Community Memorial New Parent Resource Center — Lisa’s Story

Becoming a parent is one of the most transformative, overwhelming, and miraculous experiences in life, and every family's path looks dramatically different.

At Community Memorial Healthcare, we strive to provide a seamless continuum of care for new and expecting parents through the Community Memorial New Parent Resource Center. This support ranges from prenatal classes like yoga and childbirth preparation, to essential post-delivery resources, including breastfeeding consultations, postpartum emotional wellness groups, and infant care educational events that extend well into baby’s first year of life.

This is the story of Lisa, Peter, their baby, Cypress, and how they utilized the continuous resources available at the New Parent Resource Center – proving that the most vital care often begins long after you leave the hospital room.

A Collaborative Journey Begins

Lisa and Peter’s journey to parenthood began with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Lisa found immediate support in midwife Sally McNally, a key member of the Community Memorial midwifery program, Ventura’s only collaborative midwife delivery program.

Because of the high-risk nature of Lisa’s IVF pregnancy, Sally kept a close eye on mom and baby.

In preparation for delivery, Lisa took Sally’s prenatal yoga class hosted at the Community Memorial Wellness & Fitness Center in tandem with her 8-week Prepared Childbirth class taught at the New Parent Resource Center. The knowledge she gained from these two classes proved invaluable during her labor & delivery.

“I loved attending the prenatal yoga classes taught by Sally throughout my pregnancy, as well as her six-week “Prepared Childbirth” class,” said Lisa. “I felt both physically and mentally prepared to deliver my first baby.”

After an intense two-and-a-half days of labor, baby Cypress was delivered via c-section.

Birth & Beyond: The New Parent Resource Center

While the award-winning staff at Community Memorial Hospital - Ventura ensured the immediate safety of Lisa and newborn Cypress, the transition home required a different kind of support — one that Community Memorial was more than ready to provide through the New Parent Resource Center.

The center, located just across the street from the Ventura hospital campus, is a special place for new and expecting parents, offering a warm and supportive atmosphere and a variety of virtual and in-person resources that extend far beyond delivery. These programs are led by experts, like Sally, and Registered Nurses (RNs) who are certified childbirth and postnatal educators, as well as lactation consultants.

“At the time, I had no idea how much support I would receive after giving birth,” said Lisa. “The hospital informed me of the free lactation services offered, but the resources at this center go far beyond that!”

The New Parent Resource Center stepped in to help Lisa navigate the challenges of breastfeeding, scheduling weekly lactation consultations to ensure Cypress was on-track with gaining weight. Lisa and her partner also found community through the center’s 8-week in-person class, Our Babies, Ourselves, where they met other parents who were in the newborn trenches alongside them.

In addition, Lisa and her partner attended many of the FREE community forum educational events the New Parent Resource Center hosts throughout the year for parents and caregivers of infants under one year of age. Classes are taught by subject-matter experts from the community and cover topics from estate planning and mental health, to car safety and infant sleep strategies.

This accessible support proved critical in Lisa’s newborn journey.

A Continuous Community

Eight months later, Lisa and her baby are thriving. She still goes to the New Parent Resource Center Well Mama Postpartum Emotional Support Group and continues to utilize their breastfeeding support services.

“Having a place to show up and just be in community with other women has been a huge blessing.”

Lisa’s journey is a profound example of why the New Parent Resource Center exists.

“We are incredibly proud of her and where she is at today,” said Ciella Baum, Manager of the New Parent Resource Center. “Her journey shows how we take care of people, no matter where they are on their path to parenthood.”

For Lisa, her experience with Community Memorial’s New Parent Resource Center is a powerful affirmation of the seamless care journey patients receive, beginning well before the first hospital visit and continuing long after discharge.

“I will be forever grateful for the support I’ve received, the knowledge I’ve gained, and the connections I’ve made.”