Krysta’s Story
When Krysta became pregnant with her second child eight years after the birth of her first, she felt both excitement and uncertainty. Managing diabetes, thyroid disease, and a history of depression and anxiety made this pregnancy feel more complicated than she expected. She also faced limited transportation, financial strain, and gaps in pregnancy education. Wanting support and guidance, Krysta enrolled in Home Visiting Services through Healthier Moms and Babies.
From her first visit with her Family Advocate (FA), she felt heard and supported. Together, they focused on stabilizing Krysta’s health and mental wellness, building routines that made her feel more in control. Her FA also helped Krysta prepare for birth by providing pregnancy education, talking through what to expect during labor and delivery, and helping her develop questions and confidence for conversations with her healthcare providers. Her FA connected her with WIC, secured reliable Medicaid transportation, and made sure she could consistently get to her appointments. Over time, Krysta found herself growing more confident and grounded, with a strong support system at home and steady encouragement from her FA.
After welcoming her daughter, Deanna, now a healthy, happy eight-month-old, Krysta continued meeting, where her FA was able to provide valuable postpartum education. They talked through safe sleep, developmental milestones, wellness, and how to care for herself while caring for her baby. Her FA answered questions and provided guidance between visits, making Krysta feel supported every step of the way. Krysta now follows the ABCs of safe sleep and understands what milestones to watch for and how to guide Deanna’s growth.
Krysta shares that without the support of her FA and Healthier Moms and Babies, this pregnancy would have felt overwhelming and isolated. The education, resources, and emotional support she received not only helped her prepare for birth but also gave her the confidence to advocate for herself and her baby. Today, Krysta feels empowered, informed, and supported, and Deanna is thriving, because Krysta did not have to navigate this journey alone.
We continue to do outreach and are intentional about making sure the community is informed about the services we provide to ensure clients are being referred. This is a high-need, high-risk community for infant mortality and preterm birth. The need for our services continues to outweigh our capacity to provide services to those who need it.
