Every week, local parents are taking free classes to increase their knowledge on healthy pregnancy and safe infant care practices. The classes are part of Baby Talk, a free prenatal education program that just marked its 10-year anniversary celebrating efforts to reduce infant mortality in Kansas.

“Baby Talk has served nearly 3,000 pregnant persons and engaged with countless support people,” Brian Pate, M.D., chair of the Department of Pediatrics at KU School of Medicine-Wichita, said during an anniversary celebration at Exploration Place.

Each week, Baby Talk hosts 10-13 free classes for expecting parents, all taught by nurses with maternal infant health expertise, Pate said. The classes cover topics ranging from how to have a healthy pregnancy, labor and delivery, feeding and infant health, and postpartum health. In 2017, Baby Talk hosted its first Spanish-language class and has since served more than 400 Spanish-speaking families.

“What’s even more impressive, are the outcomes experienced by those served by the Baby Talk program,” said Cari Schmidt, Ph.D., director of pediatrics research and the Center for Research for Infant Birth & Survival at KU School of Medicine-Wichita. “Participants had a 36% lower risk of preterm birth than the general population. In addition, almost all participants, 95% or more, initiated breastfeeding, followed safe sleep practices, attended their postpartum checkup and ensured their baby attended their first checkup.”

Participants in the program, which is aimed at those who are under 32 weeks of pregnancy, receive free infant care supplies and resources for attending all six sessions offered.

Baby Talk is supported by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as well as CRIBS. The program is managed by the Department of Pediatrics at KU School of Medicine-Wichita. Funding for Baby Talk, which partners with the Wichita Black Nurses Association, has also come from Aetna Better Health of Kansas, the Kansas Children’s Foundation, the Wichita Medical Research & Education Foundation, Enterprise Holdings Foundation, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open Benefitting KU Wichita Pediatrics.

By the Numbers

Baby Talk has:

1 – One community vision for improving birth outcomes

6 – Current partner locations

8.4% – Sedgwick County participants reporting a preterm birth, compared to 11.5% of county births

13 – Current nurse instructors

23% – Participants referred by friends and family

49 - Kansas counties served (out of 105)

95% – Participants who initiate breastfeeding and follow safe infant sleep practices

100% – Participants who rate the program good to excellent

2,838 – Pregnant persons served

Baby Talk Awards

The following were honored during Baby Talk’s 10-year anniversary celebration:

Legendary Awards:

• Wesley Medical Center - Amanda Smith, practice manager for Wesley Women’s Care
• Ascension Via Christi - Grace Krizek, RN, BSN, RN educator
• HealthCore - Rachel Cheek, women’s health nurse practitioner
• KU School of Medicine-Wichita Department of Pediatrics - Brian Pate, M.D., chair
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Equity Awards:

• Wichita Black Nurses Association - Ariel Washington, family support advocate
• Aetna Better Health of Kansas - Dawn Cubbison, community outreach coordinator
• Hunter Health

Partner Awards:

• Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation - Peggy Johnson, executive director
• Enterprise Mobility - Renee Encerti for Enterprise Mobility with Davis-Moore Auto Group, marketing director
• Kansas Children’s Foundation - Celia Cayless, executive director
• The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open Benefitting KU Wichita Pediatrics - Stephanie Kuhlmann, D.O., board member

Learn more

Visit the Baby Talk website for more information, and see the Flickr photo album from the anniversary celebration.