Resources for Clients

HUSKY CT HEALTH HEALTHY BEGINNINGS PROGRAM

Healthy Beginnings Program

Healthy Beginnings Health Library

GOVERNMENT WEBSITES/WEBPAGES

Government websites include Women’s Health, Medline, The Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and more. Government websites end in .gov, and are considered the most reliable sources of information, as they are based on scientific evidence.

Many of these links will take you to pregnancy pages. Most of the websites contain information about a wide variety of health concerns. Use the search box in the website to find information about your other health needs.

General Pregnancy Information

Womenshealth.gov

CDC.gov (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Medlineplus.gov

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health

Healthfinder.gov

Gestational Diabetes

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health

CDC.gov

HEPATITIS C

ACOG.org

HCV Advocate Fact Sheet

Postpartum Depression

Womenshealth.gov

Womenshealth.gov – Mental Health

CDC.org

National Institute of Mental Health

National Institute of Mental Health – Five Things to Know

NIH.gov Fact Sheet

Medlineplus.gov

Medlineplus.gov – Medical Encyclopedia

PubMed

Pubmed – What can help?

Mayoclinic.org

ACOG.org

APA.org

March of Dimes

Postpartum Depression in Fathers

CDC.gov

NIH.gov - Article

New York Times - Article

Pacific Postpartum Society - Tips

Vaccines

Vaccines before, during, and after pregnancy

CDC.gov

World Health Organization

FDA.gov

Weight Management

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health

HIV/AIDS

Aids Info, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

ACADEMIC SITES

Academic sites are generally reliable, as they publish information about the research they do which is often government funded.

Mayo Clinic

University of California at San Francisco

MEDICAL AND MIDWIFERY

Medical and midwifery sites contain some evidence-based material and some material that is opinion, based on practice consensus. Guidelines issued by these organizations are recommendations, not hard-and-fast rules. The medical approach is different from the midwifery approach. Other considerations, such as political, financial, and authority-related concerns may underlie the practice recommendations.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

American College of Nurse-Midwives - ACNM (Consumer site)

American College of Nurse Midwives (find a midwife in CT)

Midwives Alliance of North America (Certified Professional Midwives)

National Association of Certified Professional Midwives

ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS

These advocacy organizations are reliable and offer evidence-based information. In general, advocacy organizations take a stance on issues and work to influence policy. Not all advocacy organizations use reliable evidence to support their cause, so it’s important to check their sources.

Pregnancy/Maternity Care

Lamaze - A variety of evidence-based resources for pregnant women

Childbirth Connection (a division of the National Partnership for Women) - Resources for pregnant women and Listening to Mothers Study reports

Evidence Based Birth - Easy-to understand articles on the research regarding common birth interventions

March of Dimes - Healthy pregnancy, premature birth information and support

ImprovingBirth - Resources for self-advocacy, traumatic birth

ImprovingBirth Coalition – free downloads on topics relating to good maternity care practices

Citizens for Midwifery - "What does good maternity care look like?"

Citizens for Midwifery - "Unhappy with your care? File a complaint!"

Cesarean/VBAC

VBAC Facts - Information on Vaginal Birth After Cesarean

International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) - Information about cesarean and support after cesarean birth (including trauma)

Postpartum Depression/Traumatic Birth

Postpartum Support International

Solace for Mothers

MEDICATIONS, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND PREGNANCY

Toxnet - Medication Database

MotherToBaby (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists)  

Up and Away - A program on how to safely store medicines

CDC.gov - Medications and Pregnancy

CDC.gov - Medications During Pregnancy - treating for two

Womenshealth.gov - Pregnancy and Medicines

Womenshealth.gov - Staying Healthy and Safe

FDA.gov - Information relating to drugs, ultrasound, x-ray, food safety, and breast pumps

ACOG.org

University of California at San Francisco

Alcohol

CDC.gov - Alcohol Use

CDC.gov - Alcohol Fact Sheet

CDC.gov - FASD and Alcohol Use

Cocaine

March of Dimes

Drugabuse.gov

Mothertobaby.org

Methamphetamines

Mothertobaby.org

Drugabuse.gov

Opioids

CDC.gov - Pregnancy and Opioids Pain Fact Sheet

ACOG.org

Drugabuse.gov

DMHAS Opioid Fact Sheet

Tobacco

Dept. of Health and Human Services - Tobacco Use and Pregnancy

CDC.gov - Tobacco Use and Pregnancy

METHADONE AND PREGNANCY

Drugabuse.gov - Medication Assisted Treatment During Pregnancy

MENTAL HEALTH

Womenshealth.gov - Mental Health Resources

DMHAS Programs and Services

BREASTFEEDING

Womenshealth.gov - Making the Decision to Breastfeed

Medlineplus.gov

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health - Breastfeeding and Breastmilk

American Academy of Pediatrics Breastfeeding Information

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Breastfeeding Information

CDC.gov – When not to breastfeed

BREASTFEEDING AS BIRTH CONTROL

Planned Parenthood - Breastfeeding as birth control

CDC.gov - Strategies for Supporting Breastfeeding Mothers -

Kellymom.com - Evidence-Based Blog with Extensive Breastfeeding Information

MEDICATIONS AND BREASTFEEDING

Drugabuse.gov - Substance Use While Breastfeeding

Drugs.com - Methadone and Breastfeeding

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT

La Leche League - La Leche League - Support for breastfeeding online and peer-to-peer

Breastfeeding USA -  Mother to mother support for breastfeeding

State Laws regarding breastfeeding

BREASTFEEDING AND HEPATITIS C

CDC.gov

ACOG.org

BIRTH EXPERIENCES AND BREASTFEEDING SUCCESS

The Birth Of A Breastfeeding Mother - Journal article on how the birth process sets the stage for successful breastfeeding

WIC

Eligibility Screening Tool

WIC Fact Sheet

WIC Agencies by State

WIC and Breastfeeding

NUTRITION

Choosemyplate.gov

SEXUAL HEALTH/BIRTH CONTROL INFORMATION

The National Campaign

Planned Parenthood

TEEN PREGNANCY

CDC.gov

EMPLOYMENT

Employment Discrimination Information for Pregnancy

MEDICARE/MEDICAID/CT INSURANCE

Medicare.gov

Healthcare.gov - Getting Medicaid/CHIP

AccessHealthCT.com

FIND A CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR OR DOULA

Lamaze for Parents

International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA)

Birth Bootcamp - Online Classes

The Bradley Method

Childbirth International

CAPPA

toLabor

FETAL DEVELOPMENT

Mayoclinic.org - First Trimester

Mayoclinic.org - Second Trimester

Mayoclinic.org - Third Trimester

Webmd.com - Fetal Development Slideshow

ACOG.org

NORMAL NEWBORN BEHAVIOR

Clevelandclinic.org

Stanfordchildrens.org

University of Rochester

PARENTING

DMHAS Resources for Family Members

Connecticut Parenting Education Network

Connecticut Network of Care

CDC.gov – Positive Parenting Tips

Medlineplus.gov

Love and Logic

PBS.org – Parenting Tips

PARENTING KIDS WITH NAS OR FASD

Strategies for Parenting Children with FASD

Boston Children's Hospital - Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)

Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care Newborn Withdrawal Project

Intermountain Healthcare Newborn Withdrawal Fact Sheet

Vanderbilt Children's Hospital - A Guide for Parents of Babies with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

March of Dimes - Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE

National Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-7233

CDC.gov

CDC.gov - Resources

CDC.gov - Teen Dating Violence Fact Sheet

Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence

OTHER SITES OF INTEREST

These sites are well known sites run by non-profit or for-profit organizations. They are generally reliable, but may be less accepted by care providers than government or medical sites.

Pregnancy.com - Pregnancy information

Whattoexpect.com - Pregnancy information

American Pregnancy Organization - Pregnancy information

Ask Dr. Sears – pregnancy health, parenting, pediatric health, alternate vaccine schedule

Guttmacher Institute - Research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights

North Carolina Pregnancy and Opioid Exposure Project

VIDEOS

Lamaze Video Library

The Birth Lady Channel – curated playlists on YouTube

HOW TO READ RESEARCH

Sage Publications - How to Read a Research Article -

Huffington Post - How to Read and Understand a Scientific Paper

Elsevier.com - Infographic

APPS

Text4Baby – Mobile Email Messaging

Lamaze Mobile App

CDC.gov - Milestone Tracker App