Maternity Care Resources

Car seats and boosters provide protection for infants and children in case of a car accident. It's important to choose and use the right car seat correctly every time your child is in the car.

Before your baby is born, purchase the right car seat for your child and make sure it is installed properly. Parents can have car seats checked for free the first Thursday of every month at the Mauston Area Ambulance garage from 3:30-5:30 pm.

For more information about car seats, installation instructions, and brand reviews visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Mile Bluff provides a full-day education program for expecting parents. During the class parents learn how to prepare for childbirth, what to expect during delivery, how to care for a newborn, and what to expect after returning home from the hospital. These classes are available throughout the year in Mauston from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Please call 608-847-1013 to register.

Expecting parents are also invited to tour the birthing facility at Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston. This is a great way to see what birthing options are available locally. Watch the virtual tour here.

Each county in the surrounding area has different programs and resources to support new parents and their expanding families.

Find your resources for your county below.

• Adams County
• Columbia County
• Juneau County
• Marquette County
• Sauk County
• Wisconsin Counties Community Resources

Parents going through childbirth education classes at Mile Bluff will receive education materials from InJoy. These booklets are great additions to the in-person classes and share information about prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum baby care, and breastfeeding.

With the InJoy booklets, parents also receive an access code to the InJoy Health Education Learning Portal. This portal provides additional videos and information to provide insight into what to expect when you're expecting.

Nurse Family Partnership is a voluntary, free Maternal Child Health program. It gives first-time moms valuable knowledge and support throughout pregnancy and until their babies reach 2 years of age. Partnering first-time moms with caring nurse home visitors empowers these mothers to confidently create a better life for their children and themselves.

For more information visit: www.nursefamilypartnership.org

First Breath

First Breath is a free program that helps pregnant women quit smoking through one-on-one counseling and personalized goal setting.

Infant Dental Care

Your baby's teeth begin to form before birth, so your child's dental care begins with a healthy pregnancy. While you are pregnant, be sure to eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet filled with plenty of vitamins and minerals. It is also important for women to have a complete dental exam during pregnancy. Learn more about infant dental care and call your local dentist office to make an appointment.

My Baby & Me

My Baby & Me is a program that helps women have healthy, alcohol-free pregnancies. If you choose to participate, you will receive screening and education from your prenatal care provider, confidential one-on-one support and education over the phone from a pregnancy educator, and gift cards for your participation.

Period of Purple

The Period of PURPLE Crying is a normal developmental stage that all babies go through. It is a period when an infant tends to be fussier and cries more often. It is important to be aware that this phase happens for every baby. The crying tends to start at two weeks of life and peaks around two months. During this time your baby may be fussier, more irritable, and resistant to soothing, cry more in the evening and cry for no apparent reason at all. Knowing what soothes your baby and knowing that this is a normal developmental stage will help you cope as a parent when this happens. Know that it is NEVER okay to shake a baby! Please contact your doctor or your infant’s doctor if you are having thoughts of harming yourself or your infant, or any other concerns. The information provided in the link will help you better understand the Period of PURPLE Crying. This is a great resource for caregivers as well.

Text4Baby

Text4Baby provides free text messages three times a week with information to help you through your pregnancy and baby's first year. Text BABY to 511411 to sign up.

Well Water Testing

The only way to know if well water is safe for your baby is to have it tested! We encourage you to test your well water, before or during pregnancy, to make sure that the water you are drinking is safe for you and your baby.

Most private wells provide a clean, safe supply of water; however, contaminants can pollute private wells, and unfortunately you cannot see, smell or taste most of them. Consequently, you should test your water on a regular basis. To find a well water testing lab, visit the Wisconsin DNR.

Books build better brains, especially when parents understand the power of sharing books with children at every stage of life.

Every child who receives care at Mile Bluff will receive a book at each well child visit from 6 months of age to age 5. As participants in the Reach Out and Read Wisconsin program, Mile Bluff is helping parents stimulate healthy brain development and strengthen connections with their young children.

Hatch Public Library in Mauston also supports a healthy parent-child relationship with early reading and books. Through the library's infant and youth programs, you can find a fun way to develop your child's love of reading. Mention seeing this information next time you go to Hatch Public Library and receive a free board book for your child.

Vaccinations are very important in helping your baby and the community stay healthy. The Center for Disease Control recommends vaccinations for pregnant women, infants, children, and adults.

Call your healthcare provider to keep up-to-date on your child’s vaccinations. If your child is eligible for Vaccines for Children (VFC), you may go through the public health department for vaccinations.

To see if your child is up-to-date on vaccines, visit the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.

If you're pregnant, a caregiver, or a mom with a child under 5, you can get personalized support for you and your family. WIC uses federal funds to support low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding women with healthy food, breastfeeding support, healthcare referrals, and nutrition education.

Visit the WIC website to apply for support.

You can also connect with the Juneau and Adams County WIC locations to find information about the WIC calendar of events, to apply and to assess your eligibility for the program.