An SMS campaign was recenly launched to help improve the general health of mothers and babies. It cleverly uses text messaging technology as the most convenient way of communication and the easiest way to reach a large and varied class of recipients.

Keystone Mercy Health Plan, the largest Medicaid managed care organization in Pennsylvania, has partnered with The Maternity Care Coalition and the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies (HMHB) Coalition, to launch the Philadelphia text4baby campaign. In supporting the new initiative, Keystone Mercy plans to educate and encourage the use of the service to its Wee Care prenatal program members. Text4baby is a free National Program, mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health by providing pregnant women and new moms with detailed health tips, via SMS text message, to assist them in caring for themselves and their children. The program, which was launched nationwide in February 2010, has nearly 35,000 enrollees, including 1,042 participants in Pennsylvania.

Women sign up for the free service by texting “BABY” (or “BEBE,” in Spanish) to 511411. Each woman receives three, SMS text messages every week, timed to their due date or baby’s age, up to the child’s first birthday. Messages include subject matter geared toward nutrition, immunizations, labor and delivery, car seat safety, breastfeeding and mental health.

Keystone Mercy Health Plan, through its support and collaboration with text4baby, plans to promote the initiative among its more than 5,000 Wee Care prenatal program participants. Similarly to the text4baby mission, Wee Care is a program devoted to educating pregnant women and new moms on health information and available services. The most notable health series, through the Wee Care program, is the community baby shower events, where Keystone Mercy Health Plan, goes into its members communities and provides important prenatal care information and screenings. Over the last three years, Keystone Mercy has also collected and donated newborn essentials to Wee Care members.

Commenting on text4baby, Dr. Eric Berman, chief medical officer, Pennsylvania Managed Care, Keystone Mercy Health Plan said, “We are very excited to assist in presenting this new, innovative program to our members and to expectant and new mothers throughout the City of Philadelphia. More than 11,000 babies were born to our members last year, and it is our job to ensure that we continue to provide the best in health services, to both mother and baby. This program helps us reaffirm our commitment by communicating health tips and information about the child’s development, between prenatal visits.”

About Text4Baby
Text4baby is made possible through a broad, public-private partnership that includes government, corporations, academic institutions, professional associations, tribal agencies and non-profit organizations. Founding partners include HMHB, Voxiva, CTIA – The Wireless Foundation and Grey Healthcare Group (a WPP company). Johnson & Johnson is the founding sponsor, and premier sponsors include WellPoint, Pfizer and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. U.S. government partners include the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense Military Health System. The mobile health platform is provided by Voxiva and free messaging services are generously provided by participating wireless service providers. Implementation partners include BabyCenter, Danya International, Syniverse Technologies, Keynote Systems and The George Washington University. MTV Networks is a media sponsor.

Related articles:

• Health Net Partners with text4baby: An Unprecedented Public-Private Partnership Addressing Rising U.S. Infant Mortality Rate (eon.businesswire.com)
• Text Messaging in Healthcare (womenshealth.suite101.com)
• First Free Nationwide Mobile Health Information Service Developed by Voxiva Now Available to Promote Maternal and Child Health (eon.businesswire.com)

For first time mommies, taking care of their newborn child is a mixture of happiness and frustration. Now the frustration part can be eradicated with the launch of a new DVD created by pediatricians with over 50 years of combined experience for mothers as a guide for mothers on how to take care of their new born child. Newborn Care 101, LLC, www.newborncare101.com, announces the release of the company’s first DVD and guide, Newborn Care 101 – What Parents Need to Know. This DVD covers the most frequently asked questions by new parents to a pediatrician, from the end of pregnancy through the newborn period.

The DVD includes how to choose the right hospital and pediatrician, a newborn care class with a live audience, a baby’s first examination and all the common symptoms a newborn may have from head to toe. “This DVD covers a pediatrician’s view of what is important for expectant and new parents,” says Dr. Michael Schoenwetter, a pediatrician with over 15 years experience and the creator of Newborn Care 101, LLC. He is a board certified pediatrician practicing in the Los Angeles area and a father of two young children. He is the resident pediatrician for Brooke Burke’s website, www.ModernMom.com, and is featured in the Newborn Care 101 DVD. Dr. Mike states, “These are the questions new parents ask me every day in the office and in the hospital. By answering their most frequently asked questions, parents will be able to relax and actually enjoy the wonderful experience of having a newborn.”
The accompanying newborn care guide, written by author and pediatrician, Dr. Loraine Stern, highlights normal newborn characteristics and explains when to call a pediatrician.

Dr. Loraine Stern is a board certified pediatrician who has authored and edited several books. She has been writing for Pampers and Proctor and Gamble’s Website for the last 15 years, and she wrote for Women’s Day Magazine for over 20 years. She is the author of the newborn care reference guide that accompanies the Newborn Care 101 DVD.

Expectant mothers are likely to be thrilled with the idea of having the information they need in one DVD and getting to watch this DVD with their husbands. According to them watching this DVD is like getting advice from their own pediatrician. Dr. Schoenwetter is very knowledgeable and he speaks in terms that are easy to understand. Mothers are left with a feeling of confidence in their ability to care for their baby after watching this DVD.

A portion of the proceeds from the DVD sales are donated to the American Academy of Pediatrics – Friends of Children Fund.

Related articles:

• Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality (parenting-success.com)
• Getting Through the First 60 Days as a New Parent Just Got Easier (prweb.com)

How often have you been in tears yourself because your baby will not stop crying? Your baby will always cry for a reason but sometimes gentle massage will help to soothe your baby. These may also help you to relax, and the more relaxed you are, the more relaxed your baby will be.

Alisha Folkman from expertvillage is the instructor here. And isn’t the baby cute?

How do you stop your baby crying?

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