Text4Baby Offers Health Information to Expectant Mothers

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Another Mother’s Day is nearly upon us, and what most new mothers (or mothers-
to-be) could use more than flowers, cards, and even jewelry is the helpful information
provided by the Text4Baby program (okay, go ahead and throw in the jewelry if you
must). In truth, this program is 100% free for anyone with a cell phone; provided you
have coverage with one of the 18 carriers listed on the website, the text messages they
send you will not count against your plan limits. But what is this program and what can it
do for expectant moms?

If knowledge is power, then this program can give pregnant women the diadem
and scepter of parenthood. Every mother’s fondest wish is that her child be healthy
and happy, and by providing you with frequent and targeted health updates, advice,
and reminders (sent to your mobile phone), this program will help you to make the
choices that are best for your health and that of your unborn child. It was developed
in conjunction with Johnson & Johnson (a founding sponsor), the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, or CDC (which provided pertinent information for updates), and
CTIA – The Wireless Foundation, a nonprofit organization acting on behalf of members
in the wireless community (bringing technology to the table). And with these strange
bedfellows working in concert, a program was created to bring important knowledge to
moms that could use a little help on the health front.

The program works quite simply by sending out text messages containing helpful
health information to expectant and new mothers. All you need is a phone that can
receive text messages to get started and you can sign up via the Text4Baby website or
by texting BABY (or BEBE, para Español) to 511411 to register. You will then be asked
to enter either your due date or your newborn’s birthday along with your zip code, and if
your due date shifts or you give birth you can simply text UPDATE to the same number
to make sure your information is current in the system.

The reason for providing this data is that the program sends informational text
messages that target your particular stage of pregnancy or parenthood, imparting
pertinent facts and even reminders 2-3 times each week until your baby is a year
old. Topics are wide-ranging, and may include (but aren’t limited to) prenatal care,
nutrition, physical and mental health, labor, delivery, immunizations, and breastfeeding.
You may also receive information pertaining to subjects that are slightly more taboo,
but nonetheless relevant to many women, such as substance abuse and domestic
violence. Not all of the information will pertain to you, but it doesn’t take a masters degree in health administration to know that you could just
learn something new.

In truth, a study conducted by the school of medicine at the University of San Diego
found that of those users polled, over 75% received new information, more than 70%
took the information to their doctors for advice, and upwards of 63% were reminded of
an appointment or immunization that they had forgotten about thanks to Text4Baby.
And all told, the program has reached more than 320,000 women since it launched
back in 2010. So if you’re an expectant mother seeking answers (or looking for the right
questions), there’s no reason not to sign up for this freebie and start reaping the healthy
benefits that knowledge can bring to you and your child.