Do you have a story you’d like to share about the importance of prenatal care? Have you been involved in a successful program and want to share your story? Do you belong to an organization in Shelby County that could benefit others to ensure their baby is healthy? We are looking for personal stories for the IMRI blog, and we’d like to feature you as a guest blogger! Send an email to ShelbycountyIMRI@gmail.com and someone from our team will be in contact with you.
How convenient would it be to have information right at your fingertips?! In an effort to join the ever-growing world of technology, The Shelby County Health Department created the FREE B4BabyLife mobile app to encourage healthy pregnancies and healthy families as well as to help prevent infant mortality.
David Sweat, MPH
Chief of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease Control
Shelby County Health Department
In Epidemiology, we study patterns of disease and health in populations, and we try to answer questions about what causes the patterns in the first place. Who gets diseases? Who lives longer, and who dies too young? Why do the patterns and trends of health in a given place look the way they do?
Allison Stiles, M.D., FAAP
Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Breastfeeding Medicine
Chair, Shelby County Breastfeeding Coalition
Shine Bright like a BF STAR: Benefits of Social Support of Breastfeeding
By: Shenika Holmes, Public Health Intern (BF STARS)
Shelby County Health Department
Hi, my name is Shenika Holmes, and I am a proud supporter of breastfeeding!
How many children do I have? Zero.
Am I expecting? No.
It is a tragedy every time a baby dies, and Shelby County has a tragically high rate of infant mortality. However, Healthy Shelby and the Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative, with the partnership of many community organizations, have already helped to lower that rate. One way to decrease this rate is to space pregnancies at least 18 months to 24 months.