While May 8 is marked on the calendars as Mother’s Day, DOH-Pinellas takes time to celebrate the important role moms play in the lives of their families every single day. Some of the programs we offer to help moms-to-be, new moms and moms working to keep their children healthy and well-nourished include:

• Home Visiting (Healthy Start, Healthy Families and the Nurse-Family Partnership). Raising a thriving child begins in the earliest days of a pregnancy. Our team visits moms-to-be in their homes to assess specific concerns, especially ones which may lead to adverse birth, health, and developmental outcomes. After baby arrives, we continue to provide support, answering the many questions new moms have. These initiatives have made great strides in reducing infant and maternal mortality, decreasing the number of unsafe sleep deaths by half, and making for overall happier and healthier families.

  https://pinellas.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/clinical-and-nutritionservices/ maternal-child-health/index.html

• WIC and Nutrition. Growing children need high quality nutrition to thrive, and their moms need the same to keep pace with their little ones. That’s why our Women, Infants and Children nutrition staff provides access to wholesome food, nutrition education, and referrals to health care when necessary.

  https://pinellas.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/clinical-and-nutritionservices/ wic/index.html

• WIC Breastfeeding Program. While it may seem the easiest and most natural way to feed a baby, new moms sometimes need a little help getting started breastfeeding. That’s why our lactation consultants and peer counselors are available to offer advice, support, and breast pumps to qualifying clients and resources for moms looking to feed their babies.

  https://pinellas.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/clinical-and-nutritionservices/ wic/breastfeeding/index.html

These services are offered in addition to no-cost childhood vaccinations, school-based health services and dental sealants, breast and cervical cancer early detection, childcare licensing, and many others. After all, a happy, healthy family is the best gift a mom can give her children.

For information about DOH-Pinellas, go to www.PinellasHealth.com or call (727) 824- 6900. Follow us on Facebook, Nextdoor, and Twitter at @HealthyPinellas for the latest agency updates.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.