Somali-language prenatal program fosters strong bonds
May 3, 2016 12:34:53 GMT -5
Tanya Munroe and Alia Rawji like this
Post by Nupur Soni on May 3, 2016 12:34:53 GMT -5
A “centering pregnancy” program at Neighborcare Health provides prenatal care and community support to Seattle’s Somali-American population.
The mysterious underwater rhythm of an in-utero heartbeat is the signature sound of prenatal checkups. When I was pregnant, it was a ritual I looked forward to.
Now, four months after the birth of my son, I’m hearing that amazing sound again, but in a very different setting. It’s coming from behind a folding screen in a room full of women wearing brightly colored headscarves and mingling over sweet chai tea.
I’m at a Somali “centering pregnancy” session at Neighborcare Health, a clinic for low-income people off Rainier Avenue South. It’s a new approach to prenatal care, and the first Somali-language program of its kind in the country. It’s also an attempt to innovatively address significant maternal and child health disparities in our Somali-American population.
“I thought it was fun you know? Sharing information with other women and experiencing the same thing with someone else,” says Ayan Ali, 32, who is six months pregnant and a member of the group. “You get more time than regular appointments, too; you get to ask a lot of questions and talk to other women.”
Read more at http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/strong-bonds-grow-with-bellies-at-program-for-pregnant-somali-women/
The mysterious underwater rhythm of an in-utero heartbeat is the signature sound of prenatal checkups. When I was pregnant, it was a ritual I looked forward to.
Now, four months after the birth of my son, I’m hearing that amazing sound again, but in a very different setting. It’s coming from behind a folding screen in a room full of women wearing brightly colored headscarves and mingling over sweet chai tea.
I’m at a Somali “centering pregnancy” session at Neighborcare Health, a clinic for low-income people off Rainier Avenue South. It’s a new approach to prenatal care, and the first Somali-language program of its kind in the country. It’s also an attempt to innovatively address significant maternal and child health disparities in our Somali-American population.
“I thought it was fun you know? Sharing information with other women and experiencing the same thing with someone else,” says Ayan Ali, 32, who is six months pregnant and a member of the group. “You get more time than regular appointments, too; you get to ask a lot of questions and talk to other women.”
Read more at http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/strong-bonds-grow-with-bellies-at-program-for-pregnant-somali-women/