Pregnancy Resources

Start Smart for Your Baby

Start Smart for Your Baby®

We want to help you and your baby grow healthy and stay healthy. Start Smart for Your Baby® is our program for pregnant women and new moms. It is designed to customize the support and care you need for a healthy pregnancy and baby. It will not cost you a thing.

Start Smart for Your Baby® gives extra help and support for Nebraska Total Care members during and after your pregnancy, including:

  • Facts about pregnancy and newborn care.
  • Community support to help you get the things you need during your pregnancy and after your baby is born. This includes food, cribs, housing and clothing.
  • Breastfeeding support and help.
  • Expert medical staff who work with you and your doctor and nurses if you have a more difficult pregnancy.
  • Support if you are feeling down during or after your pregnancy.
  • Methods to help you quit smoking, alcohol or drugs.
  • Help choosing a doctor and hospital for your delivery.
  • Assistance keeping up with your prenatal appointments.
  • Transportation support to and from your doctor visits (where available).

Schedule a visit with your doctor as soon as you think you are pregnant. Once your doctor confirms that you are pregnant, let Nebraska Total Care know about your pregnancy by filling out our Notice of Pregnancy (NOP) form (PDF).

There are three easy ways to fill out our form:

  • Mail in the printed form.
         Nebraska Total Care
         ATTN: SSYB Care Management 
         2525 N 117th Ave, Suite 100
         Omaha, NE 68164
  • Call Member Services at the number on the back of your Nebraska Total Care ID card.
  • Log in to your online member portal account.

Joining the program is easy. Simply call Member Services to get started.

Beginning January 1, 2023, if you complete the Notice of Pregnancy, you can earn a reward. You must complete the form at least 60 days before your baby is due. Once we have the form, a Care Manager will call you. They will arrange for you to receive one of these items that you choose:

  • Car seat
  • Stroller
  • Pack and Play
  • Meal delivery of 10 meals

This is for pregnant women who need extra support. Nebraska Total Care wants to make sure you get the care you need to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Nebraska Total Care's Care Managers are registered nurses, therapists, and licensed social workers who will work with you to answer your questions. As your Care Manager, we can help schedule appointments, give transportation assistance and find support that will help you get well and stay well. We can also help with other behavioral and social services.

We can help find services in the community that will help you improve your health. We will work with you to:

  • Identify and address your basic needs
  • Help you get the services and support you need within your community
  • Teach you and your family how to handle your own care and resources

Our professional and diverse team has pre-birth, labor and delivery, postpartum, newborn nursery, and NICU experience. We are here to help you each step of your pregnancy.

To reach your Care Management team directly, call 1-844-385-2192 (TTY 711).

Care Management is never required. You do not have to participate. If you start Care Management and it is not helpful you can stop at any time.

 

New Parents Can Benefit From Care Management 

No one likes getting sick. The flu virus changes each year. Getting a yearly flu vaccine helps protect you and those around you. Plus, it is available at no cost to you. Getting your flu vaccine may actually earn you rewards. The flu vaccine is a good idea for just about everyone.

Pregnant Women. Pregnancy can put you at higher risk for getting the flu and put your unborn baby at risk. Getting a flu vaccine can help protect you and your baby.

Children and Families. Young children have a higher risk of health problems from the flu. Newborns are also at a high risk but cannot get the flu vaccine until they are six months old.

All pregnant women should get a Tdap vaccine between 6 to 8 months of the pregnancy. It is recommended that you get a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy. The Tdap vaccine is a safe way to protect you and your baby from serious illnesses. As a Nebraska Total Care member, there is no cost to you for this vaccine.

The Tdap vaccine stops three illnesses. One is whooping cough. It spreads easily, causes coughing, and troubles with breathing. Whooping cough can affect people of all ages, and can be very serious, even deadly, for babies less than a year old.

Getting a Breast Pump

Breastfeeding has many health benefits for babies. Nebraska Total Care wants to help members who are breastfeeding. We will give a free electric breast pump to any new mother in our plan. We will give:

  • One electronic breast pump per member. For multiples (twins, triplets, etc.) only one pump will be given.
  • Breast pump kit

You can ask for your breast pump during pregnancy, until 1 year after your baby is born. Your doctor will need to write a prescription for a breast pump. Eligible members can get one breast pump every two years.
Getting a Breast Pump (PDF)

Breastfeeding Support

Check with the hospital where your baby was born. Ask them about classes, support groups and other resources.

If you are pregnant or want to become pregnant, keep these things in mind:

  • Visit with your doctor before getting pregnant. There are many things to keep in mind when prepping your body for pregnancy.
  • If you recently had a baby, allow at least 18 months before your next pregnancy. This gives your body time to heal and protects your next baby from delivering too soon.
  • Go before you show! Go to your doctor as soon as you think you are pregnant. Early and routine care will help and protect you and your baby.
  • Keep healthy lifestyle habits. This involves exercising, eating healthy meals, and resting for 8-10 hours each night.
  • Do not use tobacco, alcohol, or drugs while attempting to become pregnant or during pregnancy.

Nebraska Total Care and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) have created a three-part video series for new parents and expecting moms. Each part highlights Nebraska Total Care's plan benefits, information on child and maternal health from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and programs and services provided by WIC.

These videos were created for Nebraska Total Care members but would also provide valuable information for interested non-members.

  • Baby Behaviors 0-12 Months
  • Prenatal Visits
  • Well-Child Checkups
  • Breastfeeding Support
  • WIC Food Packages
  • Family Planning
  • and many more!

On-Demand Access is available on our website through our Outreach Trainings.

It is best to stop smoking before you get pregnant. If you are already pregnant, quitting can help protect you and your baby from health problems. It is never too late to stop smoking.

When you stop smoking: 1

  • Your baby gets more oxygen, even after just 1 day.
  • Your baby will grow better.
  • Your baby is less likely to be born too early.
  • You will have more energy and breathe more easily.
  • You will be less likely to get heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related diseases.

More Information

Reference: 1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tobacco Use and Pregnancy, 2017 Sep 29.

Folic acid is very important for your baby’s health. Getting enough folic acid can help prevent serious birth defects. Folic acid is a B vitamin. It is found mostly in leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach. It is also found in enriched grains. Some other foods with folic acid in them include:

  • Orange juice
  • Green vegetables
  • Beans
  • Peas
  • Fortified breakfast cereals
  • Enriched rice
  • Whole wheat bread

It is difficult to get enough folic acid from food alone. Ask your doctor about taking prenatal vitamins. These will have the extra folic acid your baby needs. Your baby needs this right away. This is one reason to see your doctor as soon as you think you could be pregnant.

Putting yourself first makes sense. We offer support for your mind, body, and spirit. Use the myStrength pregnancy and early parenting program for resources to support you through all the joys and challenges that come your way. Get advice on the changes that parenthood brings and how to ask for help. Put yourself in a position to succeed with myStrength.

myStrength can help with:

  • Pregnancy and mood
  • Parenting tips
  • Helping your baby sleep
  • Connecting with your baby
  • Understanding your baby's temper
  • Relaxation skills for new and expecting parents
  • When things don't go as planned
  • Going back to work
  • Stories of hope

Nothing on this site should be viewed as medical advice. In the case of a medical emergency, contact your healthcare provider or call 911.The information posted on this site is “as is.” Nebraska Total Care makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information posted on this site for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk.