In an effort to reduce the U.S. infant-mortality rate and improve maternal child health, public-health advocates are tapping an unlikely resource: the cell phone. Jefferson County Public Health is partnering with the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) to promote text4baby –a new free mobile information service. This service provides timely health information to pregnant women and new moms from pregnancy through a baby’s first year. 

Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE for Spanish) receive three free SMS text messages each week timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth. These messages focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health, including birth defects prevention, immunization, nutrition, seasonal flu, mental health, oral health and safe sleep. Participating wireless carriers are voluntarily providing these text messages free of charge.  These participants include: Alltel, AT&T, Cellular South, Cellcom, Centennial Cellular, Cincinnati Bell, Metro PCS, N-Telos, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon and Virgin Mobile.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics; each year in the U.S., more than 500,000 babies are born prematurely and an estimated 28,000 children die before their first birthday—signifying a public health crisis.  The infant mortality rate in the U.S. is one of the highest in the industrialized world, and for the first time since the 1950s, that rate is on the rise.

• Jefferson County residents are encouraged to sign up for this service: Log onto www.text4baby.org . In addition, please call our Public Health Nurse, Carrie Knowlton at 303-275-7511 or email Carrie at cknowlto@jeffco.us for other maternal child health resources available in the County.
• National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) is the only coalition of its kind, creating partnerships among community groups, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, businesses and government agencies. The Coalition promotes optimal health for mothers and babies, and works to strengthen families and build healthy communities: http://www.hmhb.org/