Resources for New Moms

The Bronx Healthy Start Program is a federally funded, community-based initiative dedicated to improving maternal and infant health outcomes in the Bronx. Led in collaboration with Montefiore Health System, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, community organizations and healthcare providers, the Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal & Child Health Bureau. This free, voluntary home visiting program provides expectant mothers and their families with access to confidential and comprehensive high-quality medical care and social services both before and after childbirth.

The Bronx Healthy Start Program helps pregnant individuals access the healthcare and support they need during pregnancy and provides guidance and resources to navigate and manage the many changes that may arise after the baby is born. The program aims to reduce rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, maternal complications and maternal and infant mortality.

Participants benefit from a broad array of services, including health insurance enrollment, prenatal and primary care coordination, birth control and family planning services, nutrition assistance (WIC and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—SNAP), case management, health education, child development screenings, smoking cessation support, risk assessment screenings and breastfeeding education and support. Additional offerings include group prenatal care, childbirth education and newborn care classes, doula support, Centering Pregnancy group visits, stress management workshops and fatherhood programs. Whether supporting a first-time parent or an expanding family, the Bronx Healthy Start Program ensures that families have access to the tools, services and support they need to thrive.

At Montefiore Einstein Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women’s Health, we prioritize breastfeeding support, empowering individuals with the tools, knowledge and guidance they need every step of the way. Breastfeeding can take time, practice and patience. Preparing in advance can make a meaningful difference. Learning about proper latch techniques, establishing a strong milk supply and understanding when and how often to nurse can help individuals feel more confident and increase their chances of breastfeeding success. Nursing early and often is the best way to ensure each baby gets the full health benefits of breastfeeding and breast milk. Montefiore Einstein is proud to have earned the Baby-Friendly® designation from Baby-Friendly USA, reflecting our commitment to upholding the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. After delivery, our experienced lactation specialists and nurses provide hands-on, in-hospital support to help you lay the foundation for successful breastfeeding.

Through the Community Health Worker Institute (CHWI) at Montefiore Einstein, we continue to optimize the integration of community health workers into our clinical care teams to strengthen resources, enhance care coordination and access, and improve health outcomes. The CHWI is embedded within Montefiore Einstein’s clinical service lines, where it serves as a resource for multiple departments. By bridging clinical care and community-based support, CHWI helps address social determinants of health and ensures more inclusive, person-centered care.

We are a doula-friendly hospital, offering doula services to support individuals through labor, delivery and postpartum care—helping to ensure the best possible birth outcomes and patient experience. Doulas can provide emotional, physical and educational support, working alongside our multidisciplinary team to accommodate each patient’s unique preferences and needs. During the postpartum period, doulas can assist with newborn care, breastfeeding and emotional recovery, helping new parents feel more confident, supported and empowered during the early weeks at home.

Our HealthySteps Program, part of the Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHIP) at Montefiore Einstein, is a nationally recognized program designed to ensure that parents and babies get started on the right track and receive support tailored to their individual needs. From birth through age 3, children are seen not only by their pediatrician but also by a HealthySteps specialist, a specially-trained expert in early childhood development and behavior with experience working with infants, toddlers, parents and healthcare professionals.

HealthySteps supports families by monitoring children’s developmental and behavioral needs through integrated services that extend beyond the examination room. During many well-baby checkups, a HealthySteps specialist may be present. Parents have access to a dedicated hotline for questions related to infant and toddler care, as well as educational materials covering a wide range of parenting topics, including toilet training, discipline, sleep routines and managing crying. The Program also offers optional home visits, parent discussion groups and referrals. When additional support is needed, families are connected to children’s specialists in areas such as hearing and speech pathology, and parents may receive on-site treatment for mental health concerns, including depression and anxiety. At HealthySteps, parents of infants and toddlers are not alone—we take extra care to ensure that every baby’s first steps are healthy ones.

Our Maternal-Child Home Health Program assists expectant and new mothers, providing a broad range of health services for new mothers and their children. The program is designed to promote wellness, address complex medical needs and support families throughout the perinatal and early childhood period.

Services include prenatal care, with counseling and educational sessions tailored to women with high-risk pregnancies, as well as postnatal care for new mothers and their newborns. We provide ongoing care for children with special needs and chronic illnesses, routine physical exams, weight assessments and condition-specific education. Families receive education sessions on topics such as nutrition, gastrointestinal (GI) feeding and environmental factors that may affect the individual’s health condition. In addition, the program offers access to social work services to help address emotional, social and practical needs.

Our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program supports the health of low-income women, infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing free nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and referrals to healthcare and social services.

Midwifery at Montefiore Einstein Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women’s Health offers comprehensive well-woman care, prenatal services, birth support and postpartum care at multiple locations across the Montefiore Einstein system. Our certified midwives provide evidence-based care that honors the physical, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs of each person, with a focus on education, empowerment and shared decision-making across every stage of reproductive life.

Our team of midwives cares for individuals with normal pregnancies, supports childbirth and postpartum recovery and manages noncomplex gynecologic concerns. Postpartum care may include physical recovery assessments, breastfeeding education and support, emotional wellness screening and guidance on newborn care and family planning. For individuals with more complex needs, midwives coordinate care through collaboration or referral to specialists as needed. At Montefiore Einstein, midwives work closely with attending physicians to ensure seamless access to advanced care when needed, providing a safe, personalized experience for every patient.

Whether you are recovering from childbirth, learning to care for your newborn or navigating the emotional and physical changes of early parenthood, our world-renowned team at Montefiore Einstein Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women’s Health is here to provide exceptional support, care and resources tailored to your needs.

Our full-service Center offers a comprehensive range of traditional and holistic care before, during and after pregnancy—spanning preconception counseling, screening and prenatal testing through treatment and postpartum recovery. We offer integrated services, including social and support programs, genetic counseling and education, care navigation, mental health and wellness support and personalized programs designed to meet each individual’s unique needs.

We are a doula-friendly hospital, offering doula services to support individuals through labor, delivery, and postpartum care, helping to ensure the best possible birth outcomes and patient experience. Our Department offers the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program to support the health of low-income women, infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing free nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and referrals to healthcare and social services.

We also offer a wide range of community-based maternal and child health programs—including Bronx Healthy Start, HealthySteps and the Nurse-Family Partnership, among others—to support families with comprehensive care, education and resources from pregnancy through early childhood, delivered through integrated services that extend beyond the exam room.

Our breadth of resources enables us to deliver highly specialized, coordinated care for both mother and baby—advancing fetal health, supporting maternal well-being, optimizing outcomes and ensuring a healthy pregnancy and the safest delivery possible. Our compassionate and deeply knowledgeable team of physicians, nurses, specialists and support staff is dedicated to guiding you at every step of your perinatal care journey.