Hudson Valley Hospital Center Hosts Maternity Fair Sunday

There isn’t a universal guide on the market that mothers can just grab, skim through and pick up all the latest strategies on the child birthing process. 

Fortunately, the Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt Manor is hosting the next best thing on Sunday with its third annual “The Art of Having a Baby Maternity Fair.”

The event is intended to be a one-stop information source for women who are planning on, or thinking about having a baby. There will be a slew of resources available including financial planning advisers, workshops on pregnancy and parenting and tours of the hospital’s Maternity Department.

“The modern woman is looking to have an experience, not just have a baby,” said Randy Patterson, co-owner of Northeast Doulas.

Northeast Doulas, which has offices in Cortlandt Manor and Greenwich Ct., will be one of the organizations present at Sunday’s event.

“The modern woman has questions and is more willing to investigate what’s out there, rather than just doing what she’s told,” Patterson said. “We take months to plan a vacation and one to two years to plan a wedding. Imagine how long it takes to plan a pregnancy. Women are really asking essential, soul searching questions about what feels right for them during a pregnancy, rather than accepting the practices that are traditionally accepted in our culture.”

Those questions can range from whether they want to use an epidural to the type of child rearing philosophy they want to take on, Patterson said.

Sabrina Nitkowski-Keever, director of Maternal/Child Health at Hudson Valley Hospital Center, said the hospital has gradually expanded the services it provides for women during and following their pregnancy over time. For example, Nitkowski-Keever said that the hospital was one of the few around that provide water births.

“We have a breast feeding support groups that’s open to all mothers, not just those that we delivered in Hudson Valley Hospital Center,” she said. “A lactation consultant facilitates that group. That’s an example of the approach we’re taking to support mothers and the kinds of delivery experience they are looking for.”

One of the big draws of the fair is the Maternity Fashion show, which is sponsored by Kohl’s Department store.

"The fashion show will incorporate a digital flat screen we’re going to show the clothes the person was wearing before —in their husbands flannel shirts, or whatever—and what they look like now in the new clothes,” said Victoria Hochman, a spokeswoman with the hospital.

There will also be a panel discussion featuring ‘mommy’ bloggers and a  ‘speed dating’ panel in which woman can sit down with obstetricians and pediatricians and midwives to find who they click with.

Below is a list of some of the workshops that will be taking place at the fair Sunday:

Planning for your Baby 101 – Maternity experts from Hudson Valley Hospital Center and Northeast Doulas take you through the basics on how to develop your birth plan.

What not to Wear Fashion Show, sponsored by Kohl’s Department Store, host by WHUD’s Kacey Morabito Grean. Light lunch and refreshments served. Music by WHUD’s Street team

Margaret Rizutto Photography – Children’s photography, belly painting

Mommy-n-Me Childcare of Shrub Oak – How to choose the best child care.

Northeast Doulas – Information on Doulas and birthing assistants during birth and post birth

Healthy Culinary Creations – How to make organic baby food, meal planning for moms to be.

SafetyMom – Workshop on how to baby proof your home and life  before baby arrives.

Strategies for Wealth – Basic financial planning and protection for the young family. This will include but won't be limited to Life and Disability Insurance info on IRA's , Roth IRA's and College 529 Plans all the basics.

ICAN of Westchester (International Cesarean Awareness Network) – What you need to know about C-sections.