A "Berry" Important Message

Cone Health seeks to boost prenatal care with awareness event

Greensboro – Nearly one in four women in Cone Health's service area are not getting first trimester prenatal care. Folic acid is key in first 28 days of pregnancy for a child's brain and spine development; strawberries are a natural source. Cone Health worked to raise awareness about the importance of early prenatal care May 6 with a clever "strawberry patch" of babies.

The colorful visual served as a backdrop to obstetrics expert Ugonna Anyanwu, MD, who shared a list of reasons prenatal vitamins, diet (including strawberries) and other choices early after conception impact the child's and the birthing parent's health.

"We want to see pregnant patients earlier so we can address unknown and unexpected conditions," says Dr. Anyanwu, "and when you're under our care in the first trimester, we can detect early warning signs. This helps us start the journey earlier to achieve the goals of having a healthy mother and baby."

Linda Aydelette, a community volunteer whose church group crochets and knits handmade gifts for Cone Health patients, celebrated with the parents and "patch of babies." She shared how her group of needle crafters at Alamance Presbyterian Church have made thousands of hats for Cone Health in the last five years. The Community Services Group at First Presbyterian Church also made the strawberry-themed tummy time quilts for the event.

"We wanted something attention-getting and memorable," says Jo B. Andrews, APR, Marketing Manager for Women's Services. "Strawberries are fun and our community volunteers helped by knitting handmade hats to create the 'strawberry patch'."