The St. Charles County Department of Public Health’s Health Services Division now offers a free supply of prenatal vitamin supplements for pregnant and postpartum women who are clients of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. These vitamin supplements, provided through a grant, support a healthy pregnancy and early childhood, says WIC Coordinator and Nutritionist Megan Hickey.
"Prenatal vitamins play a crucial role in the healthy development of the unborn baby, preventing neural tube birth defects, improving birth weight, and ensuring proper development of the placenta,” Hickey explains.
WIC clients who are pregnant or postpartum can receive a bottle containing a six-month supply of prenatal vitamin capsules when they visit for a nutritional counseling appointment at the Health Services Clinic, located at 1650 Boone’s Lick Road in St. Charles. Each capsule contains a combination of 15 essential vitamins and minerals that support the increased nutritional needs of pregnant women and the developmental needs of their babies, says Hickey.
Approximately 750 bottles of prenatal vitamins were provided to the WIC program by Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving nutritional health for underserved women and children who are at risk of malnutrition.
“We’re grateful that this partnership helps us offer even more support for vulnerable families in our community who lack the resources for proper nutrition,” says Hickey. “We encourage any expecting mothers who qualify for WIC to take advantage of these free prenatal vitamins, as well as all the other health services and nutritional support that WIC offers.”
The WIC program provides health screenings, nutrition counseling, health care referrals, and food support for low-income women and children up to 5 years old. Mothers who participate in WIC services tend to see fewer concerns from low birth weight or early childhood malnutrition.
For more information about the WIC program in St. Charles County, call 636-949-7402 or visit sccmo.org/WIC.