Have a Healthy Pregnancy + Delivery with Baby Blocks :: A New Mobile Incentive Program for Moms-To-Be #uhcbabyblocks

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by UnitedHealthcare and Baby Blocks.

With National Prematurity Awareness Month upon us, it's a great time to raise awareness of and increase safe and healthy pregnancies and deliveries.

Did you know that full-term is considered 39 weeks by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)?

Last year more than 11 percent of the babies born nationwide were considered premature. Full-term deliveries are important for the health of babies and mothers, especially considering that births before 37 weeks of pregnancy account for 35 percent of all infant deaths, according to the CDC. The risks and potential complications associated with elective deliveries before 39 weeks, such as respiratory problems and developmental delays, are all too real. Although my mom naturally went into labor at 37.5 weeks with me, I ended up with a 2-week NICU stay for underdeveloped lungs. It happens!

Babies come when they are ready. I realize that there are circumstances that require preterm induction and delivery, but I also know many moms personally that chose and begged their doctor to induce them or schedule an unnecessary c-section up to several weeks before their due date. Honestly, many of these were first-time moms, perhaps not fully educated and aware of the implications of their choice. Considering that 42 weeks is considered full term, it's important to consider that you could potentially be depriving your baby from weeks of development that they need.

In light of the seriousness of prematurity, I'd like to share about Baby Blocks. This new mobile interactive incentive program from UnitedHealthcare is now available to help encourage moms to complete prenatal, postpartum, and healthy-baby appointments. This program is now available to Medicaid beneficiaries in 14 states and people enrolled in employer-sponsored health plans. By keeping these appointments, moms-to-be have more opportunities to be encouraged by health professionals to have a healthy and full-term pregnancy for the future health of their child.

Within a few short months I'm sure I'll be complaining about all the woes of late pregnancy, but the reality is that babies need to come when they are ready - not when mom is "done". I was soooo done those last few weeks, unable to walk without incredible pain from my son's transverse position. But I knew Buddy needed to cook a bit longer, finally arriving just a day shy of 40 weeks. To all the expectant parents out there, please take the opportunity to learn just how important the last few remaining weeks are for their baby’s development and health.