Resources for Clients
HUSKY CT HEALTH 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
CDC.gov (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Gestational Diabetes
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health
HEPATITIS C
Postpartum Depression
Womenshealth.gov – Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health – Five Things to Know
Medlineplus.gov – Medical Encyclopedia
Postpartum Depression in Fathers
Pacific Postpartum Society - Tips
Vaccines
Vaccines before, during, and after pregnancy
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.
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
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
Postpartum Depression/Traumatic Birth
Postpartum Support International
MEDICATIONS, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND PREGNANCY
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
University of California at San Francisco
Alcohol
CDC.gov - FASD and Alcohol Use
Cocaine
Methamphetamines
Opioids
CDC.gov - Pregnancy and Opioids Pain 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
BREASTFEEDING
Womenshealth.gov - Making the Decision to Breastfeed
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
BIRTH EXPERIENCES AND BREASTFEEDING SUCCESS
WIC
NUTRITION
SEXUAL HEALTH/BIRTH CONTROL INFORMATION
TEEN PREGNANCY
EMPLOYMENT
Employment Discrimination Information for Pregnancy
MEDICARE/MEDICAID/CT INSURANCE
Healthcare.gov - Getting Medicaid/CHIP
FIND A CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR OR DOULA
International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA)
Birth Bootcamp - Online Classes
FETAL DEVELOPMENT
Mayoclinic.org - First Trimester
Mayoclinic.org - Second Trimester
Mayoclinic.org - Third Trimester
Webmd.com - Fetal Development Slideshow
NORMAL NEWBORN BEHAVIOR
PARENTING
DMHAS Resources for Family Members
Connecticut Parenting Education Network
CDC.gov – Positive 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 - 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
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
APPS
Text4Baby – Mobile Email Messaging
CDC.gov - Milestone Tracker App