Text4Baby ~ Keeping up with technology!

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.  In response to this national public health crisis, the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) is launching text4baby, a free mobile information service that provides pregnant women and new moms with information to help them care for their health and give their babies the best possible start in life. 

Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE in Spanish) will receive 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.  Text4baby messages also connect women to prenatal and infant care services and other resources. 

NOTE:  There is NO CHARGE for this service and it does not use any of your paid text messages.

Text messaging represents an enormous yet untapped channel for delivering vital health information to those
who need it most.  Over 1.5 trillion SMS text messages were sent in the U.S. in 2008, with texting use higher
among women of childbearing age.

The text4baby initiative includes a robust evaluation led by The George Washington University with potential to demonstrate the impact of text4baby, and mobile health technology more broadly, on maternal and child health.

About HMHB.  Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies is a recognized leader and resource in maternal and child health, reaching an estimated 10 million health care professionals, parents and policymakers through its membership of over 100 local, state and national organizations.  HMHB was founded in 1981, prompted by the U.S. Surgeon General’s conference on infant mortality.  Six lead organizations established the informal coalition to improve the quality and reach of public and professional education related to prenatal and infant care, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, March of Dimes, American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, National Congress of Parents and Teachers and the U.S. Public Health Service.