Healthy moms produce healthy babies. And just because mom might not be able to afford healthcare doesn't mean she or the baby should suffer.

So, as a joint effort between the Kosciusko County Health Department and Kosciusko Community Hospital, the Early Start Prenatal Clinic was set up and is being run out of Community Health Services, 1000 Med Park Drive, Warsaw (north of the hospital).

Dr. William Remington, health officer for the county, said that a needs assessment compiled by KCH brought about the idea for the clinic because the most recent data available suggests that Kosciusko County is below average in the state for acquisition of first trimester care.

The clinic, which opened Oct. 1, is one of only a few facilities of its kind in Indiana and receives funding from the state to the tune of $20,000 from the Maternal and Child Health Care Grant.

The one-year grant was written by KCHD administrator Jon Cupp, who said the program should become self-sustaining by the time it runs out, thanks to a contribution from KCH.

While the prenatal program tends to focus on Medicaid patients, any mother meeting eligibility requirements can participate. Financially, families must be at 185 percent of the poverty level to qualify. Sandy Vogel, the prenatal health coordinator, said this is slightly higher than Medicaid eligibility and equal to Women, Infant and Children (WIC) and Well Child Clinic eligibility. The financial guidelines are income of less than $1,636 per month for a family of two (a single pregnant woman is considered a family of two); $2,056 for a family of three (pregnant female, baby's father and fetus); and $2,475 for a family of four. Larger families can determine financial qualifications by adding $420 for each additional person in the household.

Other than finances, the only eligibility requirements are that the mother be a Kosciusko County resident and, if under age 18, must have a parent's or guardian's signature.

Remington said the clinic is a way to try to get "high-risk pregnancies - a lot of which are teens - into the system a little quicker."

The importance of first-trimester prenatal care seems to be tied in with infant mortality, Remington said. Although Kosciusko County doesn't have a high infant-mortality rate, he said, infants that die seem to have later prenatal acquisition for the mothers.

Prior to the expectant mother coming into the clinic, a home visit is completed. "It's helpful to know where and how they live," Vogel said, adding that many do not have telephones and, by knowing where the patients live, it is easier to contact them if the need arises.

After the home visit, an appointment is scheduled at the clinic. Every Wednesday is "Mother's Day" at the clinic, when Diana Sanders, R.N., of KCH's obstetrics department, sees patients.

Sanders completes a medical history on the mother, listens to the baby's heartbeat, measures the mother's belly and draws blood to be used for all prenatal screenings. The lab work is then passed on to the physician of the mother's choice. The clinic is provided free of charge and the mothers also receive prenatal vitamins and nutrition education at no cost.

Vogel explained that the clinic provides a one-time only visit and the mothers then continue their prenatal care with a doctor. The main goal of the clinic is to get expectant mothers to seek prenatal care early in their pregnancy. Many mothers, especially those on Medicaid, often wait until well into their second trimester to seek medical care, according to Sandy Rader, a registered nurse with KCH.

As part of running the clinic, Rader said, statistics are being kept to tell whether the program is making a difference.

The telephone number for the Early Start Prenatal Clinic is 267-7028. Expectant mothers should ask for Sandy Vogel. [[In-content Ad]]