WeeCare Program for Pregnant Members

The WeeCare Program, as part of the Keys To Your Care Program, helps our pregnant members stay healthy and have healthy babies. The WeeCare Program will provide you with educational information.  This information will help you understand the importance of taking your prenatal vitamins, eating right and avoiding drugs, alcohol and smoking.  We will also work with your doctor/midwife to make sure you get the care you need and that you understand the importance of seeing your doctor/midwife regularly. 

Early and regular prenatal care and a healthy lifestyle are important and can increase your chances of staying healthy and having a healthy baby. We encourage you to keep all your prenatal appointments. We will send you a gift after your baby is born.

If you need other services, like food and clothing, we can give you information to help you.  We also can give you information about how to enroll in the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program, or you can call directly at 1-800-WIC-WINS.  They can help you get the right foods for you and your baby.

You may be eligible for home health care, special medical equipment or transportation to office visits.  We can help you with that, as well.

Please remember to contact your County Assistance Office once you know you are pregnant.  It is also important to contact them again once you have your baby.  This will make sure you get the benefits you and your baby need.

High Risk WeeCare Member

In cases where you are at an increased risk for premature delivery or complications, a nurse case manager will monitor your pregnancy even closer. A WeeCare “High Risk” member will receive:

• Phone calls from your case manager monthly or more often, as needed,
• Written educational materials on high risk pregnancy that include:
  • A prenatal book featuring information on nutrition and lifestyle habits
  • Brochures on recognizing early labor
  • A booklet listing the symptoms and recommended actions to take for early labor
• Access to health and wellness advice from a nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Post Partum Home Visit
A home visit by a nurse is a benefit for you after you deliver your baby, even if your baby does not come home with you.  Please talk to your practitioner about whether he/she thinks you should have a post partum home visit.

During this very important visit, the Nurse will:

• check your heart rate, temperature, blood pressure and breathing
• check for signs of infection
• answer any questions about your recovery.

If your practitioner wants you to have this home visit, AmeriHealth Mercy urges all women coming home after delivery to accept this home nurse visit to help ensure a healthy recovery from childbirth.

If your baby is home with you, the Nurse will also:

• check your baby’s heart rate, temperature and breathing
• check your baby for signs of infection
• answer any questions you may have and help you to learn about taking care of your new baby
• give your baby a nursing check-up
• help you with information on how to breastfeed your baby.

If your practitioner thinks you need this home visit, a home health nurse will contact you about a home visit within two days after you leave the hospital.  If the nurse does not contact you within two days, please call Member Services and ask for WeeCare.

During this post partum time, you want to make sure you:

• Call your OB/GYN doctor to schedule an appointment for your post partum check up.  Try to get an appointment for four to six weeks after you have your baby, unless your doctor wants to see you sooner.
• Call your Department of Public Welfare caseworker.  Tell her/him about your new baby.  This is very important.  She/he will make sure you get the benefits and services your baby needs.
• Call AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan's Member Services Department to let us know the baby's name and the name of your baby's Pediatrician (doctor for children).  A Member Services Representative can help you choose a Pediatrician for your baby if you do not already have one.
• After choosing a Pediatrician for your baby, call the Pediatrician’s office to schedule an appointment for your baby.  Try to get an appointment for the baby when he/she is 2-4 weeks old, unless the Pediatrician wants to see your baby sooner.