Quality Family Healthcare Starts Before Birth

NorthShore Health Centers works to care for health across the entire spectrum, starting with prenatal care. Early prenatal care is crucial to having a healthy baby. The goal of the program is to promote early entry into prenatal care and to provide education to help reduce low birth weight and infant death. The Prenatal Care Coordination Program can be utilized by women at any point in their pregnancy but in order for the expectant mothers to get the full amount of proper care and nutrition, the optimum time to enroll is 8-12 weeks along. Lab work is done at this point to check levels and make sure everyone is healthy.

During the initial visit, 2-3 home visits are set up with a prenatal coordinator. This allows the expectant mother to receive more education about raising a child, including Lamaze, child birthing techniques, car seat installation, breastfeeding, nutrition, and more, as well as opportunities to receive a car seat, pack and play, and other baby items, based on financial status. The home visits also provide the opportunity for the mother to develop a relationship with the nurses; each mother is given a phone number where they can reach the nurses directly so if a problem arises or they have any questions, they have a resource to help.

While waiting for the little one to arrive, NorthShore offers a unique opportunity to see your baby. 3D/4D ultrasounds provide a first look at the baby much clearer than a standard ultrasound. For $99, expectant parents can receive the ultrasound, two 4x6 color photos, a DVD movie of the session, and a CD of the images. To learn more about 3D/4D ultrasounds, click here.

Labor and delivery is available at several local hospitals: Porter Health Systems, Methodist Hospital-Southlake in Merrillville, Methodist Hospital-Northlake in Gary, and St. Catherine’s Hospital in East Chicago. After delivery and the post partum visit, the family moves into the Family Care Coordination Program. The outreach coordinator is introduced halfway through the pregnancy, and after delivery, the coordinator makes a home visit to check if social service referrals are needed, for daycare, clothing, food, and other baby items. Education is continued, along with preventive care, including immunizations and well-child checks. Regular follow up also provides a support system, to help empower families to care for their own.

NorthShore works hard to bring quality healthcare to the underserved and low income patients, so everyone has a chance to lead healthy, productive lives. To learn more about the Prenatal Care Coordination Program or the Family Care Coordination Program, call 219.763.8112.