Birmingham moms: A Spanish version of this local maternal health app is now available

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Did you know that every year, the nonprofit March of Dimes creates a report card just like you’d get in school? Unfortunately, Alabama has gotten an F on report cards for many years because of our high rates of maternal mortality, infant mortality and pre-term birth.

But there’s some help on the way: A few leaders in Birmingham and across the state have launched initiatives to help combat our high infant and maternal mortality rates—including the state’s first-ever Mom and Baby Mobile Health Center and the Baby Yourself app for pregnant mothers.

And now, there’s a Spanish-language version of Baby Yourself for Birmingham’s growing Hispanic population.

Keep reading for information about the app and how local leaders are working to bridge the gap in maternity care.

What is Baby Yourself?

Baby Yourself is a program through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL) that empowers expectant mothers by providing educational resources and emotional support to women during all stages of their pregnancy.

Through the program and its free app, BCBSAL provides educational materials and resources, including:

• A personal nurse to answer questions during + after pregnancy
• Baby gifts like books + stuffed animals
• Information on breastfeeding
• + more

Descargue la aplicación GRATUITA Baby Yourself para obtener recursos sobre la salud materna y el embarazo.

Baby Yourself now available in Spanish

In Birmingham alone, nearly 10,000 people are of Hispanic descent, with roughly 8,612 Spanish-speaking households in the metro area.

According to BCBSAL, Alabama’s Hispanic population has surpassed 250,000, yet many rural areas lack access to OBGYN providers and birthing hospitals.

Now available in Spanish, Baby Yourself features automatic Spanish-to-English translations, ensuring seamless communication between mothers and healthcare providers. 

By offering the Baby Yourself program and app in Spanish, BCBSAL is making maternity care more inclusive, ensuring expectant mothers can access the education and support they need for a healthy pregnancy, regardless of their language.

Alabama’s maternal + infant mortality rate

According to the March of Dimes, for Alabama counties: 

• 58% have low or no access to maternal care
• 37.3% don’t have an obstetric clinician
• 7,300 babies live in maternity care deserts
• 12.2% of childbearing-aged women live in areas with no access to healthcare.
• Jefferson County’s pre-term birthrate was 12.9% in 2024.

How to access the Baby Yourself program + app

If you or someone you know needs the Baby Yourself program, there’s good news: It’s free!

• Download the FREE Baby Yourself app.
• For BCBSAL members: You can easily enroll in the program online.
• For nonmembers, check out ALL Babies, a partnership between BCBSAL + the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Descargue la aplicación GRATUITA Baby Yourself para obtener recursos sobre la salud materna y el embarazo.

See how Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama supports maternal health for all mothers and families in Birmingham.

Looking to help a Spanish-speaking mother in Birmingham? Send them this link to download the FREE Baby Yourself app.

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