Community Resources at Gunnison Valley Health

Community Resources

Birthing and Parenting Classes

• Gunnison Valley Hospital 970-641-1456
• Email Kelsey @ Kweaver@gvh-colorado.org
• The birthing classes at the hospital run every other month for 5 weeks at a time.

WIC (Women and Infant Children) Program through Public Health

• WIC is a nutrition program for:
  • Breast-feeding women - up to one year postpartum
  • Children until the age of 5 years
  • Infants
  • Non-breastfeeding, postpartum women (up to 6 months postpartum)
  • Pregnant women

• WIC provides:
  • Nutrition education including breast-feeding support
  • Nutritious foods to supplement both mother and baby’s regular diet
  • Screening and referral

Nurse Family Partnership through Public Health

• Nurse-Family Partnership is free program for first time moms. If you enroll, a specially trained nurse will visit you in your home throughout pregnancy and continue to visit until your baby is two years old. They can provide support as far as understanding resources available to you and understanding your child’s developmental stages.
• Enrollment: Any woman who is pregnant with her first child and meets income requirements is eligible to enroll in the program. To sign up call 970-641-3244, or ask any of your providers at any time during your pregnancy.

Gunnison Police Department

• Officers certified in child car seat installation are available to assist you. You may contact them any time before or after the delivery of your newborn for help with the installation of your newborn's car seat. They can be reached at: 1-970-641-8201.

Childcare in Gunnison

Choosing a daycare often is important to do as soon as you hit your third trimester so that you can get on one or more waiting lists. Most daycares in the valley are often full to capacity and there are very few infant spots. It is also important for most people that their day care is close by their home or work so that they can avoid driving. Here is a list of the day cares in town.

Private babysitters

Given the relatively few infant spots in the valley, and a high cost of living, many new mothers are either required to stay home until a daycare or preschool spot opens up, or find a babysitter. If you can find a suitable and willing family member who wants to snuggle a babe this can often be the simplest solution. It is strongly advised that you have discussions based on feeding methods and how to bottle feed before you choose your care provider. Having the care provider with you at the childbirth and new parent course is also advisable because some things have changed in the recent past. Formula for example was seen as advantageous over breastfeeding during the 1980’s. This is no longer the recommendation. If you are exclusively breastfeeding and pumping, have this conversation with your care provider before leaving for your first day of work.

If you end up hiring a babysitter here are some questions you may consider asking them:

1. Have you babysat previously? If so, please describe your experience.

2. Have you received any specialized training in childcare such as first aid/CPR, attended a babysitter course, or taken related school courses?

3. Do you regularly work/volunteer with kids? If so, please describe such as helping out with young dance classes, serving as a sports assistant, etc.

4. Are your immunizations current?

5. Do you have any health restrictions that could affect your ability to babysit?

Virtual support and inspiration

• Breastfeedingbasics.com
• Llli.org
• Aap.org
• Healthychildren.org
• Postpartum.net

Make sure to check out Monkey Goats for Gently used children’s items in Gunnison

118 W. Tomichi Ave.

Gunnison CO 81230

Another way to find free or cheap baby items is to post an ISO (In Search Of) on the Gunnison Marketplace on Facebook.

If you find yourself experiencing food insecurities, visit the Gunnison County Food Pantry.

https://gunnisoncountryfoodpantry.org/

Instagram pages for pregnancy and motherhood

• Some mom Instagram pages:

• A very cool Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist who tells it like it is: @Babiesafter35

• For fun- @Scarymommy

• For pelvic core/floor advice- @Jessicachastka_dpt

• For gentle parenting - @Parenting_fairly

Books

• Mindful Mom to Be by Lori Bergman
• Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson
• Birthing from Within with Pregnancy Keepsake Journal by Pam England
• What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood By Alexandra Sacks, MD and Catherine Birndorf, MD
• A note that may not be a positive or easy thing to talk about, if any of you are survivors of sexual abuse (as we are learning there are an astronomically high number of victims) this may be a very triggering time for you. Birth is a very triggering event for most women who have had this experience. Try to have this conversation with your provider, if they know they can better help you. One literary resource is:
• When Survivors Give Birth by Penny Simkin and Phyllis H. Klaus

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