With the popularity or text-messaging, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is offering a free mobile health service for pregnant women and new mothers.
The "text4baby" service provides three text messsages a week timed to their due date or based on the baby's date of birth. The messages focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health, including preventive care, immunizations, oral health, birth defects prevention, nutrition, seasonal flu, mental health and safe sleep. "Text4baby" messages also connect women to prenatal and infant care services and other resources.
To register for the service, text "baby" (or "bebe" in Spanish) to 511411 or go to
www.text4baby.org.
For more information, contact Jennifer Ryan at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a division within the Department of Health and Human Resources, by calling 1-410-786-3393 or sending an e-mail to jennifer.ryan@cms.hhs.gov.
"Text 4 Baby" Services