Research shows that women who do not receive prenatal care are three times more likely to have low birth weight (i.e., less than 5 ½ pounds) babies. Some of the reasons why pregnant women delay the needed prenatal care include the inability to afford medical care or health insurance, lack of transportation, problems understanding the Medicaid process, or even lack of available medical services in their community.
Cobb & Douglas Public Health offers several programs to help reduce those barriers, increasing the accessibility to prenatal care. We help women get started — early — with the care and guidance needed for a healthy pregnancy. We offer Prenatal Screening and Referral, Pregnancy Testing, Presumptive Eligibility Pregnancy Medicaid Enrollment, Perinatal Case Management, and Babies Born Healthy. These programs assist pregnant women every step of the way from pregnancy verification through their infant’s first birthday.
Our staff provide critical clinical care, linkage to services and even home visiting to assure a pregnant woman is connected to prenatal medical care, proper nutrition support, injury prevention, immunizations and diagnosis/treatment for infectious diseases to increase the likelihood that she has a safe and healthy pregnancy and that her baby has the best start possible when born.
Our Babies Born Healthy program is funded by generous public and private donors to help assure that a pregnant woman has access to quality prenatal medical care. In some cases, our residents do not have health insurance and are not eligible for Medicaid because of their citizenship status and/or income. Cobb & Douglas Public Health partners with local, quality OB physicians who agree to provide their services at a reduced rate. Our clients contribute financially to their care as they are able and Cobb & Douglas Public Health, through our donors, helps fill the gap as the payor-of last-resort.
For more information, click here or call Cobb & Douglas Public Health at 770-514-2300
Pregnancy Assistance/Babies Born Healthy
Success Story
Rebecca, a resilient 20-year-old, faced the emotional upheaval of a high-risk pregnancy with twins. An early ultrasound brought heartbreaking news—one of her babies no longer had a heartbeat. Amidst this profound loss, Rebecca also confronted the challenge of high blood pressure, intensifying the complexities of her pregnancy.
Guided by the expertise of a compassionate perinatologist specializing in high-risk pregnancies, Rebecca navigated this difficult journey. Her healthcare team vigilantly monitored her condition, ensuring both her safety and that of her surviving baby. At 36 weeks, Rebecca gave birth prematurely to her precious child. Though the newborn had a low birth weight, Rebecca’s heart was filled with joy as she brought her baby home.
Postpartum, Rebecca received invaluable support from Children 1st, whose dedicated nurse provided follow-up care and guidance. This ongoing support played a crucial role in ensuring both mother and baby thrived. Today, she cherishes every moment with her child, grateful for the expert support that has laid the foundation for a healthy and promising future.