Is 2004 Your Year To Have A Baby?

DANBURY — If 2004 is your year to have a baby, it might be helpful to explore the wealth of on-line information provided by Danbury Hospital to help prepare for the exciting time of pregnancy and childbirth. On the hospital’s website, www.danburyhospital.org, parents and prospective parents will find well organized, medically sound information along with special tools to manage and track your pregnancy and your baby’s birth and development.

“Anyone expecting a baby or even thinking about being a parent should visit this website,” said Howard Blanchette, MD, chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Danbury Hospital. “The material is regularly reviewed and updated to be sure it reflects the latest medical information.”

Once on the Danbury Hospital website, finding information about pregnancy and childbirth takes a click on a bright pink tab labeled “Maternity.” On the Maternity page, you can select from more than a dozen topics including: preparing and what to expect, selecting a birth plan, newborn infant care, about your hospital stay, feeding your baby, and information about the hospital’s Family Birth Center.

A tab marked ‘Related Maternity Health Topics’ connects you to The Pregnancy Center, a Guide for Expectant Mothers that contains in-depth medical resources, up-to-date pregnancy news and an extensive library of related conditions, complications and medical tests.

“The site offers more than good information,” according to Dr Blanchette. “For example, by clicking on ‘Education’ people will have access to classes, programs, and support services available throughout the community.”

A special feature of the website available on the home page is the “Personal Health Manager,” which provides a confidential system for a woman to record and track all aspects of her pregnancy including tests, weight, and exam results. After childbirth, the system can help new parents record and manage the baby’s development. The system also offers tips about what to expect along the way.

“I do hope people in the community take advantage of this exceptional, and free, health resource,” Dr Blanchette said. “And when you visit the site, have some fun and click the ‘On-line Nursery’ button on our home page. Every day, you’ll find photos of our newest arrivals that you can see or send to family members. Everybody likes to look at new babies.”