TUCSON, Ariz. -- The March of Dimes – Arizona Chapter has awarded an $18,880 grant  to The University of Arizona Medical Center Healthy Pregnancy Project toprovide free, early prenatal education to expectant mothers.

 

“The grant will allow us to educate women at the very beginning of their pregnancy about eating right, avoiding drugs and alcohol and leading a healthy lifestyle for the best pregnancy possible for themselves and their babies,” said Vicki Began, RN, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at The University of Arizona Medical Center – University Campus.

 

The two-hour class will emphasize the importance of regular prenatal care, how to recognize problem signs and the necessity of seeking prompt medical care if problems arise – all of which have been shown to reduce the rate of premature birth.

 

With its cadre of perinatal specialists and Level 3 Nursery ICU, The University of Arizona Medical Center cares for many high-risk obstetrical patients, as well as many refugee, low-income and medically underserved women. Part of the Healthy Pregnancy Project will focus on directing these vulnerable patients to community resources, such as the Women, Infants and Children’s program (WIC) and Medicaid.

 

The class will be offered routinely to women who call the hospital to request an obstetrical appointment. The hospital hopes to steer as many as 1,800 patients into the early pregnancy class, even before their first prenatal visit with a physician. The class will be offered in Spanish and English and soon-to-be fathers are welcome to attend, said Laurie Stephen, family education coordinator at The University of Arizona Medical Center.

 

This grant is one of the many ways March of Dimes helps fulfill its mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, prematurity and infant mortality.  Through the Healthy Pregnancy Project, moms-to-be learn the skills they need for an optimal start in life for their children, said Beth Mulcahy, state director of program services and public affairs for the March of Dimes – Arizona Chapter.

 

“We are happy to award grant funding to The University of Arizona Medical Center to educate women very early in their pregnancies about what they can do to prevent pre-term birth,” she said.  “Support for March of Dimes events, such as March for Babies, makes it possible for us to give back to programs such as these in Arizona that further our mission of giving every baby a healthier start in life.”

The March of Dimes is the leading non-profit organization for pregnancy and baby health.  With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, please visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

About The University of Arizona Medical Center
The University of Arizona Medical Center – University Campus is the flagship hospital of The University of Arizona Health Network, the state’s premier academic medical system. Its mission is to advance health and wellness through education, research and patient care. More than 2,000 babies are born at The University of Arizona Medical Center – University Campus each year. Its Level 3 Nursery ICU in the Diamond Children’s Medical Center provides highly specialized care to Southern Arizona’s most fragile newborns.