined fetal and infant deaths across the county in an attempt to lower deaths overall.
A November report found more than 40 percent of fetal and infant deaths in the county were preventable.
“Reduction of preventable deaths due to infection, SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), maternal medical causes, accidents and homicide would have the largest impact on overall perinatal mortality,” the report states.
Advocates point to likely culprits such as diet, obesity and lack of prenatal care.
Hildegard Oostuizen of Pembroke Pines said she follows strict orders from her doctor because of high blood pressure and kidney problems — under the watchful eye of her husband, Ludwig. Their baby is due late October and she is on bed rest through the duration. To show support, he took medical leave, too.
“Anything is possible,” said Ludwig, whose parents are from Suriname.
Organizers hoped for a good turnout. They got it, and then some.
The shower was supposed to start at 11 a.m. By 10:15 a.m. a line of expectant mothers and fathers, women with newborns and toddlers and assorted grandparents, siblings, aunties and uncles snaked around the complex in Lauderhill.
Veronica Nieves and boyfriend Michael Kirk of Opa-locka arrived in time for the first workshops. Nieves, whose child is due in late October, listened to the lesson about the benefits of breast-feeding instead of formula. Kirk sat in on a session on being a father in the 21st century.
“I want to learn anything I can. Maybe I can learn something my mother didn’t know,” Nieves said.
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