Press Release
| For More Information Contact: | For Release: |
| Julie Armstrong, Health Educator | Date: 4/3/01 |
| Phone: (937) 642-2053 | |
| Fax: (937) 642-2080 |
What Matters to You, Matters to Us: Healthy Beginnings
The following article is
a part of a series in celebration of Public Health Week April 2 – 8, 2000.
Please join us in celebrating this national event by learning more about
what public health is and what your health department does for your community.
Healthier Mothers and Babies
Healthy beginnings are the start to a healthy and productive life. Public health places an emphasis on reducing infant mortality rates. Early entry into prenatal care, quality care and avoidance of tobacco products are three factors that contribute to a healthy pregnancy and healthy birth outcomes. As we enter the 21st century, we need to look at lifestyle behaviors that can be changed in order to stabilize or further reduce the infant mortality rates. Many prevention measures can be taken to insure a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby:
Before conception
 | Screen women for pre-existing conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and STD’s |
| Counsel women about family planning to avoid unintentional pregnancies |
| Counsel women about the benefits of good nutrition |
| Advise women to avoid alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs |
During pregnancy
|
Provide women with early and continual access to high quality care |
|
Treat pre-existing conditions |
|
Vaccinate women against influenza |
|
Continue counseling women against the use of tobacco, alcohol and
illicit drugs |
During post-partum period
|
Vaccinate newborns |
|
Provide information about the benefits of breast feeding |
|
Warn about negative effects of second hand smoke |
|
Counsel parents to place infants on their backs while sleeping |
|
Protect infants from exposure to infectious diseases and harmful
substances |
Your Union County Health Department offers a variety of services that promote healthy beginnings. These include: pregnancy tests, pre-natal and post-partum care, parenting information, immunizations, car seat safety information and nutritional information, including WIC services. Please call 937-642-0801 or 1-888-333-9461 for non-local calls for more information.