Parents-to-be can gather information at baby fair
BY JO-ANN LAMON RECCOPPA Correspondent

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - The perfect opportunity for moms and familiesto be to familiarize themselves with the maternity services in the area is to attend the annual CentraState Baby Fair, which will be held on May 8 from 6-8 p.m.

The event will be held in an expanded new location - the Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus on the west side of CentraState Medical Center, West Main Street, Freehold Township.

The fair will introduce the participating medical professionals at CentraState to those who are new to parenting, are expecting an addition to their family, or for those who have relocated to the area and need information to choose an obstetrician, pediatrician or family practice physician.

"Parents and parents-to-be come by to speak with the doctors and the maternity staff. It's a great way to get acquainted with the medical community and to discover the outstanding services available at CentraState," said Norman Back, M.D., of Drs. Back, Seigel and Goldstein in Freehold, who chairs the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at CentraState.

Maternity services are showcased at CentraState and tours of the First Impressions Maternity Center will be conducted during the fair.

"We have giveaways, door prizes and, most importantly, current information on prenatal, labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care. As always, representatives from the neonatology group will also attend if, God forbid, a baby needs that extra support," said Dawn Kline, R.N., director of Maternal/Child Health at CentraState.

All of the caregivers are open to questions and these are the actual people who work at CentraState day in and day out, and are part of its maternity staff - the reason CentraState has continued to set birth records for five years in a row.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for prospective parents to see the actual maternity services provided at CentraState," said Maryellen Dykeman, R.N., maternal/child health coordinator at CentraState.

"The tour includes a visit to the labor room and the chance to view the latest equipment in ultrasound, dopplers to hear the fetal heartbeat, and operating rooms in the event the baby must be delivered by Caesarean section," Dykeman said.

"There is also a wealth of advice on prepared childbirth classes, guidance in proper nutrition for both mother and baby, and information about breast feeding and bottle feeding to help moms make the choice that is right for them," she added.

The medical groups, hand-outs and free product samples from participating vendors such as Absolute Best Care, Arbonne International, Babies R Us, Bella Mia Designs, Bright Horizons Early Childhood Center, Foodtown, Health Care Depot, Ross Labs (the makers of Similac), Tastefully Simple and Viacord are an additional incentive to attend CentraState's Baby Fair.

Liz Jeressi from WJLK-FM 94.3 The Point will be on hand with live broadcasts from the fair.

The event is free and the first 200 women to preregister will receive a free Diaper Duo T-shirt. Call (732) 308-0570 for more information on CentraState maternity, pediatric and family medicine services, visit www.centrastate.com.