First Steps Maternity Support Services provides health and education services to help women have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Pregnant women with Apple Health coverage can receive First Steps Maternity Support Services during pregnancy. Services can begin any time during pregnancy, or even right after delivery.
Infant Case Management (ICM) is the second component of First Steps. This program improves the welfare of infants by providing their parent(s) with information and assistance in order to access needed medical, social, educational, and other services through the infant’s first
year of life. Our Infant Case Managers can see you through the First Steps Maternity Support Services program.
The best time to start is as soon as you learn you are pregnant. At Neighborhood Health you can schedule First Steps Maternity Support Services and WIC appointments consecutively.
A health care team of public health nurses, nutritionists, behavioral health specialists, peer educators and case managers help clients prepare for the physical and family demands of pregnancy and caring for a new baby. Through the First Steps Maternity Support and Infant Case Management programs, clients can conveniently be seen in their own homes.
You can receive services at:
- The Clinic
- Provider’s office
- Home
- Some place else you find comfortable
First Steps Maternity Support Services locations:
12 South 8th Street | Yakima 509.454.4143
Neighborhood Health Sunnyside
627 Scoon Road | Sunnyside
509.837.8200
Neighborhood Health @ Walmart Plaza
2685 E. Lincoln Ave. Suite E | Sunnyside
509.515.0580
Neighborhood Health @ Henry Beauchamp Community Center
1211 S. 7th Street | Yakima
509.853.2372
Home Visiting A member of your maternity-care team will schedule a home visit if you have special concerns or your doctor has restricted your activities.
Brief Counseling. You may feel overwhelmed at times with so many questions about this big new event in your life. Stress, anxiety, sadness and depression can occur but it’s important to minimize the effects on your pregnancy, so our behavioral health specialists are here to help you work through these issues.
Breastfeeding Support and Education. Breastfeeding is the best choice for your baby and we will teach you all about this and feeding your infant. You may choose to join a lactation support group where breastfeeding new moms share tips, problem-solve and share a few laughs. You can also receive these services when you come in to participate in the WIC program.
In our First Steps Maternity Support Services program, visits can be scheduled consecutively with the WIC breastfeeding classes. You’ll learn everything you need to know about breastfeeding your baby. And you’ll have plenty of company as lots of women find they are fearful about not making enough milk or worried it will hurt.
Our team of nutritionists, nurses, community health workers and behavioral health specialists will help you be proud of breastfeeding your baby. There is no doubt that breast milk provides the best possible nutrition for your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding as solids are introduced for 1 year or longer as “mutually desired by mother and infant.”
Nutritional Counseling. Learn about healthy foods for you and your baby from our registered dieticians. We will also help you track your weight gain and manage other health concerns such as high blood pressure and high blood sugar.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education(SNAP Ed) is another program with incentives for you and your family to eat in a healthful way. Cooking classes, recipe and shopping tips and group support for maintaining a healthy weight are all a part of this successful program which women and their husbands or partners, as well as children, find fun and informative.
Neighborhood Health hosts baby showers with Community Health Plan of Washington. Play some games, eat some healthful food and win some prizes.
Let’s start eating healthy and living longer. Call for more information. 454.4143 in Yakima and 837.8200 or 515.0580 in Sunnyside.