A new pregnancy means a changing body, which may have you wondering what you’re going to wear during the next 9 months. Not to worry! Here are a few suggestions to help you feel comfortable, stylish, and confident: Give yourself time: If this is your first baby, you might not even need maternity clothes until …
Why Smoking During Pregnancy is Not Safe
Question: Do you know what the most commonly used substance during pregnancy is? Answer: Nicotine. If you are pregnant and still smoking, here are a few reasons why you should try to quit: Smoking during pregnancy can cause tissue damage in the unborn baby, particularly in the lungs and brain. Some studies suggest a link …
PACK YOUR BAG! “GO-BAG” TIPS FOR EXPECTANT PARENTS
So you’re having a baby! You’ve likely spent months getting the baby’s room ready, buying supplies, and thinking about names. You’ve probably seen the doctor a gazillion times and spent hours in a childbirth class mapping out your birthing plan. But here’s a question: Have you thought about what you will take to the hospital? …
Toxic stress, mental health and Infant Mortality Awareness Month
Since September is Infant Mortality Awareness Month, we are focusing on mental health and how it can affect the healthy development of a child – even before birth. Stress and mental health go hand in hand. When you’re stressed, your body produces stress hormones, and as you overcome the stress, the hormones go away. This …
The Bootheel Opioid Crisis Affects Moms and Babies
The Bootheel of Missouri is in the epicenter of a region with the highest opioid prescription rates in America (see 2016 CDC figure below). While rates have improved recently, over 210 million prescriptions for opioids are filled in the USA annually, with 2% of Americans using opioids “regularly”. Most women in our region receive excellent …
6 must-do’s to prepare for your baby
At some point during your pregnancy, you may feel like it’s never going to end. But every day, you move closer to the big event. Before you get there, though, you have to prepare. Here are some things to do during your final trimester to make sure you’re good to go before labor starts. Don’t …
What should I eat while I’m pregnant?
Eating while pregnant isn’t too different from regular nutrition – it involves consuming a variety of healthy foods. Experts recommend getting 300 more calories a day than you did pre-pregnancy. Eat more of these: Don’t waste your extra calories on junk foods that do nothing to help your baby develop. Try these foods instead. Fruits …
Project WIN helps mothers with addictions beat the odds
Bootheel Babies & Families is pleased to feature Brooke Burlison, BSW, QAP, and the program coordinator for Project WIN at FCC Behavioral Health in Kennett, MO. Brooke is an active leader in our fight against infant mortality through her work with young mothers in Dunklin and Pemiscot counties. Pregnancy is an exciting time, as you …
Mother-to-Mother changes lives in the Bootheel
This month, Bootheel Babies & Families is very pleased to feature Melinda Sweeney, Executive Director of the Regional Health Foundation. Melinda has been an active part of Bootheel Babies & Families’ Community Steering Committee for years, and her organization’s Mother-to-Mother program is a current Grantee serving women and babies in Stoddard, Dunklin and Pemiscot …
Does secondhand smoke really hurt my baby?
No doubt, you’ve seen posters and billboards explaining how smoking while pregnant places babies at risk. Once a baby is born, the issues with smoking around him or her do not go away. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, secondhand smoke causes tens of thousands of deaths each year. Every time your infant nestles …