Pregnancy angels’ wings do spread far
A Stratford-based pregnancy organisation is out and about to remind the region it is a Taranaki-wide service.
Pregnancy Help Inc. has been around for 40 years but some people have never heard of them. This is why it has dropped parcels full of baby goodies to Hawera’s maternity unit and is heading to New Plymouth soon.
Client services officer Gail Glockling and volunteer Raewyn McDonald visited the Hawera unit with 20 gift packs in their arms and gave one to Chantal Smyth and her baby Fraser, who was less than a week old.
This left the unit with 19 packs, which are handed out at the nurses’ discretion.
The maternity packs are full of woollen, cotton and fleece clothes and crocheted blankets for baby.
Glockling said the main reason for their drop off to Hawera was to remind people who Pregnancy Help was.
‘‘There are those that know of us and there are those that don’t,’’ she said.
‘‘We’re here for everybody who needs it, anyone who needs any form of help,’’ she said.
She hoped that by the time the maternity unit ran out of parcels, the word would have spread about the organisation.
‘‘When they walk in instead of being referred or over the phone, it’s nice to actually have a rapport with them,’’ Glockling said. ‘‘We say, do come back. And they do and it’s just so lovely to see the baby. And see how mum’s going, and if things aren’t too good we can then hopefully pick up on it.’’
Glockling said the organisation is using social media more. ‘‘We’re actually getting more proactive over Facebook, especially with the younger ones,’’ she said.
The organisation offers a range of things for during and post pregnancy.
‘‘We do maternity ware, bassinets, pregnancy testing, ante natal classes, baths, basics, and more,’’ Glockling said.
McDonald said they often have a lot to offer babies.
‘‘There’s 100-odd items, right through socks to singlets,’’ she said.
For those who wish to contact Pregnancy Help call 06 765 5042.
Raewyn McDonald, Gail Glockling handed Chantal Smyth and baby Fraser a wee maternity parcel.