It was all about babies Oct. 15 during Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center's fourth annual Baby Expo.
More than 450 attendees strolled up and down the Fort Hood hospital's main corridor to visit the nearly 50 exhibits and educational booths that ranged from fitness and nutrition to swaddling and breastfeeding.
While first time dad, Gustin Patenaude said he enjoyed the fun part of the day competing with other dads during the diaper-changing timed trials, he singled out the car seat display as his big takeaway from the four-hour event.
"It was a pretty big deal for me," he said, "because of transfers and other things, plus I learned where to go to get car seat inspections."
One of the more popular booths was infant CPR and choking prevention.
Staffing the booth were CRDAMC nurses 1st Lt. Shannon Roemer and 1st Lt. Monica Yarborough who demonstrated proper revival and rescue techniques through teach and learn sessions with new parents. The also spent the day educating younger family members how toys and other household items could become choking hazards for their infant brothers and sisters.
The hand-on experience was a revelation to new mom Jess Cole.
"Based on what I just learned, I would have done CPR wrong," she said, adding that she also would not have known what to do if her 6-month-old son started choking. "He is getting to the point where he is starting to eat solids so it is a concern. Now if that should ever happen, I will know how to do it right."
Capt. Tim Conroy, who was with his wife and their 9-month-old daughter, praised CRDAMC for hosting the expo, agreeing with Cole that the CPR lessons were probably the most important resource at the expo.
"This is the first time I have seen infant CPR demonstrated," he said, suggesting that more emphasis on CPR, shaken baby syndrome and choking prevention should be included during childbirth classes. "It is so important to know."
According to expo coordinator, 1st Lt. Angela Imhoff, the event serves as a one-stop educational venue for new and expectant parents.
"We have so many baby-related resources within the community, as well as a great support system here," the labor and delivery nurse said. "It is really great that they are all here together."
Iola Marquez, who was there with her husband Ken and their daughter Viola, said she loves Fort Hood and takes advantage of everything the installation offers.
"I think it is really nice to have this information at our hands and here at the hospital because it is so convenient, especially if you need to ask a question," she said, adding that she is always encouraging others to check out the installation's Facebook pages for activities and classes.
Catching the attention of mother-to-be Katie Hinchey was CRDAMC's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit's photo display featuring NICU graduates.
Four weeks from giving birth, Hinchey smiled as she listened to CRDAMC nurse Alysson James share before and after stories of the premature and ill newborns featured on the display.
"This shows our moms-to-be that no matter how sick their babies are, there is hope," James said,
Overall, Hinches said, the expo was inspiring and boosted the first-time mom's confidence.
"I am leaving here today with so much more knowledge," she said, adding that what impressed her most were the CRDAMC staff and their eagerness to answer her questions. "They told me about different ways to do things, which I was grateful to learn because I never knew there were options. Overall, it was a very amazing experience, and I am so thankful I came here today."
Social Sharing