HealthyStart Prenatal Services

A Healthy Start For Your Baby

The cost of prenatal care and medical insurance continues to escalate leaving many families uninsured. As a result, some women have not been able to access prenatal and post-partum care. Responding to this need for low-cost prenatal resources St. Charles, the St. Charles Foundation, the Deschutes County Health Department and East Cascade Women's Group have teamed up to create HealthyStart Prenatal Services.

Caring for Mothers and Babies

Every expectant mother wants to give her baby the best possible start in life, but sometimes that can be difficult. HealthyStart is designed to help mothers overcome some of the economic challenges of maintaining a healthy pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby.

HealthyStart Services

  • Program orientation, including financial eligibility review, consent for treatment and WIC referral
  • Routine prenatal lab work
  • Prenatal exams by a certified nurse midwife and nurse practitioners
  • Ultrasound as required
  • Prenatal education
  • Prenatal vitamins
  • Childbirth classes
  • Dietician Consult
  • Mental Health Counseling
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Exercise Class
  • Referral to an obstetrician for complications during pregnancy
  • Delivery by a certified nurse midwife or a HealthyStart-affiliated obstetrician
  • Post-partum contact at two and six weeks
  • 24-hour Advise Response by calling (541) 408-5177

Eligibility and Cost

HealthyStart is dedicated to meeting the needs of low-income, uninsured women in Central Oregon. Services are available on a sliding scale fee basis. No one will be refused service based on inability to pay.

The Birth Plan

A certified nurse midwife or an obstetrician delivers all HealthyStart babies at St. Charles. Program participants are responsible for all inpatient hospital fees.

HealthyStart Professionals

With the help of nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse midwifes and other healthcare professionals, HealthyStart provides first-rate prenatal and post-partum care using guidelines established by HealthyStart-affiliated obstetricians. Our professional staff has years of experience with pregnant mothers and new babies.

Location

The HealthyStart Prenatal Service is located at:
Deschutes County Health Department
2577 NE Courtney Drive in Bend

Appointment Hours

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Friday
Appointments can be made at the Deschutes County Health Department or by calling HealthyStart at (541) 322-7444.

Questions

Call (541) 322-7400 anytime between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Our staff will be glad to answer your questions.