MOTHER WIT
TIMES
Text
4 Baby
Baby
Yourself!
Baby
Blues
The
Healthiest
Start for
Baby
Nursing
Know How
The Best
Lullaby
Our Children
are the
Future.
Give your baby
the healthiest start.
“It takes a village . . .” to raise
a child. That includes mothers,
aunts, grandmothers, friends,
neighbors, fellow church
members and others in your
community. We all need to
support each other, even
before a new baby is born.
African-American women
are 1 1⁄2 times more likely than
Caucasian women to deliver a
baby before it is full term. We
can all help change this and
other dangerous trends, by
using “Mother Wit.” Mother Wit
means “common sense.” The word
comes from the 1800s, when AfricanAmerican mothers gathered their
collective wisdom to do everything
from serving as midwives to watching
over children as they grew.
We hope you find these words
of wisdom helpful and share them
with the people you care about.
From pregnancy, through postpartum,
preschool and beyond, we can all
benefit from “Mother Wit.”
If you or someone you know is pregnant and doesn’t
have health insurance, contact your local County
Assistance Office. Pennsylvania provides coverage for
all uninsured pregnant women who are legal residents.
Baby Partners
Our Baby Partners program provides
support for members throughout
pregnancy and after childbirth. Nurses
and social workers keep in touch with
members and help them to manage
their healthcare needs, quit smoking,
breastfeed, learn about community
resources and much more. We even
have counselors for personal help with
quitting. Plus, members who attend
important prenatal checkups (including
dental checkups) receive special gifts
and incentives. Health Partners and
KidzPartners members can enroll in the
Baby Partners program by calling 1866-500-4571 (TTY: 1-877-454-8477).
Baby
Blues
It’s normal for new moms to
feel a little sad or down after
having a baby. These sad
feelings are often described
as the “Baby Blues.” You are
not alone! Talk to your
family, friends and even your
pastor, if you’re feeling
stressed. If these feelings last
longer than two weeks, you may
need treatment for postpartum
depression. Talk to your doctor.
Postpartum depression affects a lot of new moms, so
don’t be afraid or embarrassed to talk to your doctor if
it happens to you. Your doctor can give you the help
and support that you need.
Baby Your
Baby and
Yourself!
The importance
of prenatal
doctor visits
If you’re pregnant or
think you may be, there’s
no more important time to
take care of yourself. See
your doctor right away.
Be sure to keep every
scheduled appointment. If
you know an expectant
mom, encourage her to see
her doctor regularly, too!
Your doctor will help you care for your baby while it is
still developing, by:
I Helping you learn how your body will change
I Giving you important prenatal vitamins, and
nutrition and exercise information
I Seeing if you are at risk for diabetes or other
conditions which might be harmful to you or
baby if not monitored
You will visit your doctor more often as your due date
nears. Remember to ask for help from your doctor,
family, and friends if you need it. When you’re
pregnant, you shouldn’t feel alone.
Good Nutrition
Starts with
Nursing
Breast milk provides all the
nutrients and vitamins a new
baby needs. Your doctor, nurse
or certified lactation specialist
can help you get started.
Friends and family members
who have nursed can provide
you with support and
encouragement along the way.
Nursing helps:
I A baby grow and reach
important milestones
(including mental
development)
I Prevent illnesses like ear
infections
I Reduce the risks for being obese later on in life.
I Reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Breastfeeding can also help mom get back to her prepregnancy
weight, reduce the risk for certain cancers, and save time
and money.
Babies will not need to eat solid food until they are between four
and six months old. Each baby is different.
Breast pumps are available to Baby Partners members, so
you can still give baby your milk if you have to be away from
him/her. Call 1-866-500-4571 (TTY: 1-877-454-8477) for
more information.
A child’s doctor can provide guidance on introducing baby to solid
foods. Help children get on a course for good nutrition early, by
encouraging them to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and avoid
sugary drinks and high-fat snacks.
Remember, the number of overweight children and those with
Type 2 diabetes is rising in America. Healthy beginnings can last
a lifetime.
Does your child need health
insurance? CHIP offers free or
low-cost health insurance for
uninsured kids and teens. Health
Partners’ CHIP plan is called
KidzPartners. Call 1-888-888-1211
(TTY 1-877-454-8477) for more
information or visit
www.kidzpartners.com.
After your baby is born, you
will need to see your doctor
for a postpartum visit. Your
doctor will make sure that
your body is healing
properly. You can also
discuss how you are feeling
and get help from your
doctor if it’s needed. After
your postpartum visit, you
should schedule a visit with
your doctor once a year.
Keep all
Doctor
Visits for
You and
Baby!
You should also make sure
you keep all well visits with
your baby’s doctor, too.
Regular well visits will
ensure that your baby gets
all the vaccinations he or
she needs at the right
times. These vaccines keep
children from developing
serious diseases as they
grow. Even as children get
older, well visits are
important to keep them on
a healthy track.
If you know a new mom,
help her keep her doctors’
appointments. This can be
a happy but also
overwhelming time, and
most women will
appreciate your support
and kindness.
TEXT
4 BABY
Health Partners has teamed
up with text4baby to bring
important health
information right to your
cell phone. Text4baby is a
free service of the National
Healthy Mothers, Healthy
Babies Coalition. Text
BABY (or BEBE for
Spanish) to 511411 and get
FREE text messages to help
you through your pregnancy
and baby’s first year. Sign up
today and tell a friend, too!
The Best
Lullaby
The very best place for your new baby to sleep is ALONE
in a safety-approved crib that is free from clutter.
Remember to always place your baby on his or her back
to sleep, even for naps.
Healthy
Moms
New moms need to
care for their
newborns, but they
must take care of
themselves, too. This
is an important time
to avoid smoking and
second-hand smoke,
eat right and exercise.
If you’re a member of Health
Partners or KidzPartners, our Healthier
YOU programs offer members information about improving
personal health, upcoming community events, and special fitness
and weight management benefits. There’s even a nurse advice
line you can call 24-7. Call 1-866-825-6717 for Health
Partners or 1-866-855-8747 for KidzPartners.
Baby Milestones!
Toward the end of the second trimester, around 20 weeks, you
will begin to feel your baby kicking, twisting, turning and
wiggling inside your body. But that's not all. Your precious gem
can also hear your voice and other sounds outside of your body.
Your baby will begin to enjoy hearing your voice. If you hum or
sing to your baby now, the same sounds will comfort baby once
he or she is born. It’s also never too soon to start reading to your
baby. Reading and looking at pictures is a great activity for moms
and infants.
Pregnant?
Find out now
If you’re pregnant or think you might be, it’s best to know as soon as
possible. Then, you can begin important prenatal care with a doctor and
enroll in our Baby Partners program. Health Partners and KidzPartners
members can pick up a no-cost home pregnancy test at our Corporate
Office at 901 Market Street in Philadelphia, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m or call to request one by mail. For more information, call the
Baby Partners program at 1-866-500-4571 (TTY: 1-877-454-8477). You
and your baby deserve the healthiest start!
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