Watseka, IL – The Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department announced today that they will incorporate the national text4baby campaign into their messaging to pregnant women and new moms in Ford and Iroquois counties. Text4baby is a National effort to reduce infant mortality and prematurity. Through Text4baby, new and expectant moms will be able to receive messages via their cell phones regarding pregnancy tips and health messages regarding their babies.
According to Rebecca Stark, Maternal Child Health Coordinator for the agency, the information provided to these moms is invaluable. “We just feel that this is yet another way to help a pregnant woman know what to expect during her pregnancy and to provide her with information regarding her new born that will help ease her stress and feel more confident in caring for that newborn.”
Stark said the way the program works is that expectant moms or new moms need to text “BABY” (or BEBE in Spanish) to 511411 or register via the text4baby website (www.text4baby.org). Once completed, the user will receive weekly text messages, timed to her due date or to her baby’s birth date. The messages cover everything from nutrition to how to stay healthy during pregnancy, immunizations, infant feeding and sleeping, etc. Stark said the messages start with a congratulatory message to the mom. Expectant and new moms then receive free messages three times a week through the baby’s first birthday. Users can text “Stop” to discontinue the service at any time.
For more information regarding the text4baby campaign, visit www.text4baby.org or contact Rebecca Stark at 815-432-2483