The Service Tree lists all services in "branched" groups, starting with the very general and moving to the very specific. Click on the name of any group name to see the sub-groups available within it. Click on a service code to see its details and the providers who offer that service.
Mother and Infant Care
Breastfeeding Support Programs
Programs that provide information and instruction concerning appropriate techniques for nursing an infant for expectant parents or new mothers.
Programs that offer classes or other educational experiences which prepare prospective mothers and their birth partners emotionally and physically for the labor and birth process. Topics covered include anatomy and physiology of birth, relaxation and breathing techniques, different types of labors, birthing/delivery options and postpartum care. Also included are programs that prepare other members of the family (grandparents and siblings) for the arrival of a new family member.
Programs that provide facilities and/or necessary medical attention for women who are ready to give birth.
Programs that offer the services of doulas, women experienced in childbirth who are specially trained to provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support for pregnant women before, during and just after labor and childbirth. The doula helps in the development of a birth plan; provides an objective view of the progress of labor; helps the woman make adjustments if unexpected demands or complications arise; guides her in breathing techniques, positioning, massage and use of the bath, shower, birth ball, hot and cold packs and other comfort measures; communicates with her birth partner; and makes one or more postpartum visits to the family's home following birth to offer guidance and support during the early weeks of parenting. "Doula" is a Greek word for "women helping women".
Programs that provide shelter, care and support services, which often include counseling regarding future plans and instruction in child care and development, for pregnant women who are unable to remain in their own homes.
Programs that utilize licensed midwives (registered or certified nurses who have received additional specialized training in maternal and child health care and the management of labor and delivery) to provide health care services for mothers and infants during pregnancy and delivery and following birth.
Post Pregnancy Shelter/Transitional Housing
Programs that provide a safe, secure living environment and supportive services (which may include educational opportunities, life skills training, financial planning, parenting education and counseling) for single mothers and their infants following birth. The objective of the program is to help residents become self-sufficient and move ahead with their lives by finishing school, acquiring job skills and learning to be good parents.
Programs that provide medical care for expectant mothers from the time of conception to the onset of labor to ensure their own physical well-being and the healthy development and birth of their child. Services generally include identification of risk factors based on age, health and/or personal and family history that may affect a woman's pregnancy; diet and lifestyle advice; routine checkups to look for signs of problems associated with pregnancy (such as edema, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes) and to assure that the pregnancy is progressing well; ultrasound and other forms of prenatal testing to monitor fetal development and check for possible birth defects; and general information about being pregnant, e.g., what is normal and what is cause for concern, remedies for morning sickness or sleeplessness, managing weight gain and other common issues.
Safe Havens for Abandoned Newborns
Hospitals, health centers, police stations, fire houses and other facilities that are willing to accept, without questions, newborn babies delivered by mothers who are unwilling or unable to care for an infant and are thereby at risk for abandonment. Police reports are generally not filed and no attempt is made to contact the mother's family, even in situations where her identity is known. Infant safe haven statutes vary by jurisdiction with regard to who may leave a baby at a safe haven, the age of the baby at the time of relinquishment, the facilities that can be designated as safe havens, the responsibilities of safe haven providers, anonymity protection for parents and the consequences of relinquishment.