Expecting Moms: You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Answers

During pregnancy, people usually have a lot of questions, such as which foods are best to eat and how to prepare for the baby’s arrival. After birth, they often continue to have questions on topics such as breastfeeding. Blue Cross VT members who are pregnant can get answers to their questions through our Better Beginnings® program.

Better Beginnings is a free maternal health program, where expecting moms are partnered with one of our experienced nurses. The nurse can help coordinate care, provide guidance and education, connect moms with local resources, answer questions, and offer support, in addition to going over Better Beginnings benefits that they qualify for.

Goals of the Better Beginnings program include:

• Preventing pre-term deliveries by addressing any high-risk conditions that happen during pregnancy
• Making sure pregnant members receive appropriate prenatal care and screenings
• Providing health education and resources about conditions that may occur
• Supporting new moms after birth to prevent or mitigate postpartum depression

“A lot of our role here is essentially to help guide our members throughout their pregnancy,” says Krystle Dunkling, RN, senior clinical case manager. “We're here to provide personalized support and expertise as concerns or questions pop up for members in between appointments with their health care provider.”

Support from the Better Beginnings program continues after the child is born, adds Michele Herring, LPN, wellness coordinator. “We follow them for six to eight weeks postpartum too, and maybe more if they need it,” she says. Postpartum support may include helping mothers find support groups and in-network providers such as lactation consultants and specialists like physical therapists or mental health counselors with expertise in pregnancy and postpartum care.

Better Beginnings ensures care plans are on track and provides education about what to expect during upcoming appointments, Dunkling says. Nurses connect with Better Beginnings enrollees at least once every trimester and more frequently based on the mom’s individual needs.

In addition to phone and email, participants can use the free Wellframe mobile app to communicate with their Better Beginnings nurse. The app also provides educational articles, as well as check-in surveys to help make sure an expecting mom’s health and wellness is on track.

One of the things Better Beginnings nurses often do is help pregnant members get a head start on future needs, such as finding childcare or an in-network pediatrician, Dunkling says. “We're here to put some additional things on their radar for them.”

“A lot of expecting parents don't know that they can connect with a pediatrician before a baby even arrives, to make sure they are comfortable with that pediatrician. We give them the opportunity to know that they could connect with them beforehand,” says Herring.

Enrollment Benefits

Blue Cross VT members who join the Better Beginnings program will discuss with the nurse how to receive a free breast pump through their insurance and will be reimbursed up to $125 for the cost of educational classes on topics such as childbirth, parenting, and breastfeeding.

“We're trying to reduce the cost of educational classes for our members. It empowers our members during their pregnancy to have a good understanding about what they're going to potentially experience with their labor and delivery,” says Dunkling.

Members who sign up before 34 weeks of pregnancy also choose one of these extra benefits:

• Fitness classes (reimbursement up to $150)
• Car seat (reimbursement up to $150)
• Help at home (reimbursement for a postpartum housekeeper or doula of up to $25 per hour for as many as nine hours)

To enroll in Better Beginnings, you can:

• Log in to the Member Resource Center and go to My Forms to complete the Better Beginnings enrollment form.
• Visit Wellframe’s website and download the mobile app. Use the access code vtbeginonline when prompted. You’ll also need your Blue Cross VT member ID number. Please enable notifications so one of our health support specialists can contact you to proceed with your enrollment.
• Call our customer service team at (800) 247-2583 (TTY/TDD:711). They are available Monday – Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

For more information about Better Beginnings, check out the program’s page on our website.