COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Helping moms and saving babies - that's the goal of a new program kicking off in Collier County. The Nook Project aims to prevent health risks - such as premature births, low birth-weights and sudden infant death syndrome - by increasing the number of women getting prenatal care as early in their pregnancies as possible.
According to the Florida Department of Health, Collier County is below the state average for expectant mothers seeing a physician during their first trimester.
"We want to get mothers in their first trimester of care," said Danna Breeden , a registered nurse who heads to the Nook Project at DOH- Collier.
"Some don't understand the need for prenatal care and what can happen (without it,)" Breeden said. "Sometimes it is an issue with insurance. That's why we want to encourage them to come in, so we can help them with these issues."
She said that expectant moms can earn points by attending prenatal consultation visits and parenting education classes, then redeem those points for items such as pack-and-plays, diapers, breast pumps and baby monitors.
"The goal is, if they start in their first trimester, by the time they have their baby they will stocked with what they need for a newborn," Breeden said. "They automatically earn 300 points if they start in the first trimester."
Referrals to the Nook Project can be made starting in December, and the first clients will be seen in January. For more information, contact Danna Breeden at 239-252-6022.
