St. John's Regional Medical Center Maternity Educator Connects with Mothers

OXNARD, CA – May 4, 2020 – St. John's Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) is keeping moms connected to Mommy and Me support groups, even after classes were postponed following stay-at-home orders. During this already uneasy time, the St. John’s Maternity and Birthing Center wants to ensure moms feel supported and empowered.

Upon receiving notice that support groups would be put on hold, Tara Bradshaw, Perinatal Education Specialist, took it upon herself to begin reaching out to the mothers with phone calls and text messages.

"This pandemic has only increased the challenges and anxieties that mothers face on a daily basis,” said Bradshaw. “Now more than ever, it’s important that we continue providing our moms with support and encouragement to make sure they are taking care of both themselves and their baby.”

The Mommy and Me support group is a platform for moms to come together and share advice on childhood development, listen to one another, and connect with community resources. Despite not being able to meet in person, checking in weekly has allowed mothers to access these resources.

"We are proud of the adaptations that our team has made to ensure our patients are receiving the support they need," said Darren Lee, President and CEO of St. John's Regional Medical Center and St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital. "Continuing to provide the level of care our patients have come to expect has been essential."

The Maternity and Birthing Center at SJRMC offers a loving start for every baby and loving care for every mom. Our private labor and delivery and recovery suites are equipped with advanced equipment to ensure the safety of both mother and baby. SJRMC has obstetricians on-site 24/7, as well as highly trained labor, delivery, and pediatric nurses, to ensure that mothers and babies receive the highest level of care at all times.

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About Dignity Health St. John’s Regional Medical Center
St. John’s Regional Medical Center is a 265-bed acute care, award-winning facility. Serving Ventura County for more than one hundred years, St. John’s is the first and only Certified Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center in Ventura County and a recipient of the American Heart Association’s, Get with the Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. Designated as a STEMI Receiving Center, St. John’s is highly recognized in the community for excellence in cardiac care and has been named a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care by Blue Shield of California. Our Cancer Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, and our Integrated Breast Center is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. SJRMC houses a comprehensive Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, providing specialized care to the tiniest patients as well as a Beacon Award-Winning Intensive Care Unit. Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities. 

Learn more at dignityhealth.org/stjohnsregional.