Hudson Health Plan Tells Port Chester, 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 Sunday, March 2, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Hudson will hold a Spanish-language Community Celebration for Expectant and New Mothers to educate parents on ways to protect their health and the health of their newborns. The event will take place at St. Peter’s Church in Port Chester, and will feature healthy refreshments, cake, prizes, and free childcare. 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 Celebration for Expectant and New Mothers 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 Celebration for Expectant and New Mothers 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 benefit 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 Celebration for Expectant and New Mothers will learn more about prenatal care from Hudson nurse case managers and Hudson’s Mommy & Me program, which guides women through pregnancy and the first two years of a child’s life. Hudson also will lead a “Learning Circle” discussion based on the book, “What to Do When Your Child Is Sick,” copies of which will be given to all expectant and new mothers at the shower.

Hudson’s Community Celebration for Expectant and New Mothers is supported by Open Door Family Medical Centers, the Latino Network of Port Chester, and The Carver Center. While the event is free, the public is encouraged to register by emailing Carmen Reyes at creyes@hudsonhealthplan.org or calling 914-372-2090. For more information or to schedule an appointment with a Hudson Health Plan Certified Application Counselor, the public is invited to visit www.hudsonhealthplan.org.