Welcoming a new baby is an exciting milestone, but it can also come with unexpected challenges. Through its Healthy Parent, Happy Baby Initiative, MetroWest Shared Public Health Services (MWSPHS) is working to ensure that families across the region have access to the education, resources and support they need during pregnancy and throughout the postpartum period.

On June 30, MWSPHS hosted its third Community Baby Shower in Ashland, bringing together more than 100 registered attendees for a free event designed to celebrate and support new and expecting parents. Families from across the MetroWest region attended to connect with local organizations, learn about available services and access essential baby supplies.

Since launching the Healthy Parent, Happy Baby Initiative in the spring of 2025, MWSPHS has hosted three Community Baby Showers in communities across the MetroWest region, creating opportunities for hundreds of families to access free resources, connect with local organizations and build supportive relationships during pregnancy and early parenthood. Each event continues to grow, reflecting both the community’s need for maternal health resources and the strength of local partnerships that make these events possible.

Each attendee received a custom tote bag filled with newborn essentials, along with a folder containing maternal and family health resources available throughout the region. To ensure information was accessible to all families, resource materials were offered in multiple languages, helping connect parents with services available before, during and after pregnancy.

One of the most popular features of the event was the Community Baby Boutique. Stocked entirely through generous community donations, the boutique offered baby clothing, formula, diapers, wipes and other essentials. Rather than distributing pre-packed items, families were invited to browse and choose the products that best met their own needs, creating a shopping experience that is both empowering and enjoyable.

While the Community Baby Shower is often the most visible part of the initiative, it is just one component of MWSPHS’s broader commitment to improving maternal and child health across the MetroWest region. The Healthy Parent, Happy Baby Initiative also offers free childbirth education classes in English, Portuguese and Spanish, weekly virtual postpartum support groups led by trained doulas, and ongoing connections to community resources that help families navigate pregnancy, parenthood and available support programs in Massachusetts. By combining education, resource navigation and community partnerships, the initiative aims to reduce barriers to care while helping families feel informed, supported and connected from pregnancy through early parenthood.

The success of this year’s baby shower would not have been possible without the support of community partners, volunteers and donors who generously contributed their time and donations to help make the event a welcoming experience for every family.

MWSPHS looks forward to continuing to expand these efforts and ensuring that families across the region have access to the information, resources and support they need to thrive. To learn more about the Healthy Parent, Happy Baby Initiative, upcoming programs, or future Community Baby Showers, visit the MetroWest Shared Public Health Services website or follow MWSPHS on Facebook and Instagram.