It is easy to get lost in the excitement of having a brand new baby. For a new parent, there is nothing like the feeling of holding their newborn baby to their chest, and being surrounded by their loved ones. Unfortunately, the reality of taking care of a new baby even a week later can be less joy-filled.
When the visitors leave, and friends and family resume their daily lives, the physical, mental, and emotional demands of new parenthood are often unimaginably hard and unspoken. Not only do birthing parents have to navigate potentially challenging deliveries—with Black birthers being six times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes—they also have to heal from the physical demands of childbirth. The Mayo Clinic lists myriad physical symptoms with a recommended rest time of at least 6 weeks after delivery before resuming typical schedules. With no universal paid parental leave in the United States, 6 weeks is not always an option for new moms despite the risk of additional harm and health complications arising from resuming work too early. Birthing parents must also contend with sleep deprivation and the isolation of caring for a newborn, with as many as 1 in 7 mothers experiencing postpartum depression up to 6 months after childbirth.
This reality—plus a global pandemic—inspired Jamie Taratoot to pay it forward for new birthing people. In March 2020, Jamie connected with a new mom in an online parenting group who needed a car seat. Jamie was happy to deliver her own as she no longer needed it. After talking with the mom, one thing was clear to Jamie: new moms don’t know what they need until the baby arrives. This is especially true if they don’t have a strong support network or the means to procure these items.
With the support of other moms, Jamie provided the same new mom with a baby shower’s worth of newborn materials in addition to the car seat to help her more easily navigate the crucial first three months. This kind gesture evolved into EveryMom Chicago, a nonprofit organization that believes every mom, regardless of circumstance, deserves to feel prepared, supported, and celebrated.
In partnership with local hospitals, community health care centers, and nonprofits, EveryMom Chicago currently connects over 330 expectant birthing people in underserved communities with new baby kits for the early weeks of parenthood. These kits contain newborn, postpartum, and breastfeeding essentials for families. Each kit was developed in consultation with OB/GYNs, nurses, doulas, social workers, early childhood development specialists, and current parents. The kits contain both practical supplies and a local guide to help connect families with other free resources across Chicago.
On Friday, July 11th, Co-Executive Director Crystal Logan and Program Officer Jessica Jones-Lewis saw EveryMom Chicago’s work in action at its monthly Kit and Community Night. During these events, EveryMom invites volunteers, community members, and their families to meet and mingle with Jamie and the organization’s board members over food, drinks, music, and immaculate vibes. Food for this particular event was donated by Chef Art Smith.
Once everyone had some time to get to know each other, attendees participated in assembling kits for new parents. All the materials were lined up on banquet tables, ready to place inside baby bathtubs which doubled as kit baskets. The kits are equipped with everything from infant soap, baby washcloths, onesies, board books, NoseFridas and baby toothbrushes. At the end of the evening, 32 volunteers had assembled over 100 new baby kits.
One of EveryMom’s board members, a labor and delivery nurse, took some kits back to Roseland Hospital after the event and hand-delivered them to a new mom and her baby. “When I walked in with the newborn kit, post-partum kit, and breastfeeding bags, her mother started to cry,” she said, “which made me and the nurses on shift cry. The mom had the brightest smile and was extremely happy.”
EveryMom Chicago is making a huge impact on the people they serve annually, but there is a pressing need to increase support for new mothers across Chicago. To learn more about EveryMom and how to support their work, visit their website.