Many services offered to assist pregnant women and their families

Observer Staff

10/2/2003 12:00:00 AM

By Mary VanWert, RN, C.L.C. Healthy Start Coordinator

Maajtaag Mnobmaabzid, "A Start of a Healthy Life"-Healthy Start Project, Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan-is a Maternal Child Health Program funded by HRSA designed to assist pregnant women and their families through pregnancy, delivery and for the following two years.

Many services are offered through Healthy Start located in Public Health at the Nimkee Clinic. Services include prenatal counseling and education, labor support, lactation support by certified lactation counselors, private childbirth classes, pre and postnatal home visits, Public Health office visits, monthly breast-feeding support group, monthly family gatherings, women's support group, transportation for doctors appointments, free infant car seats, on-site WIC services for eligible clients, and nutrition services/counseling.

All Nimkee Healthy Start nurses are trained in lactation counseling and have many years of experience in working with nursing mothers and babies. They also have years of knowledge through school and personal experience with nursing their own children.

Through continued support to the breast-feeding program, Nimkee nurses are always available to answer any questions, make hospital visits and home visits. Healthy Start nurses are dedicated to answering all questions. They will consult doctors and professional lactation journals to find a good solution for mom and baby.

Nimkee services are available to any member of a U.S. federally recognized Tribe or descendant living in Arenac, Clare, Isabella, Midland or Missaukee counties. Services are also provided to non-Native women married to a Tribal member during pregnancy and up to six-weeks post-partum.

All pregnant moms, breast-feeding moms, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts and friends, who have breast-fed or are interested in breast-feeding, are invited to attend a breast-feeding brunch in the Nimkee Public Health Kitchen Aug. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.