The Life Impact Center of the Jireh Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Hill, in collaboration with the Community Services Planning Unit, held an event on the afternoon of Saturday, January 3rd to show continued support for families of Anguilla, particularly in light of the care of expectant and new mothers, as well as the development of babies and toddlers.
The programme, dubbed “From Bump to Toddler”, brought together a group of local care specialists from the medical, nutritional, nursing, midwifery, massage therapy, pediatrics and general baby/mother care fields, who made presentations on the roles they play in the birth and development of babies and the care provided for their mothers.
Coordinator of “From Bump to Toddler” is Jeneville Smith, Ministerial Assistant in the Ministry of Social Development and one of the Directors of the church’s Life Impact Centre. In welcoming the gathering of mothers and potential parents, Ms. Smith stated: “This gathering today was created specifically as a space of baby-care support and connection. Whether you are an expecting mother or father, or the parent of a young child, you are welcomed here this afternoon.”
“Today, we wish to remind families that they are not alone,” She continued. “This caring support exists for your benefit.”
Ms. Smith introduced Mrs. Verlyndah Hodge, who presented herself as a Caribbean Doula – one who provides intimate care particularly to the pregnant mother and who renders afterbirth services. “The word ‘doula’ means a woman who serves,” Mrs. Hodge explained. “Currently, I am the only official doula in Anguilla, and what I do is to provide emotional and educational support for women who are pregnant or who want to become pregnant. I also provide family support as far as pregnant mothers are concerned.”
Of importance, she noted that she is not medically trained however, and she cannot and will not provide any form of medical advice.
Speaking from a mid-wife perspective was Nurse Chika Okpoagu-Igbokwe. She is a community midwife attached to the Central Polyclinic. “As a midwife, I advocate for mother and baby,” she said. “My job is to support mothers or potential mothers who are pregnant, while they are in labour and after they have delivered.”
She stressed that one of her prime roles is to provide health education to the pregnant mother, relative to the various changes that the body undergoes while the baby develops inside the womb. “And at the time of delivery,” she said, “I would help the mother and guide her on making the best of the delivery process, whether it is by natural means or cesarean-section birth.”
Nurse Chika also mentioned that as a midwife she conducts home visits to new mothers in order to ascertain that the healing is progressing unhindered and to make sure that there are no psychological issues or environment conditions that may be affecting the mother and the new-born.
Registered Dietitian, Timara Gabriel, gave a brief address on the part she plays in making sure that the baby is properly fed during the first few months of development, paying particular attention to the mother’s diet.
“We focus on providing nutritional information before, during and after pregnancy for both the mother and the father,” she said. “One very important form of feeding for the new baby that we place emphasis on is breast feeding,” she said, “but we also educate and advise new parents on complimentary feeding after the first six months.”
She said that in order to obtain information on nutrition, she is inviting expectant mothers and fathers, as well as parents with babies, to visit her at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Further, she promoted the community-based nutritionists at the various clinics across the island.
Another speaker at the event was Ms. Gleneva Hodge, Founder of the relatively new organization, GLH Productions. It provides mothers and their new born babies with essential items needed for the baby’s wellbeing. “One of the initiatives of GLH Productions is called ‘First Starts’ where we provide essential baby kits to all new born babies on Anguilla,” she said.
She noted that any mother who would have had a baby born between November 2024 and November 2025 would have been the recipient of a lovely kit containing the prime items needed for new-born babies. She displayed the items contained in a baby’s bath tub packed with baby’s essentials, and noted that the kit is presented to the mother upon delivery.
“Each baby born in Anguilla is entitled to one of these kits…This initiative is made possible through the kind sponsorship of the Government of Anguilla as well as private partners to whom I am eternally grateful,” Ms. Hodge remarked.
She explained that due to certain logistics there had been an imminent pause after November in presenting the baby kits, but that come February, the issuance of these essential kits will resume again.
Baby Massage Therapist, Paula O’Connor made her presentation as she introduced her massage practice doll, Nora. “Using her doll,” she said, “I instruct the parents how to massage their baby, even though I do not actually massage the doll itself. My instructions are typically demonstration exercises.”
Ms. O’Connor then presented information on topics such as “Bonding Through Touch” and “Reading Baby’s Cues”. She explained the importance of the baby’s bonding process through actions such as eye contact, touch and cues that are developed even while the baby is still in the womb.
Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Dr. Kareema Matthews, spoke on the medical care and treatment that she provides for pregnant mothers and developing babies. “In my role I do everything from pre-conception counseling on matters such as infertility which can be treated with hormonal therapy or the more costly intravitreal fertilization treatment.
“While intravitreal fertilization is not carried out here on the island,” she said, “we can start the process locally and refer the expecting mother to doctors in Barbados with whom we partner.”
Dr. Matthews also mentioned her practice of working hand in hand with midwives, both at the hospital and at the local clinics, thus providing optimum attention and support for mothers and babies.
Following the presentations, the mothers and fathers present as well as others who were interested were encouraged to visit the various booths to speak with the specialists, and to receive pertinent information relative to their maternal and paternal interests.
On behalf of the Directors of Life Impact Centre, Ms. Jeneville Smith thanks the church for its cooperation and funding, and she expresses her gratitude to contributing local businesses.
