It’s April 1 and that means Mayors and Mommies Month has arrived in Nevada! First Lady of Nevada, Kathleen Sandoval, Immunize Nevada and the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services’ Maternal Child Health Division are teaming up with Nevada Mayors to promote maternal and child health through the Text4Baby program, a free national text messaging service providing health and safety information and updates to expecting and new mothers. As of April 1 we already have six Nevada Mayors involved in the Mayors and Mommies initiative and couldn’t be more excited about promoting such a wonderful service witch such amazing people.

As a new parent or expecting mother, there is a lot to keep track of and so much to learn when it comes to keeping mother and baby safe and healthy. Text4Baby provides real-time updates and information that is specific to developmental stages during pregnancy and the first year of life, and it’s all done in 160 characters or less; more importantly, it’s FREE no matter what cell phone provider someone has. The messages provide enough information and offer insight to available resources. It’s an easy way for mothers to stay on top of everything, from well-check visits with their healthcare provider to how to properly install a car seat.

Research shows that simply increasing knowledge and awareness of prenatal, infant and maternal health can help decrease premature births, infant deaths and other prenatal and maternal health problems that can occur during pregnancy or in the child’s first year of life. The United States has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the industrialized world. Text4Baby was created to help educate mothers and provide them with control over their baby’s health as well as their own health.

As part of Mayors and Mommies Month, Immunize Nevada and the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services’ Maternal Child Health Division are asking healthcare providers to get involved by pledging to educate and sign-up at least five mothers for Text4Baby. To learn more about the pledge, visit the Providers Pledge page and sign the pledge.

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