Healthy Babies

Sedgwick County > Health Department > Healthy Babies

Having Healthy Babies

Teaching moms how to be healthy so they can deliver healthy babies

Low birth weight and infant deaths continue to be a tragedy affecting many individuals, especially in the African American community. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African American babies are almost four times more likely to die as infants due to low birth weight compared to non-Hispanic white infants. The Health Department has three programs to help reduce this trend in Sedgwick County: Healthy Babies, Women Infants and Children (WIC) and Maternal and Infant. Read below to see how each of these programs can help you and your neighbors deliver healthy babies.

Healthy Babies is a FREE educational program for pregnant and delivered moms.

Registered Nurses and Community Liaisons provide group education, family support, in-office and home visits (as needed) during the pregnancy and after baby is born for mom and her chosen support person. Moms who participate in the Healthy Babies program can earn Baby Bucks to purchase items from the Healthy Babies store.

Prenatal and parenting groups help mom develop a strong peer support network. Groups also contribute to better birth outcomes. Participants share and learn from each other on topics such as:

What to Expect During Pregnancy
Prevention, Signs and Symptoms of Preterm Birth
Labor and Delivery
Baby Care
Safe Sleep
Breastfeeding
Baby Blues/Depression
Baby's Growth and Learning
Relationships
Importance of Birth Spacing
Smoking Cessation
Car Seat Safety
Other Family Support Services

For more information about Healthy Babies Prenatal and Parenting Groups, or to enroll in the program, call 660-7433 or email healthybabies@sedgwick.gov. You can also click here to download a referral form.

March of Dimes Partnership

The Sedgwick County Healthy Babies program works hard to improve birth outcomes for babies in high risk Sedgwick County families. We do this through prenatal and parenting groups, home visits, and community education. The Healthy Babies program has helped many families throughout the County, but recognizes there are others in the community with questions about pregnancy. For that reason, we have partnered with the March of Dimes and are happy to provide you with a link to their “My 9 months” Web site.

In this site you have access to information about “before you’re pregnant” and “during your pregnancy.” The March of Dimes site also provides you the option to have printed brochures sent to your home for FREE. These brochures are high quality and offer information on a range of pregnancy-related topics. If you would like more information about the Healthy Babies program, please call 660-7433 or email healthybabies@sedgwick.gov.

Whether you call Healthy Babies, or view the “My 9 months” information in the privacy of your home, please seek prenatal care as early as possible during your pregnancy.

Bebes Saludables

Bebés Saludables es un programa educativo GRATUITO para mujeres embarazadas hasta y después del nacimiento del bebé.

Enfermeras Tituladas y Trabajadoras Comunitarias proporcionan educación en grupo, apoyo familiar y visitas a domicilio (según sean necesarias) durante el embarazo y después del nacimiento del bebé. Nuestro deseo es que cada madre tenga un bebé saludable y una familia sana.

La educación se proporciona a través de los Grupos Prenatales y de Crianza de Niños de Bebés Saludables. El modelo de cuidado de grupo no solo ayuda a las mujeres a desarrollar una fuerte red de apoyo entre ellas mismas pero también se presta a mejores resultados de nacimiento entre las participantes del grupo.

En los grupos, las participantes pueden compartir y aprender de las demás sobre temas como:

Lo que se Debe Esperar Durante el Embarazo
Prevención, Signos y Síntomas del Alumbramiento Prematuro
Trabajo de Parto y el Alumbramiento
Cuidado del Bebé
Melancolía Después del Nacimiento del Bebé/Depresión
Crecimiento y Aprendizaje del Bebé
Relaciones
Lactancia
Importancia del Descanso entre los Embarazos
Dejar de Fumar
Seguridad y el Asiento Infantil para el Automóvil
Otros Servicios de Apoyo Familiar

Para mayor información sobre los Grupos Prenatales y de Crianza de Niños de Bebés Saludables,o para inscribirse en este programa GRATUITO, favor de llamar a Bebés Saludables al 316-660-7433, enviarnos un correo electrónico a healthybabies@sedgwick.gov

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Mothers with children WIC is a temporary nutrition education and supplemental food program that provides assistance for Women, Infants and Children. WIC provides:

Nutrition education - Ideas to help improve eating habits and your health
Supplemental foods - Food checks to buy specific foods for good health
Referrals - To community and health agencies for additional support
Breastfeeding support and education.

To be eligible for the program, women must meet income guidelines and be pregnant, breastfeeding or recently delivered a baby. Children must be under five years of age. Program participants must receive a health check up by WIC staff and be found with medical and or nutritional risk by a health professional.

If you have questions about the WIC program, please call 316-660-7444.

Mujeres, Bebés y Niños (WIC)

WIC es un programa temporal de educación nutricional y comida suplementaria que proporciona ayuda a Mujeres, Bebés y Niños.

WIC proporciona:

• Educación nutricional – Ideas para mejorar las costumbres alimenticias y la salud.
• Comidas suplementarias – Cupones para comprar comidas específicas para la buena salud
• Referencias a agencias comunitarias y de salud para apoyo adicional.
• Apoyo y Educación sobre la Lactancia

Para ser elegible para el programa, las mujeres tienen que reunir ciertos requerimientos en cuanto a ingresos y deben estar embarazadas, dando de lactar, o haber dado a luz recientemente. Los niños tienen que ser menores de cinco años de edad. Los participantes en el programa tienen que someterse a un chequeo de salud y un profesional médico tiene que verificar que tienen algún riesgo médico y/o nutricional.

Si tiene preguntas sobre el programa de WIC, favor de llamar al 316-660-7444.

Maternal & Infant Program

Prenatal Care (M&I)

The Maternal and Infant Program (M&I) provides group prenatal care for pregnant women. This approach allows participants to talk about their pregnancy questions and concerns and receive feedback and support from other women experiencing similar feelings and symptoms. The goal is to empower women to feel more confident in themselves and their ability to take care of their new baby and family. Benefits of group care include support from peers and parenting education and tips.

Each participant receives an initial individual visit. During each group session, moms can expect:

A “Mom and Baby Check” (Blood pressure and weight gain checks, belly measurement and listening to baby’s heart beat)
Circle time with other group members to discuss pregnancy symptoms and questions
Healthy snacks and time to socialize

Group Prenatal Care sessions last 90 minutes. A group calendar is provided to each mom so work and school schedules can be adjusted and childcare can be planned. Moms are welcome to bring a support person or significant other with them to their prenatal groups. Individuals who's schedules or personal situations do not fit well with a group-model of care can still be seen as an individual client privately through M&I. Call 316-660-7300 to schedule your first appointment with M&I.

The Sedgwick County Health Department offers M&I services to women and teens who meet eligibility requirements. A reduced hospital/delivery fee is available.