Thinking about having a baby? The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is urging women to participate in an anonymous survey about healthy weight management before their pregnancy starts. The survey will remain open through March 1. The Health Department will enter participants names into a raffle for a chance to win several $25 gift cards. The survey is available in English and Spanish. Nearly 50 people responded to the survey as of Feb. 13.
Several County health department programs are involved in the project. They include the Improved Pregnancy Outcomes Program, the African American Health Program, and Babies Born Healthy.
Obesity and Infant Mortality
A county report showed in 2021 that nearly half of all women who lost a baby during or shortly after childbirth were overweight or obese before their pregnancy started.
The Health Department says it is important for overweight or obese women to address these issues to improve their chances of delivering a healthy baby and lower the infant mortality rate.
“The data is clear in Montgomery County that unhealthy weight can lead to unhealthy pregnancy outcomes,” Jacquelyn Williams, co-chair of the African American Health Program executive committee said.
Survey’s Goals
One of the goals of the survey is to identify messages health care providers can use to motivate patients to attain a healthy weight before they become pregnant. Once the survey is conducted, the Health Department will share its findings with primary care doctors, obstetricians, and other health care professionals who advise women before they become pregnant or who counsel women in between pregnancies. The survey results should be known by the end of March.
Programs to Help Pregnant Women
The Health Department says it is committed to helping women have positive outcomes when they are pregnant. Two of its programs, Babies Born Healthy and S.M.I.L.E. (Starting More Infants Living Equally Healthy) offer home nursing care for pregnant and postpartum women. A nurse will come to a patient’s home and provide information about good nutrition and healthy eating.
The Babies Born Healthy program serves black women and their infants who live in specific zip codes within the East County region and Silver Spring area. The patients must be Medicaid recipients. Nurses will provide information and care during a woman’s pregnancy and postpartum period. The care will cover the mother and the infant as well. The S.M.I.L.E. program also will provide home nursing care for black pregnant women and their children until the newborn turns one regardless of insurance status.
Nationwide Problem
The problem of obesity and infant mortality is not unique to Montgomery County. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in 2020. It found the infant mortality rate for obese women under 30 was 27%-52% higher than women under 30 with a normal weight. Those numbers dramatically increased for women 30 and over. The CDC says the infant mortality rate for obese women over 30 was 64% to 92% higher than women 30 and over who had a normal weight.
