You can access programs and services that help promote a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Text4baby is a national program that delivers text messages to help pregnant women and mothers of infants. Anyone can sign up for free weekly health messages designed to help a woman through her  pregnancy and her baby's first year. 

The following cell phone carriers are waiving all fees for the text messages: 

  • Verizon
  • AT&T
  • T-Mobile
  • Sprint
  • MetroPCS
  • US Cellular
  • nTelos

You can sign up online or by phone.

Online

Sign up online for Text4baby.

By Phone

Text "BABY" (for English texts) or "BEBE" (for Spanish texts) to 511411.

Health Messages

If you sign up for Text4baby, you will receive three weekly text messages  on topics such as:

  • Nutrition
  • Preventing birth defects
  • Immunizations
  • Mental health
  • Risks of tobacco use

Become a Partner

If you are interested in becoming a partner in this campaign, go to the Health Care Provider Assistance page.

If you live in Central Brooklyn, you may qualify for free doula services with Healthy Start Brooklyn's "By My Side Birth Support Program." Doulas are trained childbirth assistants that support women and their partners before, during, and after birth.

Healthy Start Brooklyn provides education and support for:

  • Pregnancy
  • Childbirth
  • Parenting
  • Breastfeeding 
  • Healthy living 

This special program focuses on central and eastern Brooklyn, specifically, the neighborhoods of: 

  • Brownsville
  • East New York
  • Bedford-Stuyvesant 
  • Bushwick

If you live in other areas of Brooklyn or other boroughs, you can contact organizations that provide free doula services through the Healthy Women, Healthy Futures program.

Learn more about free doula services in New York City.

Doula Programs

Programs for Pregnant Women and Parents:

  • Home visiting for first-time pregnant women.
  • Home visiting for pregnant women or new parents up to 3 months after the birth.
  • “Sister Friend” support for pregnant women.
  • “Centering Pregnancy” group care for pregnant women.
  • Early-childhood and parent-education program for families with a child up to age 2.

Classes:

Healthy Start Brooklyn’s classes are open to all. 

Classes are held at various locations in Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and East New York, and include:

  • In the Circle Fathers’ Program (fatherhood education and parenting classes)
  • Childbirth Education Classes 
  • Newborn Care Classes
  • Infant Safety/CPR Classes
  • Parenting skills workshops (parents of babies or toddlers)

Exercise Classes:

  • Zumba
  • "Dancing thru Pregnancy"
  • "Move It, Mama!" (postpartum fitness; babies are welcome)

Bereavement Support: Support for the loss of a pregnancy or child.

Doula Services Contact Information

Brooklyn

By My Side Birth Support Program 
(718) 637-5231

Healthy Women, Healthy Futures Program with Ancient Song Doulas 
(917) 947-8933

Brooklyn Perinatal Network
(718) 643-8258 x21

Bronx 

The Bronx Health Link 
(718) 590-2648

Manhattan

Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership
(212) 665-2600 x353

Queens

Queens Comprehensive Perinatal Council
(718) 206-4357 x203

Staten Island

Community Health Center of Richmond
(917) 830-0636 x7507

Caribbean Women’s Health Association
(718) 826-2942 x202