June 16th is for celebrating dads!

As Father’s Day arrives in the U.S. and many other countries around the world, we pause to honor the importance of dads to children and families. Biological and adoptive fathers, married and single fathers, gay and straight fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers raising grandchildren, and other father figures are making a difference in so many ways.

Among the many roles they play, dads substantially contribute to children’s health, safety, and development. Studies have shown that engagement from any strong father figure is associated with positive outcomes in these areas, and that this influence can start from the very beginning.

Research Says: 10 Ways Dads Make a Difference

1. Many fathers have the opportunity to play a critical role in supporting mom-to-be for a healthy, safe pregnancy and birth.
2. Newborns who bond with their fathers are more likely to successfully breastfeed, which comes with many health benefits.
3. Babies born prematurely gain weight faster if their fathers are positively involved.
4. Infants who have involved fathers in their lives for the first 18 to 24 months are more curious and more likely to explore the world with enthusiasm.
5. Babies whose fathers are positively involved in their care are more secure, less anxious, and more resilient under stress.
6. Toddlers with involved dads tend to demonstrate stronger language skills.
7. Children who have close involvement from both parents show stronger cognitive and motor skills as they grow.
8. The children of affectionate fathers are more socially mature and more likely to exhibit positive peer and sibling relationships.
9.  Children of positively engaged fathers show less impulsive behavior, are more self-directed, and show an increased ability to take initiative.
10. Children of involved fathers have higher self-esteem and show fewer signs of depression than children growing up without a strong father bond.

We appreciate and applaud the fathers and father figures whose love, support, engagement, and commitment are making a difference for children and families in these and many other ways!

Who are YOU celebrating this Father’s Day?

Photo Credit: Flashon Studio/Shutterstock.com

We’ve all heard about an isolated incident of a child dying in a hot car. However, when put into a nationwide context these cases constitute an epidemic, claiming on average 38 innocent lives every year in the United States. Since 1998, more than 559 infants and children have died horrible deaths due to heatstroke inside hot vehicles. But you can help save precious lives!

Many of these tragedies intersect with the early childhood education and childcare communities. More than half of juvenile vehicular heatstroke fatalities occur when a caregiver is somehow distracted and accidentally leaves a child in a vehicle.  And in nearly half of these cases, the child was supposed to be dropped off at either childcare or preschool. These cases happen to parents, grandparents, siblings, and childcare providers. It is often a matter of a change of routine, where normal patterns of travel and drop-off responsibilities have been altered. Combined with a busy, distracted driver, and a child who may be quiet in the car’s back seat, it can be lethal.

Other circumstances that lead to these heatstroke deaths are children playing in vehicles and children intentionally left in vehicles. In the former, which account for about 29% of cases, children gain access to a vehicle and are subsequently overcome by the heat. In the latter instance comprising nearly one-in-five of the deaths, children are intentionally left in vehicles by a caregiver who has made the decision to run an errand, get their hair done, go to bar or the casino, or otherwise take care of personal business.

How exactly does heatstroke happen in these cases? In the simplest terms, heatstroke describes heat-related illnesses when a body’s temperature exceeds its normal range. If a body is subjected to extreme temperatures, it can overwhelm the body’s ability to cool itself. This is especially true for infants and children whose bodies heat at a rate of three to five times faster than adult. If an individual’s body temperature reaches 104 degrees (the clinical definition for heatstroke) their cooling system is overwhelmed to the point it begins to shut down. A person with heatstroke may experience symptoms that include confusion; faintness; strong and rapid pulse; delirium; hot, dry skin; or even unconsciousness.  Continued exposure to very high temperatures can produce brain damage, and at 107 degrees cells within organs start to die, quickly leading to death.

Even on a cool day, the environment inside a car can quickly reach lethal temperatures. Research published in Pediatrics shows that within 10 minutes a vehicle will warm to almost 20 degrees above the outside air temperature; after 30 minutes it is 34 degrees warmer, and after an hour it plateaus at as much as 45 to 50 degrees higher than the air outside. Consequently, even on a 70-degree day, temperatures can reach readings that may be fatal to an infant or small child. The research also found that “cracking” the windows had little effect on the temperature inside the car.

Every one of these deaths is 100% preventable. Infants and children are the most precious cargo transported in a vehicle, and we should always be cognizant of the potential danger of a child left alone in a car.

SAFETY REMINDERS

Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle. Not even for a minute!

• Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Don’t overlook sleeping babies.
• Always lock your car and ensure children do not have access to keys or remote entry devices.  If a child is missing, check the car first, including the trunk. Teach your children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area.
• Keep a stuffed animal in the carseat, and when the child is put in the seat, place the animal in the front with the driver. OR, place your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that you have your child in the car.
• Make “look before you leave” a routine whenever you get out of the car.

Learn more at my website. And be sure to visit HMHB’s Q&A on this topic, with grieving mom and advocate Kristie Reeves.

Nancy C. Lee, M.D.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health-Women’s Health
Director, Office on Women’s Health

As the director of the Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), I care deeply about the health and wellbeing of women and girls. One critical element of women’s health, however, gets overlooked or minimized far too frequently — and that’s mental health.

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. In fact, the two are closely connected and interrelated. Take the opportunity this National Women’s Health Week (May 12–18) to learn strategies to improve your mental health, including ways to cope with stress.

Women are especially vulnerable to developing depression when trying to get pregnant, during pregnancy, and after childbirth. About 13 percent of pregnant women and new mothers suffer from depression.  And women who are depressed during pregnancy are at greater risk for developing depression after giving birth. Women’s experiences after giving birth are tremendously varied. They can range from incredibly happy and excited to anxious and overwhelmed. Or new mothers may experience the normal “baby blues”, the more serious condition of postpartum depression, or even more serious problems.

What’s the good news? Expectant and new mothers can get help to either prevent or treat these potential health issues.  If you have negative thoughts about your pregnancy or baby, please don’t keep these feelings to yourself. Tell someone you trust like a family member or friend. And remember to call your healthcare provider right away. You don’t need to feel desperate before you reach out to your doctor, nurse, or physician assistant. Thanks to the health care law, a healthcare professional within your health insurance network must offer screening for depression free-of-charge, with no copayment fee and no co-insurance fee. You do not need to first meet your deductible, either.

What can you do if you don’t have insurance or you just want to explore new options? Here’s something to ease your mind: Thanks to the health care law, the Health Insurance Marketplace will open this October. The Marketplace will give Americans who are uninsured or who buy their own health insurance a new way to shop online for insurance. For the first time, Americans will be able to go to one place to get accurate, understandable information on different health insurance plans and to make apples-to-apples comparisons of these plans.  Learn more at www.healthcare.gov and to get ready for enrollment by signing up for email updates.

Remember, mental health is important to your overall health. Seeking help is good for you and for your family. Your baby deserves a happy, healthy new beginning. You deserve to be a happy, healthy pregnant woman and a happy, healthy mom.

Share, Learn, Tell. Share this post with a woman you love. Learn more about mental health and pregnancy by visiting the Office on Women’s Health. Tell us how you are celebrating National Women’s Health Week through the Office on Women’s Health Facebook and Twitter pages.

At HMHB, we celebrate motherhood all year long – and work every day to promote maternal health and safety.  But on this special day for honoring mothers, we are especially mindful of mom’s health, and the many ways in which it matters.

It is particularly difficult on Mother’s Day to accept that the U.S. ranks a dismal 50^th in the world for maternal mortality, that our rate of maternal mortality has doubled in the past 25 years, that our infant mortality rate remains one of the highest among developed countries, and that disparities persist in creating disproportionately heavy burdens for some women and their babies.

We believe that the nation can do better for mothers. We also believe this: childbearing and mothering that is informed and empowered – as well as supported by access to consistent, quality care and resources – has a profound effect on women, children, families, and entire communities. That’s why we’re proud to work with our many partners to support and promote these goals.

A few of our favorite mothers helped us reflect on why “mom’s health matters.” This Mother’s Day weekend, please join the conversation by sharing your response in the comments and in social media – at our Facebook page and on Twitter using #MomsHealthMatters.

“Mom’s health matters because mothers are the heart of families.”  

-Janine Lewis, HMHB Board of Directors and Executive Director, Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition

“Mom’s health matters because you’re the one that’s there with your baby. I’m breastfeeding, so if I’m healthy she’s healthy. My health will reflect on her. If I’m healthy, I can take care of her.”

-Jaclyn G., text4baby mom

“Mom’s health matters because she sets the standard for healthy living for so many around her at home and in the workplace.”

-Deb Discenza, National Premature Infant Health Coalition Steering Committee, co-author of The Preemie Parent’s Survival Guide to the NICU, and co-founder of PreemieWorld, LLC

“Mom’s health matters because the body holds the mind and heart. If my body is not well then everything else is affected, including my capacity to care for and teach my daughter.”

-Sarah Ingersoll, text4baby Campaign Director, HMHB

“Mom’s health matters because health and intelligence are two blessings of life.”

-Lola Stevens, HMHB Office Manager

“Mom’s health matters because we shape the world.”

- Luisa Soaterna-Castaneda, text4baby Multicultural Outreach Coordinator, HMHB

“Mom’s health matters because we teach our children how to value and take care of themselves.”

-Andrea Goodman, HMHB Program Manager

Happy Mother’s Day, moms! Your health matters, today and every day.

In the U.S., too many parents lose a child before celebrating the joy of a first birthday. And too many babies are born too early and too small. This health crisis affects all families and communities, but is a disproportionately heavy burden for some.

For example, did you know?:

• The U.S. infant mortality rate is one of the highest among developed nations, but rates are much higher among African Americans, regardless of income, educational level, or location. More than twice as many African American babies die before their first birthday, compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts.
• African American mothers are more than twice as likely as their non-Hispanic white counterparts to receive no prenatal care in the first two trimesters, or to receive no prenatal care at all.
• American Indian and Alaska Native communities experience a 60% higher infant mortality rate compared to non-Hispanic whites, and their rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is twice the rate of the white community’s.
• Puerto Rican infants are twice as likely to die from causes related to low birth weight, compared to non-Hispanic white infants.
• African American babies have the highest preterm birth rate of any racial or ethnic group.

The causes of problems like preterm birth and infant mortality are complex and can include poverty, lack of access to health care, and lack of information. At HMHB, we are proud to work with so many partners who are committed to addressing these challenges at the national, state, and community levels. And we’re passionate about the potential of initiatives like our text4baby program, which helps to provide pregnant women and new moms across the country with the best possible health information and access to care, and the National Premature Infant Health Coalition, which brings together a diverse group of partners and stakeholders to communicate, educate, and advocate around the crisis of preterm birth.

We believe that all children should have the chance to celebrate their first birthday – and that all mothers, babies, and families should have access to health information and care, regardless of who they are and where they live. Throughout April, join with us and other partners of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health to mark National Minority Health Month, whose 2013 theme is “Advance Health Equity Now.”

You can make a difference by:

• Sharing this blog post to raise awareness about health disparities affecting racial and ethnic minorities.
• Helping an expectant or new mom enroll with the text4baby service, by texting BABY to 511411 (or for Spanish, BEBE to 511411).
• Joining the work of the National Premature Infant Health Coalition by becoming a member.
• Sharing key messages from the Office of Minority Health to your personal and organizational Facebook page and Twitter handle throughout the month of April, using hashtag #ActNow.
• Taking part in Minority Health Month events in your local community.

In the comments below, please tell us how you are making a difference!

During National Women’s History Month 2013, a series of “Did You Know?” posts have been the buzz of our Facebook and Twitter communities.  We’ve enjoyed celebrating the trailblazing achievements of women whose work has transformed maternal and child health in the United States.

Here, we share just a few favorite spotlights from our social media celebration. In the comments beneath this post, join the conversation by telling us about YOUR favorite woman whose contributions have paved the way for healthier moms, babies, and families!

DID YOU KNOW?

“Apgar” is not an acronym. It’s the name of maternal-child health champion Dr. Virginia Apgar, who in 1952 developed the Apgar Score, by which newborn health is still measured. This simple diagnostic helps determine whether a newborn needs special medical attention, and has saved thousands of lives. A specialist in maternal anesthesiology, Dr. Apgar’s work helped to change the way women (and their babies) are treated during childbirth.

Pediatric nephrologist and public health practitioner Antonia Novello, the first woman and first Hispanic to become Surgeon General of the U.S. (1990-1993), used her position to alleviate suffering for women, children, and for the most disempowered populations in our society. She focused attention and resources on women with AIDS and on neonatal transmission of HIV; raised the profile of domestic violence among medical professionals; and increased awareness of alcohol abuse.
 

Helen Brooke Taussig (1898-1986) founded the field of pediatric cardiology and developed the concept for a procedure that would extend the lives of children born with Tetrology of Fallot (“blue baby syndrome”), leading to the procedure known as the Blalock-Taussig Shunt. In the 1960s Dr. Taussig testified before Congress on the drug thalidomide’s damaging effect on newborns, leading to the banning of thalidomide in the U.S. She became the first female president of the American Heart Association.
 

Annie Dodge Wauneka (1910-1997), tribal leader of the Navajo Nation and public health activist, hosted a radio broadcast in the Navajo language to educate about how modern medicine could improve care for pregnant women and infants, raised awareness of and improved care for alcoholism, worked to eradicate tuberculosis among the Navajo and nationwide, and wrote a dictionary translating English words for modern medical terms and techniques into Navajo. She served on the advisory boards of the U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Public Health Service, and in 1963 became the first Native American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
 
Former First Lady of Arkansas Betty Bumpers led an immunization program in her state that became a national model. In 1977, she worked with the Carter administration to create the first federal initiative in comprehensive childhood immunization, at a time when just 17 states required immunization by school age. In response to the 1989-1991 measles epidemic across the country, Ms. Bumpers co-founded Every Child by Two with Rosalynn Carter, promoting early childhood immunization and supporting the development of state immunization registries.
 

Pediatrician Ethel Collins Dunham (1883-1969) set the national standard of care for the treatment of premature infants. At the turn of the 20th century, some U.S. cities were experiencing a 30% infant mortality rate. Dunham was the first to recognize the association between prematurity and infant death — and her text, Premature Infants: A Manual for Physicians, became a touchstone.

Each year, 13 million babies across the globe – and nearly half a million here in the U.S. – are born prematurely to parents who never expected their birth experiences to be so challenging. Though medical advances continue to improve outcomes for preemies, we’re just now beginning to understand and address the profound psychological, emotional, and social effects preterm birth can have on moms, dads, and entire families.

This year marks the second annual observance of Parents of Preemies Day, which in 2013 will broaden from a national to a global audience. Families of preemies can find support and share their stories of hope and resilience at local events across the United States, as well as during a  March 10^th live Twitter chat and on the Parents of Preemies Day Facebook page.

Neonatal ICU professionals – who play a critical role in helping families face the challenges prematurity brings – can take part in Parents of Preemies Day in a number of ways, such as hosting or helping with a Parents of Preemies Day event in their local area, spreading the world through hospital newsletters and through social media, joining the global Twitter chat, providing meals or snacks at the NICU on March 10^th to celebrate parents, or purchasing “Proud Parent of a Preemie” buttons to distribute.

Among the ways friends of preemie parents can support the effort: Consider taking gifts, snacks, or other treats to your local NICU, or hosting or volunteering at a Parents of Preemies Day event. You can also join the March 10^th Twitter chat, or honor your favorite preemies families with photos and posts on social media… just for starters.

We’ll observe Parents of Preemies Day on the National Premature Infant Health Coalition (NPIHC) Facebook page and on HMHB’s Twitter handle. Please join us in these spaces to honor and celebrate parents of preemies, and to share your own story. Taking part and spreading the word is a natural extension of NPIHC’s mission of bringing partners together to communicate, educate, and advocate in the field of prematurity – and of HMHB’s 31-year history promoting healthy moms, babies, and families through collaborative efforts. We look forward to joining with you and with many partners from the prematurity field on March 10^th, in support and appreciation of preemie parents!

by Elizabeth T. Jordan, DNSc, RNC
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

As an expectant mom, your prenatal care provider may advise you to have an ultrasound scan to measure the length of your cervix. Your cervix is where your uterus, also known as your womb, opens into the vagina. Women with a short cervix in the mid-trimester may be at increased risk for preterm delivery.  Several studies have shown that women with shorter cervical length, as measured by an ultrasound, are at higher risk for having a preterm birth.

Your cervical length can be measured by a transabdominal ultrasound, and/ or a transvaginal ultrasound. CerviLenz is a disposable device, that looks like a long cotton swab, that also measures cervical length and can be used by the provider during an examination in the office or clinic. The transvaginal scan is currently thought to be the best way to measure the cervix because it can be seen much more clearly this way.

The cervix should be between 3 cm and 5 cm long, with one end at the top of the vagina (the external os) and the other end inside the uterus (the internal os). If the cervix measures less than 2.5 cm, your health care provider may request you have additional scans and recommend further treatment based on your obstetrical history. The care provider may also look at the shape of the cervix and watch to see if the cervix changes from V-shaped to U-shaped. This is called “funneling” of the cervix.  If you cervix is short (<2.5 cm) and shows funneling, it puts you at a higher risk for delivering your baby early. Your provider may recommend additional treatment.

Your cervical length measurement may also be calculated when an ultrasound is being performed to confirm your due date and look at the growth of your baby. Routine ultrasounds are usually done between 19-24 weeks’ gestation.

Your cervix should remain closed throughout pregnancy until just before birth.  If the cervix begins to open before you are full-term, this may be a danger sign and may place you at risk for infection or premature dilation. The cervix has a mucous plug, also known as show, and, it protects your womb. Cervical length measurement is recommended if you are expecting twins or have had surgery to your cervix.

Cervical length is currently not routinely being performed on every pregnant woman. However, results from several studies build a strong case that pregnant women with a short cervical length are at higher risk for delivering preterm.  Knowing if you are at risk for preterm birth can help guide your prenatal care and minimize your risks.

Downton Abbey, the popular British historical drama set in the early twentieth century, recently caused quite a stir for fans, and for those of us passionate about preeclampsia and perinatal health. A much-loved character on the PBS show died of postpartum eclampsia, shocking and devastating more than eight million devoted viewers. In her fictional death, Lady Sybil became an unwitting celebrity spokesperson for the Preeclampsia Foundation, as we unleashed a broad media campaign to drive awareness and education about a pregnancy complication that today still takes the lives of 76,000 mothers and half a million babies worldwide.

As many Downton Abbey fans and media commentaries wondered in the aftermath of this heart-wrenching episode, could a maternal death like Lady Sybil’s still occur, nearly 100 years later? Indeed, it can and does. In addition, many of the same patient-provider dynamics depicted in this fictional drama are still troublesome today, affecting outcomes for both moms and babies.

Preeclampsia is a rapidly-progressing condition affecting at least five to eight percent of all pregnancies, associated with approximately 15 percent of all U.S. preterm births, and one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal deaths. Marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, preeclampsia is often “silent,” showing up unexpectedly during a routine blood pressure check. However, swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision are important symptoms, often indicating an advanced stage of the disease. Preeclampsia can impair kidney and liver function, cause blood-clotting problems, fluid on the lungs, seizures and, in severe forms or left untreated, maternal and infant death. Eclampsia, one of the most serious complications of severe preeclampsia, can cause seizures that result in coma, brain damage or death.

Downton Abbey’s characters understood nothing of these conditions, though the village physician, who had “known Sybil all her life,” recognized early warning signs as he argued for her transfer to a hospital setting. The reality — that preeclampsia symptoms are often non-specific (they may be present in “normal” pregnancies and thus easily missed) – set up Downton Abbey viewers for a tremendously tragic moment of storytelling.

In modern medicine, our ability to diagnose preeclampsia has improved, thanks to technology that allows us to measure blood pressure and proteinuria rather quickly. But the constellation of symptoms associated with preeclampsia has not changed. They are still non-specific, often dangerous harbingers, and rarely are expectant mothers informed about them.

Know the Symptoms; Trust Yourself

Downton Abbey’s depictions of Interpersonal conflict between the physicians, but especially between the physicians and the family, remain a factor in effective care today. Patients should be – but aren’t always – informed, empowered, and engaged. That is certainly true in a prenatal setting where the woman brings the best knowledge of her body, her sense about her baby, and her maternal instincts to the table, while the provider brings the best diagnostic tools and management skills. It takes a patient-provider partnership to arrive at a timely and accurate diagnosis.

The indicators of Lady Sybil’s preeclampsia – including “muddled thinking” and confusion, edema, headache, nausea, and epigastric pain – are signs and symptoms that today every pregnant woman should be aware of and should readily share with her healthcare provider.

Some say it’s unfortunate that it took a fictional character’s death to raise awareness of a very real health issue. But as a small nonprofit organization, we couldn’t have asked for a better gift to advance our mission. Awareness and education truly do save lives, and Downton Abbey’s plot twist provided us with an important opportunity. The comments elicited by our op/ed article and the accompanying media buzz, as well as the social media flurry on Facebook and Twitter after this episode of Downton Abbey aired, reinforce that there are many women who still need, but aren’t getting, this information. The majority of those exposed to our post-Downton Abbey awareness campaign were appreciative, despite their shock, as they learned about this lingering threat to maternal and child health.

I would always choose a fictional character to do our work, rather than having to attend one more funeral of a real mother who leaves behind a grieving husband and, sometimes, a newborn baby.

Eleni Tsigas is a two-time survivor of preeclampsia and the Executive Director of the Preeclampsia Foundation, whose mission is to reduce maternal and infant death and other adverse outcomes due to preeclampsia by providing patient support and education, raising public awareness, catalyzing research, and improving healthcare practices.

To learn more, see our Expert Q&A with Eleni Tsigas, “What You Should Know About Preeclampsia.”

By Susan Can, Director, Corporate Equity at Johnson & Johnson

This year I am happy to wish text4baby a very happy third birthday. Over the past three years I have been fortunate to work with text4baby and experience its growth as the largest mobile health offering of its kind, a service which delivers key health messages directly to the mobile phones of new and expectant moms.

But even though text4baby has hit this three-year milestone, it is really all about the number one. Every single child born deserves the best possible start in life, and the impact that this one life can have is immeasurable. That one baby is everything to its mother and father and grandparents.  That one baby is a sister, a brother, a cousin, a classmate, a friend. And that one baby is born into this world with an infinite range of possibilities at the tips of those tiny little finger tips.  That one baby.

Text4baby is the largest mobile health offering of its kind, with over half a million subscribers. This service delivers key, stage-based health messages directly to the mobile phones of new and expectant moms. Of the four million babies born annually in the United States, 500,000 infants are born prematurely and 28,000 die before their first birthday. Just think how we can help decrease these numbers by helping moms, one cell phone at a time.

At Johnson & Johnson, we know how important the early start in that one life can be. For 125 years, the desire to make families healthier and safer has been at the heart of our commitment to improving maternal and child health around the world. This is why we are so proud to be the founding sponsor of text4baby.

Today we celebrate this groundbreaking program, thanks to the commitment of an unprecedented public-private partnership that includes government, corporations, academic institutions, professional associations, and non-profit organizations nationwide.  Together, we have delivered more than 67,000,000 messages to moms, giving them health information and resources to provide that one baby with the best possible start in life.

Our role has always been clear. Beyond that of funder, we work closely with text4baby to bring our deep and varied experience in healthcare to this service, supporting text4baby in a multitude of ways because we believe in the model.

Now, we know that the model works; last fall, the first outcomes studies were completed and they showed that text4baby is making a real difference in the health behaviors of its subscribers; increasing users’ health knowledge, facilitating interaction with their health providers, improving their adherence to appointments and immunizations, and improving new and expecting moms’ access to health services.  Most recently, the first randomized evaluation of the service, led by The George Washington University, found that text4baby mothers were nearly three times more likely to believe that they were prepared to be new mothers, compared to women in a control group.

As the years go on and text4baby continues to grow and touch the lives of many more moms to come, it’s important to remember that as we continue to try and expand our reach and help as many moms and families as we can, it really all boils down to one — every single baby whose life gets off to its best possible start with a little help from text4baby’s mobile health service.

Meet a few of our text4baby moms and babies:

Ivory and Savannah

My baby’s name is Savannah. I signed up for text4baby after hearing about it from my friend who works for New York City as a Breastfeeding Consultant. She signed up for the text messages as well. Text4baby has helped me a lot. They sent me text messages with things I was going through that day. For example, during my 7th month of pregnancy, I thought I was feeling contractions and I was a little nervous. That same day text4baby sent me a text message about Braxton Hicks contractions, and that helped me a lot because I knew that that was what I was feeling and it kind of eased my anxiety.

I’ve been receiving the text messages since I was five months pregnant. I also received messages about postpartum depression, and about the things to look for and how you should be feeling. It actually helped me to recognize different things and to nip it in the bud before anything got too crazy. After using text4baby, I forward messages to my expecting friends and tell them to sign up. Text4baby is excellent. I think moms and dads should go for text4baby because it’s very helpful. For me personally, it helped me with the things I was going through that day. It can help you also, especially being first time parents!

Arizbeth

My daughter is eight months old. She’s growing quickly! I didn’t sign up for text4baby until after I gave birth, when I saw text4baby information in the hospital. I thought to myself, “I can do this, it’s easy because my phone is always with me and I can let the information come to me.” I welcome anything I get for free after having my daughter! Everything is so expensive now, so that was definitely an incentive to sign up for the service.

It is really helpful to get the text messages about what to do, what to ask my doctor, and getting messages about emotional feelings postpartum, which helps as a source of support. For example, one very helpful text message was about what stage your child should be in, which helped me not to push her too much and to know what to expect. Another really helpful message was about putting your baby on their tummy to help them gain strength in their neck, so I made sure to do this often. If you use text4baby, you’re going to have a resource to help you understand what to expect. It’s going to give you phone numbers for whatever decision you need to make for your baby. I’ve been using it all the time and it’s helped me, and it’s going to help you.