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    Showering military moms-to-be

    HORSHAM, PA, UNITED STATES

    11.04.2017

    Story by Senior Airman Timi Jones 

    111th Attack Wing

    The March of Dimes, area Freemasons and Cigna, all teamed with 111th Attack Wing’s Airman & Family Readiness Center here to throw a baby shower for new and expecting military mothers across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, November 4.

    More than 60 mothers, who serve or are married to servicemembers, were in attendance to receive gifts which included, strollers, hand-knitted blankets, bottles and so much more. Tips were provided regarding stress management to help new mothers cope with life’s changes and challenges such as fussy babies, deployments and finances.

    “We did the work as far as getting together the roster of expecting mothers,” said Anna Richar, 111th Attack Wing’s Airman & Family Readiness program manager, “but they wanted to put this together. We just helped make it happen.”

    March of Dimes is known for their cause of aiding in research into prevention of premature births, defects and infant mortality.

    Ashley Custer and husband Staff Sgt. Robert Custer IV with 111ATKW’s Security Forces Squadron, welcomed their baby boy almost five weeks early.

    “Steroid injections weren’t needed for his lungs because he was so far along,” said Ashley, “He came out 5 pounds, 14 ounces and 19 and a quarter inches long. He’s doing well.”

    Luckily, their son only spent a week in the neonatal intensive care unit and is doing very well. For so many, an early birth can be much more trying.

    The Freemasons aided under their “Help for Our Heroes” program which was started eight years ago to give back to troops and their families. And while they did a lot, they wanted to do more. So, they partnered with March of Dimes to start throwing baby showers.

    “We thought when we started we would raise about $3,500 a month and we didn’t do it,” said retired Air Force Col., Harris Brooks. “We raised between 12 and $14,000 a month.”

    Military mothers deal with unique stressors that other mothers typically don’t encounter. They worry about the safety of their spouses; they deal with extensive time away from their spouses and sometimes there is minimal communication, if any at all; they stress about the special moments their spouse will miss, including the birth of their child. These stressors can contribute to premature births.

    The goal of these baby showers is to hopefully alleviate some burden off mothers who already deal with so much.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 11.04.2017
    Date Posted: 11.07.2017 12:05
    Story ID: 254432
    Location: HORSHAM, PA, US

    Web Views: 119
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN