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March 12, 2018

Common pregnancy questions asked

pregnant woman sitting in grass by lake

Welcoming a new life into this world is an exhilarating and special time. Whether you’re a first-time mom, or already have children, you can always learn how to make your pregnancy the healthiest experience possible for both you and baby.

At Family First Health, we have a team of community health workers in our Connections for a Healthy Pregnancy program who are trained to help you navigate through pregnancy and motherhood. We picked some of the top asked pregnancy questions that future moms have.

Q: How do I calculate my baby’s due date?

 A: When you announce your pregnancy, the first question you’ll likely be asked is, “when’s your due date?” However, due dates are typically difficult to calculate because there are a number of factors that can impact how pregnancy stages are identified, which is why only about 5 percent of women deliver their babies on their actual due date.

When doctors calculate your due date, they will count 280 days from the start of your last menstrual cycle or 38 weeks from your conception date. However, if you have irregular cycles, are unsure about when your last cycle was, or you don’t know when you conceived, schedule an appointment as soon as possible to have this verified with a pelvic exam, early ultrasound, or blood test. These are the most accurate ways doctors can identify your due date.

Q: How important is it to take prenatal vitamins?

A: Standard adult multivitamins help to fill in the nutrition gaps one might have, even if he/she is eating a healthy diet. Prenatal vitamins work in the same way; however, they put stress on a few other vitamins that can help your baby develop properly, specifically folic acid and iron.

Folic acid prevents major abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord, and iron supports baby growth and prevents anemia. Other nutrients you want to look for in your prenatal vitamins are omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and vitamin D. Prenatal vitamins can be taken during all pregnancy stages, and some doctors recommend taking them three months before trying to get pregnant, in order to nurture the growing egg.

But remember, all of these vitamins are a complement to a healthy diet, and not a substitute for one.

Q: How can I prevent or treat stretch marks?

A: Stretch marks are the red badges of motherhood that 90 percent of moms-to-be will experience. Common places to find them developing are across the hips, thighs, breasts, and of course, the belly. Stretch marks are closely tied to genetics; however, there are a few ways you can work to minimize their prominence.

Start by drinking more water to hydrate the skin, apply a rich moisturizing cream to help with the itching and tightness, and finally, focus your efforts on fading the marks with gels and creams containing hyaluronic acid after pregnancy.

Q: What are my restrictions while pregnant?

 A: There are certainly a number of hard and fast rules you can go by for what not to do while pregnant, like using drugs or alcohol, for example. In general, though, your pregnant and pre-pregnant lives shouldn’t be all that different. It is time, however, to put your sushi lunches on a hiatus because raw meat and uncooked seafood should be completely avoided while pregnant. Along with that, step away from fish with high levels of mercury, raw eggs, soft cheeses and unpasteurized dairy because it could contain listeria.

Be mindful about raising your body temperature too much during the first trimester, with hot tubs or saunas for example, because elevated body temperatures could lead to certain birth defects for baby.

Each woman’s pregnancy is different, and it’s important to feel open to ask any and all questions you have; community health workers can help. Visit our website to learn more about how Connections for a Health Pregnancy can help guide you through the steps of pregnancy, and get the resources you need to welcome a healthy baby.

pregnant woman sitting in grass by lake

January 30, 2018

What to Expect at Your First OB Appointment

If you’re feeling nervous as you approach your first OB appointment, you’re not alone. After taking an at-home pregnancy test, it’s normal to have lots of questions.

First, don’t delay your first OB appointment! Schedule a prenatal appointment as soon as you know you are pregnant. That way, you can begin care right away.

What should you expect at your first OB appointment? Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Your first OB appointment will likely be longer.

Your first OB visit is a great opportunity for your health care team to get to know you better.  It’s also a time for you to get more comfortable with the nurses and providers caring for you and your baby.

If you’ve only seen your provider once a year, or you did not meet with certain members of your health care team prior to pregnancy, it’s important to build this relationship. After all, they’ll be caring for your health and the health of your baby!

Be prepared to start from the beginning.

Your OB will want to know any vital dates, including the date of your last menstrual period. They’ll also want to hear a pretty comprehensive medical history.

Consider bringing information or notes to help you remember specifics. This can be helpful both for your history and your family history. Also, bring a list of any medications you are currently taking and be sure to mention any medication allergies.

At your first OB appointment, your provider will confirm your pregnancy through a urine test. They will also perform a physical exam, including a pap smear, cervical cultures and possibly an ultrasound. They will also draw blood for several laboratory tests. These tests help to identify risks for any specific complications in your pregnancy.

Your OB will address any basic questions…

It’s common for you to have questions for your OB on diet, exercise and nutrition. What should you eat? What should you not eat? Often these are the first concerns when you become pregnant.

Your healthcare provider will likely also address safe use of over-the-counter medications or any environmental hazards, travel limitations and miscarriage precautions. They may also give recommendations for prenatal vitamins.

But don’t be afraid to add your own questions!

Every person is different, and every pregnancy is different. It is important to come to your first OB appointment with questions of your own. Also remember that your OB is your partner in this process. It’s important to be completely honest.

Don’t be afraid to ask:

  • Who can I call if I have questions?
  • How much weight should I be gaining?
  • Do I need to change any habits regarding exercise, eating or lifestyle?
  • Is it safe to ____________________ (Dye my hair? Lift heavy items? Etc.)
  • How often do I need to schedule OB appointments moving forward?

Your healthcare provider may also be able to connect you with resources in the community to provide additional support, outside of your OB visits.

One such program, Connections For A Healthy Pregnancy, helps to guide expectant moms in their journey. This may include how to navigate appointments with different doctors or advice on healthy behaviors. The program also shares information on community resources — how do I apply for WIC? Where can I receive assistance with low-cost baby items or clothing? What if I need help getting to and from my OB appointments?

If you’re worried about your first OB appointment or support for your pregnancy, contact Connections For A Healthy Pregnancy today. Call Family First Health at 717-801-4812.

translator program

August 15, 2016

Better translation, better patient care

When you’re feeling sick, you call your doctor for an appointment and explain what’s going on. Then when your doctor enters, they ask you questions. You answer. And they come up with a plan to make you feel better.

But what if you can’t even tell your doctor what’s wrong? Or even understand the questions you’re being asked. The entire thing becomes a game of hand gestures and misunderstandings. Here at Family First Health, we have a lot of Spanish-speaking staff, but what about the other languages? We use a system where we can call and get a translator on the phone, but then you’re exchanging the phone between patient and translator to doctor, back to patient, back to translator. It can be confusing and it can take up a lot of time – in fact we used on average, more than 2,500 minutes. Plus it’s impersonal.

Our Chief Information Technology Officer Eric Rios shows off the new Stratus video translator.
Our Chief Information Technology Officer Eric Rios shows off the new Stratus video translator.

Our Chief Information Technology Officer Eric Rios reached out to our friends at Welsh Mountain who were using a system called Stratus Video. It’s a video interpretation system and looks like an iPad mounted on top of a stand. Instead of handing the phone off to all of the parties involved where not everyone can hear what’s going on, Stratus works like this …

A patient comes in and uses sign language. So we bring in the Stratus, click the button for American Sign Language, and up pops a real person on the screen. That person then signs to the patient and translates as everyone watches the screen and participates in the conversation. It definitely cuts down on the back and forth, plus it’s a real person you can see.

Family First Health has four machines at our sites now for a 60 day trial. The machine itself is free, and we pay for the minutes we use. So there’s also a cost-saving benefit there as well.

But at the end of the day, it’s about the patient and his or her relationship with Family First Health staff as they work toward better health. The goal, Rios said, is always to “give customers a better overall experience.”

heart with pulse line

August 4, 2016

Making substance use and addiction part of the conversation

The former journalist in me is always reading new articles and sending them along to people I think might find them interesting. Lately, those poor souls getting a lot of my emails are our behavioral health staff.

Why? Because I feel like there are more great stories out there about mental health than ever. It used to be something no one talked about, and now that’s changing. More specifically, more people are talking openly about addiction and heroin, to help educate others and remember those they’ve lost.

A recent Washington Post story caught my eye, as it focused on some families who decided to put in their children’s obituaries, that those children died from overdoses. As a former editor, I used to scan obits regularly to see if there was anything we missed. In many cases of younger people or those without cause of death, it was easy for someone in the business to assume it was overdose related. But that probably isn’t the case for most people out there.

The obits mentioned in the WaPo story were poignant, heartbreaking and so important.

We loved Ryan with all of our hearts, but we now know that was not enough to shield him from the world. . . . While we always felt we had some grip on Ryan’s issues, his ability to hide and disguise his addiction proved superior to our parental control. . . . To all parents, pay attention to your children and the world that revolves around them.

She will be best remembered for her free spirit, love of life, and the incredible strength she had while enduring so much pain that came from her struggles with addiction.

In their grief, these parents want others to know that no one is immune and we should be talking about these issues.

That’s precisely what our behavioral health team is up to. I’ve been working with them recently to develop materials to pass out to others regarding some of our collaborative care – for adults, for children with challenging behavior, and for substance use.

The substance use initiative is called SAFER – Safety, Awareness, Freedom, Empowerment, Resilience. And our staff wants you know know they ASK EVERYONE.

In the words of our behavioral health coordinator, Stacey Burroughs – “Stigma is beginning to gasp for air.”

No one is being singled out. All doors are open. And our staff is here to ask, listen and help, if needed.

It’s pretty cool to see behind the scenes as we move forward with some great initiatives to really care for the whole person – body, mind and soul.

Click here to read the entire Washington Post story.

mental health word cloud

July 13, 2016

Changing the conversation about mental health

Stacey Burroughs, our Behavioral Health Coordinator, is hard at work bring mental health into our daily conversations about health. She’s working on integrating behavioral health into the workplace and our patients lives. Take a look at a note she sent out to our staff recently talking about where we’re going.

Thanks Stacey for being such a champion for open discussion and acceptance! Learn more about what we’re doing here.

The door to mental health is open in this country. We’ve realized that one door isn’t enough and not everyone will come through the front door. So we’re rapidly building more doors, with entry points through the side, the back, and even through the basement. We know these entry ways as the judicial system, the public school system, and primary care. That’s where you come in.

Each of us has a unique opportunity in our role to hang up a welcome sign, and to convey in our words and actions that Family First Health is a safe place for patients and staff members to speak frankly about all aspects of health and wellness, including mental health. We are charged with normalizing conversations about mood, safety, trauma, substance use, memory, and brain health. We have hope today that stigma around behavioral health will be reduced, and eventually cease to exist. Not so long ago, there was great stigma attached to conditions like epilepsy, and intellectual disability. Stigma is almost always based in misinformation and misconception. As we bring topics into the light of conversation, we understand the conditions and one another at a deeper level.

Brain and behavioral health is as relevant to every one of us as oral health, heart health, and reproductive health. Let’s continue to create a culture of safety for our patients and colleagues by inviting conversations, and always keeping our doors open.

group in parenting class

April 27, 2016

Hanover parenting classes kick off

20160426_180207

Our free Hanover parenting classes kicked off this week with “Parenting the Love and Logic Way” with our friends from Family-Child Resources.

Over six weeks, those in attendance of the parenting classes will learn tools to help them better raise responsible, respectful kids.

The goal? To love our kids so much that we’re willing to set limits. And to do so with sincere compassion and empathy. Logic happens when we allow our kids to make decisions and affordable mistakes.

In each class – held every Tuesday at our Hanover Center – the parents will learn a skill. They’re asked to experiment with the skill as homework. Each week will add another which builds off the previously-learned skill. The first week was putting an end to arguing, back talk and begging (something we think all parents know too well).

20160426_181859

Our parents started off with a video that explained some tips for when you’re arguing with your child.

Step one: Go “brain dead.” The less your lips move, the more effective you become.

Step two: Simply repeat the same, calm, one-liner. “I know.” Don’t be angry, don’t be sarcastic. Give them very little ammunition.

Why’s this so important? Kids crave attention. So if you’re calm and give them little to work with, they’ll likely move on.

We also learned some great tips to help build a relationship like – at least once a day notice something special about them. Love them when they’re behaving not so lovable, and more!

It was a great start to the six-week program of parenting classes. Thanks to our parents for attending and to Patient Care Coordinator Hyacinth Gayle for organizing!

Celebrating National Nurses Week

April 26, 2016

Celebrate nurses this National Nurses Week

nfp
May 6 to 12 is National Nurses Week so let’s take the time to celebrate all of the nurses we have here at five Family First Health sites!

During the week-long celebration, we want to draw some attention to our Nurse-Family Partnership program, which connects qualifying first-time mothers with an at-home nurse who visits through the baby’s second birthday.

It’s a great program that’s proven to bring success. Three randomized, controlled trials demonstrate that Nurse-Family Partnership delivers against its goals of better pregnancy outcomes, improved child health and development, and increased economic self-sufficiency. These outcomes contribute to preventing child abuse, reducing juvenile crime, and increasing school readiness.

In 2015, our nurses served 188 mothers with a total of 2,036 visits!

One of our mothers, Suleyka was attending Vo Tech when her daughter was born. She wanted to be done with school, but her nurse Judy kept encouraging her to go back and finish.

“If it wasn’t for her [Judy], I was going to get out of school. I was ready to finish, I wasn’t going to go back. She encouraged me to think about other options, think about the baby.”

Judy helped to walk her through a choices facilitator that outlined some the impact of choosing not to go back to school. Judy said, “So you don’t go back to school, so what is this going to do. You’re not going to graduate from high school, not going to be able to get a good paying job, not going to be able to provide the things your daughter needs or wants.”

When asked the best thing about her nurse, Suleyka shared: “When she helped me to think about things before I quit school. I thought nobody cared about it, but she really really cared and she was there for me.”

You can help us help more first-time mothers like Suleyka succeed through our Nurse-Family Partnership program by making a donation during this National Nurses Week.

There are four donation levels that let you make a DIRECT impact in one of our NFP homes. Making a donation is as easy as clicking on this link.

$25 –  Keeping them fed and clean – You get diapers and formula into the hands of a first-time mother for her child.

$50 – Get a move on – A mother gets an umbrella stroller for getting around in ease.

$75 – Checking in – This covers a developmental assessment for a child to determine that milestones are being met at certain stages.

$100 – Riding in style – This donation gets a car seat for a first-time mom and her child to keep them safe on the road.

 

 

FFH 2015 annual report cover

April 22, 2016

A look at who we serve during Minority Health Month

April is Minority Health Month and because we just published our annual report, I wanted to share some of our numbers with you.

In 2015, we served 21,304 patients at our five sites with a total of 68,717 visits.

FFH-AnnualReport-2015_Final-Cover_03302016-231x300

Let’s break down those patients by race:

13,737 – White

3,794 – Unreported

3,671 – Black/African American

102 – Other

Of those patients, 57% identify as Hispanic or Latino. And 18% are best served in a language other than English. 55% of them live under the poverty line.

When looking at insurance, most of our patients have Medicaid – 11,565 of them to be exact. 4,457 are uninsured. 1,852 have Medicare, 3,101 have private insurance and 329 have public insurance.

Learn more about what we’ve been up to in 2015 and who we’ve served in our annual report.

Take a full look at our 2015 annual report here.

April 6, 2016

Patient benefits busy helping you

The Healthcare Marketplace may be closed, but that doesn’t mean our Patient Benefits staff isn’t here — ready and able — to help you year round. In fact, our patients still have options: Medicaid or HealthChoices and CHIP coverage.

Also, if you lose your insurance at any time, you may qualify for a special enrollment period to enroll in the Marketplace — which may be a better option than Cobra.

From Jan. 1 to March 31, our team has:

  • Assisted 460 clients
  • Done 199 enrollments
  • Enrolled 156 families
  • Had 3 rapid responses they attended to

Get friendly, in-person help to apply for insurance by calling our Patient Benefits Department at 717-846-5846, Option 6. Tammy, Arlene and Denise are here and ready to help.

Health Insurance Marketplace Enrollment Assistance

 

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