SmartParent in Nova Scotia offers people who are pregnant the option of perinatal education being sent directly to their cell phones. The pilot program, available from IWK Health and Nova Scotia Health Public Health, offers text messages from pregnancy and child health experts that guide expectant parents through the transformative weeks of pregnancy and the first year of their child's life.
Parents can enroll in the free service using a cell phone number. They will receive three current, evidence-based, educational text messages per week to help guide them through each week of pregnancy. All links and information have been checked by Nova Scotia healthcare providers to ensure accuracy.
Enrollment can be completed by texting the keyword ‘Baby’ to 12323 or by going to www.smartparent.ca and clicking Enroll Now.
Pregnancy is a unique journey for each person and SmartParent tailors its guidance to suit diverse needs. The program acts as a supportive coach, offering insights and information that align with the specific weeks of pregnancy, creating a personalized and informative experience
Developed in collaboration with pregnancy and child health experts, the program offers trustworthy guidance, suggesting crucial topics for discussion with healthcare providers. It also provides recommendations for additional information and resources available both online and within local communities.
SmartParent is endorsed by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC).
This one-year pilot is funded by IWK’s Catapult Fund. The program will be evaluated during the pilot to determine its success in reaching expectant parents in Nova Scotia.