SALISBURY — The pregnancy process is daunting enough, so even a little assistance can go a long way.

Communities in Schools Rowan County and Novant Health aimed to address pregnancy and new mother shortfalls with a Rock-a-Bye Baby Jam on Saturday at the Salisbury Civic Center.

Various pediatric-focused nonprofits from around the community were on site to illuminate available resources and help expectant mothers and new mothers navigate the birthing process.

Misty Bowers-Eagle was one of the mothers who was at the civic center on Saturday. She is expecting her fifth baby in April.

“(The organizations) are all pretty helpful,” Bowers-Eagle said. “Like Novant Health, they have the Carolina Women’s Health (OB-GYN), and they have great doctors through them.”

The expectant mother also was excited about eventually signing her new child up for Smart Start’s partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

“As soon as your baby is born, you can sign up, and they give you free books every six months until they are five years old,” Bowers-Eagle said.

She is also interested in exploring a pregnancy route that would be a first for her — doula services.

Harvard Health Publishing from Harvard Medical School describes the difference between a midwife and a doula on its website.

“Unlike midwives, doulas don’t perform any medical tasks,” the website says. “Their main role is to help laboring women remain comfortable and calm using various methods, including suggesting comfort measures and optimal positions for labor and pushing.”

The holistic aspect of doula-assisted pregnancies appealed to Bowers-Eagle.

There were at least a couple of doulas at the event on Saturday. Deja Black is the owner and founder of Agape Labor of Love Doula Services.

“A doula provides support for expecting mothers,” Black said. “We help them during their pregnancy and labor process. We help with birth planning and comfort measures and basically give them support and advocacy through their process. We know that pregnancy and labor is a scary thing, but it is a very beautiful thing. My job is to make sure they have a safe, healthy and happy environment to have those babies in.”

Black got into her line of work through her studies.

“My background is in public health, and during my graduate studies, I researched a lot into maternal health and mortality, and just seeing the numbers pushed me and motivated me to be that support person for mothers,” Black said. “I just wanted to be an advocate and support system for mothers. That is what drives me.

“My goal is to make sure they know there are resources out there to help them and support them. A lot of people don’t know about us as doulas and what we do and provide. One of my mottos that I like to say is ‘Everyone deserves a doula.’ Everyone deserves that support system. It’s not just for the moms. It’s also for their partners and support people because as a collective, they all are one, and they all have that support system.”

While she is based in Charlotte, she serves the surrounding areas, including Salisbury.

Anansa Lattimore, another doula, was also there. Lattimore is a certified doula who offers a variety of services, including education, advocacy, comfort measures and guidance to ensure positive birth results.

Lattimore passed out informational handouts that highlighted her services from prenatal to birth to postnatal support. Prenatal support can include birth plan assistance. Those comfort measures come in during the birthing process. Meanwhile, recovery guidance and even placenta encapsulation can be part of the postnatal process.

Bowers-Eagle said, “I know a lot of people choose to have natural births over pain medication, so (doulas are) an amazing resource to have.”

Although she has had four other children, ages 6, 8, 11 and 17, she is considering a different route for her latest pregnancy.

“My other babies, I went to just the straight doctors, and I have had them, and it was great,” she said. “They were good experiences, but this time, I would really like to go all-natural, and that gives me the ability to do that. I did not know that there are some that actually accept my insurance, so that’s cool.”

Unfortunately, Bowers-Ehele’s last pregnancy did not end in a successful birth, so she is a little nervous about her current pregnancy.

She said that processing the grief associated with that lost child was made easier by relying on familiar support and community resources.

“The best way that I found was to reach out to the community resources we have available as well as my friends, my support system,” she said.

Acknowledging that there is strength in numbers, Bowers-Eagle said, “I would encourage people to take advantage of opportunities like this. With my first pregnancy, I did not know anything like this existed. Luckily, I was in contact with someone from Communities in Schools, and they told me about this event.”

Not every resource was directly related to pregnancy or the birthing process.

Sheila Igo, owner of Greystone Salon and Spa, was at the civic center to provide some of the services she offers.

“I love to partner with Novant (Health), especially things that are in the community,” Igo said. “I love that it is a free event so that everyone can participate.

“We were doing free little manicures. We like to do them for the mom and the children. We enjoy spending time with them and pampering them. I think it gives them confidence, it makes them feel pretty and it makes them have a better day. There is just something about putting on some lipstick and polishing your nails, you feel good walking out the door.”

With this year’s baby jam being such a success, Communities in Schools Rowan County and Novant Health went ahead and booked the civic center for next year to have it again. Next year’s event is scheduled for Sept. 6, 2025.