New Parent Support
Does my baby need health insurance?
There are a few important steps you must take to ensure your baby is covered by health insurance. If you are currently enrolled in an employer sponsored or private insurance plan, you will need to call your insurance company to add your baby.
If you are currently enrolled in a Virginia Medicaid health plan, please advise your caseworker as soon as possible that your baby has been born. Your baby will have coverage effective from their date of birth.
Phone numbers for Department of Social Services (DSS) in the surrounding area:
| Caroline County | 804.633.5071 |
| City of Fredericksburg | 540.372.1032 |
| King George County | 540.775.3544 |
| Prince William County | 703.792.7500 |
| Spotsylvania County | 540.507.7898 |
| Stafford County | 540.658.8720 |
| Westmoreland County | 804.493.9305 |
Also, if you are enrolled in a Medicaid HMO, it is important that you call to add your baby on to your plan.
Phone numbers for Medicaid HMO plans:
| Amerigroup | 800.600.4441 |
| Anthem HealthKeepers Plus | 800.901.0020 |
| Optima Health | 800.229.8822 |
| Southern Health/CareNet (AETNA) | 800.279.1878 |
| Virginia Premier | 800.727.7536 |
It is important that you add your baby on to both plans – VA Medicaid and the HMO.
When should I call my baby's doctor?
Call your baby’s doctor if:
- Your baby has a temperature below 97.5° or above 100.4°
- Your baby has less than four wet diapers in a 24-hour period
- Your baby refuses to eat for six to eight hours
- Your baby experiences increased irritability, excessive crying without a cause, extreme sleepiness, or floppy arms and legs
- There is redness around your baby’s belly button that extends out into the stomach
- Your baby repeatedly vomits or has green vomit
Contact numbers after returning home:
Health Link (find a physician or program): 540.741.1404
MWHC Nurse Advice Line (6 a.m. to midnight, 365 days a year): 540.741.1000
For babies who have been discharged from the NICU, call the hospital operator and ask to speak to the NICU.
Wilson NICU at Mary Washington Hospital 540.741.1100
Stafford Hospital NICU 540.741.9000
When should I call my doctor?
Most people recover well after birth—but problems can happen up to a year later. Know the warning signs and when to get help. You should have received a red "I gave birth" bracelet at the hospital. This bracelet helps healthcare providers know to look for signs of postpartum hemmorhage and other possible complications. Read more about the Post Birth Alert Bracelet program.
Call 911 if you have:
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Seizures
- Thoughts of harming yourself or others
Call your doctor if you have: (Just one of these is enough—don’t wait!)
- Heavy bleeding (soaking a pad in an hour or passing clots the size of an egg or bigger)
- A cut or incision that isn’t healing
- A red, swollen, painful leg
- Fever (100.4°F or higher, or 96.8°F or lower)
- A bad headache that doesn’t go away or comes with vision changes
Why these signs matter
These symptoms could mean:
- Chest pain or trouble breathing – blood clot or heart issue
- Seizures – a serious condition called preeclampsia
- Harmful thoughts – postpartum depression
- Heavy bleeding – dangerous blood loss
- Infected incision – needs treatment fast
- Swollen leg – possible blood clot
- Fever or smelly discharge – infection
- Severe headache or vision changes – high blood pressure or preeclampsia
What to say
Tell 911 or your doctor: “I gave birth on [date] and I have [your symptoms].
Car Safety
Car seat safety and car seat checks
Tips from Safe Kids Worldwide
Never leave a child alone in a car. Remember to A-C-T:
Avoid Heatstroke
Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving a child alone in a car, not even for a minute. Make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not inside to kids don’t get in on their own.
Create Reminders
Keep a stuffed animal or other memento in your child’s car seat when it’s empty, and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat. Or place and secure your phone, briefcase, or purse in the backseat when traveling with your child.
Take Action
If you see a child alone in a car, call 911.
Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations.
My baby won’t stop crying
Babies cry to communicate. They may cry when they are hungry, tired, or need comfort. Crying can be stressful, especially when it lasts a long time. But it is never safe to shake a baby.
If your baby will not stop crying, try simple steps like feeding, changing the diaper, holding your baby, or walking with them. Sometimes babies need time to calm down. If you feel overwhelmed, place your baby safely in a crib and take a short break to breathe or call someone you trust.
Shaken baby syndrome happens when a baby is shaken hard. A baby’s neck is weak, so the head moves quickly, causing the brain to hit the inside of the skull. This can lead to serious injuries, including brain damage or death. Even a few seconds of shaking can cause harm.
If you think your baby has been shaken or see someone shaking a child, get medical help right away. Quick care can save a life.
Shaken baby syndrome is preventable. Learning safe ways to soothe a crying baby and care for yourself during stressful moments helps keep children safe. Support is available through your pediatrician or OB/GYN.
Baby Care and Infant Safety Videos
How to safely position your baby in a car seat
Newborn care and safe sleeping
Newborn care and the benefits of skin-to-skin contact
Medication Side Effects
See below for common side effects of medicines you may have been prescribed. Please contact your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns.
| Medication Type and How it Helps | Medication Generic and Brand Names | Common Side Effects |
|
Antibiotic meds Treats and prevents bacterial infections |
|
|
|
Anti-inflammatory meds Helps with inflammation and swelling |
|
|
|
Anxiety and sleep meds Calms anxiety/nervousness and helps with sleep |
|
|
|
Blood pressure meds Lowers blood pressure |
ACE Inhibitors, Angiotensin Receptor Blockers
|
|
|
Constipation meds Stool softener or laxative to help have a bowel movement |
|
|
|
Muscle relaxant meds Relaxes muscles and relieves pain |
|
|
|
Narcotic pain meds Moderate and severe pain relief |
|
|
|
Non-narcotic pain meds Relieves minor pain and fever |
|
|
|
Stomach protection meds Treats heartburn and reflux |
|
|
|
Vitamins and Supplements Replenish essential nutrients in your body |
|
|
Please contact your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns.
MWHC Nurse Advice Line 540.741.1000.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
What are Virginia Newborn Screening Services
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) work together to identify babies that have rare, but serious disorders using dried blood spot screening. These disorders can be treated and problems can be prevented if they are found early in life. Babies with these disorders look healthy at birth, and the screening helps to identify them before the disorder causes the baby to become sick. The baby’s doctor is alerted to any potential problem identified by the test results. Repeat testing can be done on infants up to 6 months of age. Virginia currently screens for 33 disorders.
Learn more at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/newborn-screening/