Support For You and Your Baby
Pregnancy and parenting come with a lot of questions. You don’t have to figure everything out alone.
Cook County offers programs to support you during pregnancy, birth, postpartum and your baby’s early months. Whether you need help preparing for your baby, support at home, breastfeeding assistance, baby supplies or connections to other resources, there may be a program that’s right for you.
Explore the programs below to find the support that fits your needs.
What Kind of Support Are You Looking For?
You may be able to receive support from more than one program. Start by thinking about what would be most helpful to you and your family.
Support During Pregnancy
Get help navigating your pregnancy, preparing for your baby and accessing the care and resources you need.
Support During Pregnancy
Get help navigating your pregnancy, preparing for your baby and accessing the care and resources you need.
Labor and Birth Support
Get personalized support as you prepare for labor and birth, including birth planning and advocacy.
Breastfeeding Support
Connect with breastfeeding education, lactation support or referrals to breastfeeding resources.
Support at Home
Get additional support during and after pregnancy, including nurse-led home visits for eligible families.
Baby Supplies and Resources
Connect with programs that may provide baby items, car seats, safe sleep resources or referrals for additional assistance.
Parenting Education
Access education, classes and support to help you prepare for and care for your baby.
Food, Housing and Other Resources
Get help connecting to food, housing, transportation and other community resources.
Postpartum and Emotional Support
Find support and resources to help you navigate the physical and emotional changes that can come after having a baby.
Healthy Beginnings
Support for you and your baby, right at home.
Healthy Beginnings provides support for pregnant and postpartum individuals and infants in suburban Cook County, with a focus on families who may need additional support during pregnancy or their baby’s first year.
Healthy Beginnings may be right for you if you want:
- Nurse-led home visits
- High-risk pregnancy support
- Infant health monitoring
- Breastfeeding and safe sleep education
- Prenatal and postpartum support
- Help finding food, housing and other resources
- Connections to additional community services
Who can participate?
Pregnant and postpartum individuals and infants up to 12 months in suburban Cook County. Insurance is not required.
Contact Healthy Beginnings
Brighter Beginnings
Make the most of your CountyCare benefits during pregnancy and baby’s first year.
Brighter Beginnings helps pregnant and parenting CountyCare members connect with benefits, resources and care coordination throughout pregnancy and their baby’s first year.
Brighter Beginnings may be right for you if you want:
- Pregnancy and postpartum support
- Care coordination
- Breastfeeding and lactation support
- Connection to doula services
- Transportation assistance
- A car seat and Sleep Safe Kit
- Rewards for prenatal and well-baby care
- Help connecting to additional resources
- NICU family support
Who can participate?
Pregnant and parenting CountyCare members in Cook County and their babies through their first year.
Contact Brighter Beginnings
Healthy Start
Support, education and resources for your growing family.
Healthy Start connects pregnant and parenting Cook County Health patients with education, family support and resources throughout pregnancy and their child’s first 18 months.
Healthy Start may be right for you if you want:
- Free parenting classes
- Baby items
- Prenatal education
- Breastfeeding referrals
- Postpartum and emotional support
- Help finding food, housing and other resources
- Support from a Family Support Worker
- Connections to community resources
Who can participate?
Pregnant and parenting Cook County Health patients in Cook County and their children up to 18 months.
Contact Healthy Start
Doula Program
Personalized support throughout pregnancy, labor and birth.
The Cook County Health Doula Program provides support to pregnant Cook County Health patients throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum.
A doula can help you prepare for birth, understand your options and provide continuous support during your pregnancy and birth experience.
The Doula Program may be right for you if you want:
- Personalized pregnancy support
- Prenatal education
- Help preparing for labor and birth
- Birth planning
- Support and advocacy during labor and birth
- Breastfeeding support
- Emotional support
- Postpartum support
- Help connecting to resources
Who can participate?
Pregnant Cook County Health patients within the Cook County Health service area.
Interested in the Doula Program?
Ask your Cook County Health care team about a referral through Women’s Services.
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