Healthy Babies

Healthy Babies addresses the health and well-being of mom and baby during pregnancy and the first few months of life. Through subsidized prenatal medical care, supportive mental health services, transportation to these vital medical appointments, childbirth education, and lactation support services we are able to ensure babies are born healthy to prepared parents.

Prenatal Care:

FKHSC works in partnership with local OB/GYNs who provide ten prenatal and one postpartum visits to Healthy Babies clients. Studies have shown that proper prenatal care is essential to preventing low-birth weight infants and fetal/infant mortality and morbidity. To participate in this program, you must be an active Healthy Start client.

Transportation Services:

FKHSC provides transportation for pregnant women and infants to their necessary prenatal, postpartum, and infant wellness medical appointments.

Mental Health:

FKHSC also works in partnership with four local mental health professionals who provide counseling sessions for parents and families that are experiencing challenges related to PMAD and loss. PMAD stands for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, encompassing a wider variety of diagnoses formerly known as postpartum depression.

Virtual Breastfeeding and Childbirth Education Classes:

FKHSC offers virtual Childbirth and Breastfeeding Education Classes on a quarterly basis. Pre-registration is required: Click here to learn more.

Labor Doula Services:

The Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition offers doula support to families delivering at Lower Keys Medical Center. Due to the limited availability of trained doulas, our support for families giving birth in the Homestead and Miami area is currently on a case-by-case basis.

If you are interested in working with a labor doula, please click on the link to complete our short form: Labor Doula Request. Someone from our team will contact you to discuss your needs and the availability of doulas in your area.

For more information about Healthy Babies or to get started on becoming a Healthy Start client, contact Jessica Lariz at 305-676-3841.

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Why Healthy Babies Matters:

The need for these services in the Florida Keys is significant. During our financial year of 2020- 2021, we provided transportation to 139 pregnant women to 446 subsidized prenatal care appointments, driving a total of 17,880 miles to ensure that they received prenatal care. We provided over 206 hours of one-on-one counseling sessions with our mental health professional to 18 mothers experiencing PMAD (previously known as postpartum depression). We coached 29 moms and their partners to meet their breastfeeding goals and empowered 26 families for their childbirth experience through childbirth class. Over the next year, this program will grow to include labor and bereavement doula support. We will also be partnering with local agencies and the hospitals to address the OBGYN and Pediatric crisis in our community.

Mental Health Program

Feeling overwhelmed after having a baby? You're not alone.

Many moms and families experience a range of emotions after childbirth, including stress, anxiety, or even sadness. These feelings are completely normal, but if they're making it hard to cope, we can help. The Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition offers a supportive and confidential program to assist families facing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and loss. PMADs encompass a wider range of experiences than what was once called postpartum depression.

We partner with caring mental health professionals who offer individual and group counseling in English, Spanish, and Creole. Whether you prefer in-person or virtual sessions, we have resources available throughout Monroe County to fit your needs. If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or simply want to talk to someone, our team is here to listen without judgment.

HUMAN SERVICES

ADVISORY BOARD

The Healthy Babies Program would not be possible without the support of these funders.