Mothers who receive early prenatal care may have stronger, healthier babies and reduce the risk for premature deliveries. Healthy Beginnings Plus is a state-funded prenatal program provided through Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Hazleton. It helps eligible mothers with Medical Assistance get expert medical care. This care supports a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
The Healthy Beginnings Plus care team includes:
- A board-certified OB-GYN
- Physician assistants
- Certified registered nurse practitioners
- Registered nurse midwife
- Nurse care coordinators
- Registered dietitians
- Social workers
As part of LVH–Hazleton, Healthy Beginnings Plus offers all the services you need for a wonderful experience. This includes referrals for additional support and resources you may need, such as subsidized nutrition through WIC in Hazleton or home visits with a nurse through our Nurse Family Partnership.
Program eligibility
Specific guidelines determine if you are eligible for this program under Medical Assistance. The income guidelines for Medical Assistance are higher for pregnant women than for the general population. Therefore, you may not realize that you are eligible for Healthy Beginnings Plus. Call us and we will be happy to help you complete an application for Medical Assistance.
Delivery
Healthy Beginnings Plus covers all hospital services for you and your baby.
While you may deliver at any Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH) location, our Family Birth and Newborn Center at LVH–Hazleton is conveniently located on East Broad Street, providing easy access to care for families throughout the Greater Hazleton area. The Family Birth and Newborn Center is a beautiful, modern and secure maternity unit designed to feel like home. Highly skilled nurses and support staff will provide you and your baby high-quality maternity care.
Our services
- Prenatal medical care by an on-site OB–GYN or registered nurse midwife and registered nurse
- Intensive and extensive prenatal care for a high-risk pregnancy
- Nutrition information and counseling for you and your baby
- Free prenatal education classes including childbirth, breastfeeding, parenting, sibling preparation and infant CPR
- Home care and social worker visits
- On-site laboratory and ultrasound testing
- Prenatal vitamins
- Help in applying for medical assistance
- Drug and alcohol abuse counseling
- Smoking cessation assistance
- Spanish translation services
- Breastfeeding education and electric breast pumps
- Child play area for appointments
Postpartum care
Through the Healthy Beginnings Plus program, health and wellness care is available to you and your baby until your baby is 8 weeks old. Please attend your follow-up appointments and talk to your clinician about any health concerns you have for you or your baby. You may also receive visits at home from a social worker who can offer you support and resources as well as a home health nurse who can answer questions about your baby or being a new parent.
Become a Healthy Beginnings Plus patient