By Jennifer Portman
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Originally published in the Tallahassee Democrat, June 13, 2013

While Leon County’s infant death rate over the last decade continues a downward trend, the number of babies that died before their first birthday spiked last year.

Recently released state Department of Health data for 2012 showed 28 babies born in the county died compared to 18 in 2011. The increase drove the county’s overall infant mortality rate to 9.3 per 1,000 live births, a nearly 60 percent increase from 2011 and higher than the state average of six deaths per 1,000 births.

“We were a little shocked to see the increase,” said new Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition Executive Director Kristy Goldwire. “But the increase makes you want to get out in the community even more, because apparently we are missing someone or something.”

Preconception health and health care focuses on taking steps now to protect the health of a baby in the future. However, preconception health is important for all women and men, whether or not they plan to have a baby one day.

Show Your Love is a national campaign designed to improve the health of women and babies by promoting preconception health and healthcare. The campaign’s main goal is to increase the number of women who plan their pregnancies and engage in healthy behaviors before becoming pregnant.  For those women who don’t want to start a family in the near future or at all, the campaign encourages them to choose healthy behaviors so that they can be their best and achieve the goals and dreams they have set for themselves.

For additional information, please visit the CDC preconception health care page at http://www.cdc.gov/preconception/index.html.

To learn more about the campaign and resources, visit http://www.cdc.gov/preconception/showyourlove/index.html.

This new year help to give the gift of a healthy baby to a needy family.  Your gift can help to purchase the following:

• A week’s worth of diapers for 5 low income families ($130)
• A crib for a low income family with no safe place for the infant to sleep ($70)
• A week of a health oriented after-school program for one middle school girl ($55)
• Five Healthy Woman Kits (dental supplies, vitamins, heart healthy cookbook ($35)

Your tax deductible contribution will be greatly appreciated.  Unless you direct us otherwise, your name will be listed in our newsletter as a friend of Healthy Start.

With your help, we can continue to save babies.  Happy New Year!

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