Hudson Health Plan Tells Ellenville, NY Moms-to-Be: Be Patient, Let Babies Choose Their Birthdays

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. - Feb. 12, 2014 - PRLog -- One out of three births in New York State – or 33 percent – is by Cesarean section, a risky procedure for both mother and child, according to medical experts. While C-sections are needed when mother or baby is in distress during birth, too many C-sections are pre-scheduled for the convenience of mothers and medical professionals. The World Health Organization estimates that C-sections are medically necessary in only 10 percent to 15 percent of births.

Hudson Health Plan (Hudson) believes in encouraging mothers-to-be to let nature take its course. On Saturday, March 22, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Hudson will hold a Community Baby Shower to educate parents on ways to protect their health and the health of their newborns. The event will take place at the Ellenville Public Library & Museum in Ellenville, and will feature healthy refreshments, cake, prizes, and free childcare. Bilingual assistance is available. The entire event is free and open to pregnant women, their partners, and parents of babies under age one.

“Pregnancy and birth are wonderful experiences, but there’s a lot for parents to know,” explains Janet Sullivan, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Hudson, a community-based not-for-profit health plan. “Our Community Baby Shower is designed to educate parents to make healthy choices for their babies, beginning with allowing the baby to come to full term.”

A baby born before 39 weeks can appear normal yet might not be fully developed. According to the March of Dimes, a baby’s brain, lungs and liver mature late in pregnancy, including the final weeks before birth. Babies also need those last weeks to develop their sucking and swallowing instincts, hearing, and vision.

Health Insurance Available for Prenatal Care
Hudson’s Community Baby Shower will emphasize the importance of regular prenatal checkups throughout pregnancy, and specially trained Certified Application Counselors will be present to help uninsured guests enroll in health insurance on the New York State of Health marketplace. Pregnant women are eligible for health insurance through the Pre Natal Care Assistance Act, and after birth, their infants are eligible for New York State’s Child Health Plus. Maternal care for expectant mothers during pregnancy and well-baby care for their infants after birth is a matter of vital importance, according to Dr. Sullivan. “Seeing a prenatal care provider within the first three months of pregnancy is one of the most important things a mother can do for her unborn baby,” she explains. “Your doctor can identify risk factors that can affect your health during pregnancy, and advise you on proper nutrition and lifestyle changes to improve your chance of having a healthy, full-term baby.”

Guests at the Community Baby Shower will learn more about prenatal and infant care from Hudson nurse case managers and Hudson’sMommy & Me program, which guides women through pregnancy and the first two years of a child’s life. The Maternal Infant Services Network, a community health advocacy group in the Hudson Valley, will educate women about lactation and breastfeeding as well.

All expectant and new mothers will also receive free copies of “What to Do When Your Child Is Sick,” available in both English and Spanish. Hudson will lead an interactive “Learning Circle” based on the book, a popular reference guide that helps new parents determine whether or not a child is seriously ill.

Hudson’s Community Baby Shower will be held in collaboration with the Wawarsing Council of Agencies. While the event is free, space is limited and pre-registration is required. To register, please call Janet Hernandez at 845-567-2773 or email her at jlhernandez@hudsonhealthplan.org. For more information or to schedule an appointment with a Hudson Health Plan Certified Application Counselor, the public is invited to visit https://enroll.hudsonhealthplan.org/LeadApplication.aspx?....

Hudson Health Plan
Community Baby Shower
Ellenville Public Library & Museum
40 Center Street
Ellenville, NY

Saturday, March 22, 2014
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

No cost to attend