Blue Shield of California Promotes Free Text Messaging to Expectant Mothers with Text4baby

Mobile education program guides mothers through pregnancy and baby's first year

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Shield of California is making it easier for new and expectant mothers to get important prenatal tips right in the palm of their hands.  Blue Shield, a not-for-profit health plan is now including text4baby as part of its Prenatal Education program, which provides expectant and new mothers helpful information about prenatal and postpartum care. Text4baby is a free text messaging service that gives timely advice on topics such as nutrition and immunizations to women from the first trimester of pregnancy through the newborn's first year.

"We are dedicated to improving the health and well being of our members, and continually seek innovative ways to integrate new platforms, such as mobile technologies, to provide timely and relevant health information," said Heather Blanchard, director at Blue Shield of California. "We are pleased to partner with text4baby to offer key health tips through text messaging, a popular method of communication for women of child-bearing age."

The text4baby service includes three free SMS text messages per week, available in English or Spanish. The messages are timed to the mother's due date or the baby's date of birth. New and expectant mothers can enroll by texting "BABY" (or "BEBE" for Spanish) to 511411 or by visiting the program's website at www.text4baby.org.

In addition to incorporating text4baby in its Prenatal Education program, Blue Shield is also promoting the text messaging service on its website www.blueshieldca.com and in its High-Risk Maternity program.  

"Blue Shield of California's support for text4baby demonstrates their commitment to the health and wellness of moms and their babies," said Judy Meehan, CEO, National Healthy Mothers, Health Babies Coalition.  "Now more moms in California will benefit from receiving free text messages that will help them care for their health and give their babies the best possible start in life."

About Text4baby

Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health. An educational program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB), text4baby provides pregnant women and new moms with information to help them care for their health and give their babies the best possible start in life. Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE in Spanish) will receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or baby's date of birth.

About Blue Shield

Blue Shield of California, an independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit health plan with 3.5 million members, 4,800 employees, and one of the largest provider networks in California. Founded in 1939 and headquartered in San Francisco, Blue Shield of California offers a wide range of commercial and government products throughout the state. The company has contributed more than $125 million over the past four years to the Blue Shield of California Foundation—which this year was named one of BusinessWeek's 20 most generous corporate foundations. Contact your local agent or broker for more information about Blue Shield products and services, or visit the Blue Shield website at www.blueshieldca.com.

SOURCE Blue Shield of California