USA Today Profiles 'What To Expect' Author's Efforts To Help Low-Income Pregnant Women

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 04 Jul 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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USA Today on Wednesday profiled the book "Baby Basics," an "easy-to-read pregnancy primer" by Heidi Murkoff, author of the bestselling "What To Expect When You're Expecting." According to Murkoff, the abridged book stemmed from her recognition that the one million low-income women who give birth each year do not have access to the 614-page, $14.95 book.

Consequently, Murkoff established the What To Expect Foundation, which produces "Baby Basics," which has distributed 350,000 copies and been translated into Chinese and Spanish. "All moms should have access to this information," Murkoff said. The foundation also finances programs in which outreach workers in clinic waiting rooms work with women before their prenatal appointments and "Mom's Clubs" to teach women how to have healthy pregnancies.

Executive Director Lisa Bernstein said the foundation also teaches pregnant women to read its books. Bernstein said, "We see pregnancy as this incredibly teachable moment," adding, "We've hidden literacy into prenatal education." Murkoff added that reading helps women have healthier pregnancies, make better medical decisions and become better mothers.

Theodore Barrett -- an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey who started an intensive program for 600 patients with low literacy at his prenatal clinic in Newark, N.J., with foundation funding -- said that each patient received a copy of "Baby Basics" and met with a health educator. After the sessions, Barrett said that fewer women ended up in the emergency department or missed prenatal appointments, and that more returned for post-delivery checkups (Szabo, USA Today, 7/2).

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