Helping babies go the full 40

With Dr. Amy McKeever, members of Chi Eta phi display their poster encouraging moms to help their babies go the full 40 weeks of pregnancy to be healthy. The students are (left to right) Merlyn Raymond, Ashley Phillips, Ramona Richardson, Sherrieka Bryan and Brittany Wyatt.

Amy McKeever, PhD, CRNP, assistant professor, is a women’s health nurse practitioner who shares her expertise, along with Elizabeth Petit de Mange, PhD, MSN, NP-C, RN, assistant professor, at Catholic Social Services’ Norristown Family Service Center. The pair work tirelessly promoting education for and teaching prenatal and postpartum women on the importance of improving health and enrolling in prenatal care early and continuing in prenatal care—all with the goal of having healthy babies. 

Dovetailing with this project were the student members of the College’s chapter of the service-oriented sorority Chi Eta Phi who participated in the Community Health Education Baby Shower for pregnant women as part of their service project. The student’s developed a poster and education program called “Babies Need Time: Go the Full 40” which is one of March of Dimes’ educational goals for pregnant women.

There were over 50 women at the event, most of whom were pregnant; some were in the early postpartum stage and most of whom were very high risk, according to Dr McKeever. 

The students were impressed with the services provided to the women and want to do more to help. Dr. McKeever was impressed with their efforts, “They are a great group of young women and I look forward to working with them again.” The faculty plan to take students to the South West Philadelphia and Chester Community Health Education Baby Shower in the summer—two other locations where they are heavily involved in promoting health for mothers and babies.