WARREN — If you were wondering if you should decorate your nursery in pink or blue or where to find resources pre- and post-pregnancy support that ranged from pediatrics to day care, the Warren Trumbull County Public Library was the place to be Friday afternoon.

As part of their Help Me Grow program, the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio hosted “Ready, Set, Baby!” a baby shower for soon-to-be and recent moms.

“Some moms never have the opportunity to have a baby shower. Hosting an event like this helps them feel supported in their parenting journey,” said A’Sha Thomas, outreach coordinator at Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio.

Twenty-one vendors and information tables were set up in two of the community rooms at the library. Among them were First Glimpse Imaging, Ohio Means Jobs, Early Childhood Resource Center, WIC of Trumbull County, Akron Children’s Mahoning Valley, the St. Joseph Warren Hospital Labor and Delivery Department and Vlad Pediatrics.

Help Me Grow is offered in all 88 counties for individuals who are pregnant and caregivers with children up to age 3.

“At Help Me Grow, we want every Ohio child to get the best possible start in life. Here in the Mahoning Valley, Help Me Grow services are provided by the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio as well as by the Mahoning and Trumbull County health departments and the county boards of developmental disabilities. We all work together to help families thrive. We invite anyone who’d like to know more about Help Me Grow to visit helpmegrow.org,” Thomas said.

Family Connect Ohio is a pilot program in 11 counties, including Mahoning and Trumbull.

“It offers any family with a newborn, regardless of income, the opportunity to have a nurse visit them at home, about three weeks after the baby’s arrival. The nurse checks both mom’s and baby’s health and offers the family support, education and community resources,” Thomas said.

Soon-to-be moms had various reasons to attend the event.

Erica Schaefer of Warren who is expecting her first child on Nov. 1, a boy that will be named Luca. “This is a wonderful event. It is a great place for parents to connect with resources. I became aware of help available that I did not know about before coming here,” Schaefer said.

The afternoon featured numerous raffle giveaways of baskets full of items that moms could use once their baby arrived. Gloria Patterson of Warren won a raffle bag of items with the reminder to stressed parents during the first weeks of their babies’ lives that “Every Day is a Fresh Start.”

Other freebies included board books, onesies, toys, keychain flashlights and cookies.

However, the baby shower wasn’t just about receiving free gifts. It was about the knowledge that the moms, dads and parents-to-be acquired the resources and support they need in their parenting adventure.