Healthy Babies

Sedgwick County > Health Department > Children and Family Health

Having Healthy Babies and Families

Low birth weight and infant deaths continue to be a tragedy affecting many individuals, especially in the black community. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), black 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) - Maternal and Infant Program

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. 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. 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 316-660-7433 or e-mail healthybabies@sedgwick.gov. You can also click here to download a referral form.

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 coupons to buy specific foods for good health
Referrals - To community and health agencies for additional support
Breastfeeding support and education - Click here to find out about our free, informal classes!

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

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

WIC Offers New Breastfeeding Class

New or expectant mothers often find themselves with a long list of questions when it comes to breastfeeding. Sedgwick County WIC has the answers. WIC’s Breastfeeding Peer Counselors are leading a new class designed to educate women on the basics and not-so-basics of lactation. Best of all, it’s free!

TThe class meets from 1 to 2 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at 434 N. Oliver and is open to everyone. No RSVP is necessary. The same material will be taught each month, though participants are invited to come as often as they wish.

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

The Maternal and Infant Program (M&I) provides group prenatal care for pregnant women where participants can talk about their pregnancy and receive feedback and support from other women experiencing similar feelings and symptoms.

First, expectant moms will receive an individual visit, then begin attending group sessions. 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)
Time with other group members to discuss pregnancy symptoms and questions
Parenting education and tips
Healthy snacks and time to socialize

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

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