Expectant moms in Vancouver can now get pregnancy-related information right at their fingertips.
Vancouver Coast Health Friday announced SmartMom, a free, prenatal text messaging program that sends information to support women throughout pregnancy from five to 42 weeks with messages tailored to ensure women get the right information at the right time in their pregnancy.
“Pregnant women appreciate knowing they’re receiving the key information at every stage of their pregnancy,” Dr. Althea Hayden, medical health officer, said in a press release. “Subscribing to SmartMom ensures that they’re not missing anything.
“Like a lot of women, when I was pregnant, I discovered a whole new level of interest in pregnancy. There are a lot of sources out there and not all of them are reliable. SmartMom is a great way to receive information that we know has been verified by experts here in Canada.”
The program was developed by Optimal Birth B.C. in partnership with the B.C. Ministry of Health, the Northern Health Authority, the First Nations Health Authority and Perinatal Services B.C., and it has been endorsed by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.
There is no charge to sign up and receive texts, but standard data rates apply when accessing links and resources.
“SmartMom is an innovative, trusted tool for pregnant women that will help make a difference to future moms by providing information they need at their fingertips,” said Mary Ackenhusen, Vancouver Coastal Health president and CEO. “SmartMom shows how we can harness technology to deliver better health outcomes to the patients and families we serve.”
Women can sign up for SmartMom by texting VCH to 12323, or online at smartmomcanada.ca.
