Cleveland, OH – Recognizing that all babies deserve a healthy start, Cuyahoga County’s Invest In Children has partnered with the Cleveland Public Library to distribute free copies of the highly acclaimed book, Baby Basics: Your Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. The book was developed by the team who wrote: What to Expect When You’re Expecting.

Beginning May 23rd, and continuing while supplies last, pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy can visit any Cleveland Public Library branch and receive a bag of helpful information that includes the book, and other local resource information.

“We are so pleased to have secured private grant funds to make this book available free of charge, and for our partnership with the Cleveland Public Library,” said County Executive Armond Budish. “Our community’s shamefully high infant mortality rate demands we continue to focus on education and prevention with programs both big and small.”

The Baby Basics book takes the complexities of pregnancy and child birth and presents them in a simple and straightforward way that can be easily understood by everyone. The book was designed to be taken along on prenatal care visits to help women organize their questions. It also serves as a tool for doctors to help focus and prioritize the information they have for patients.

“Each year in Cuyahoga County, more than 120 babies die before their first birthday,” said Invest In Children Director Rebekah Dorman. “Ninety percent of these deaths are due to causes directly addressed in the Baby Basics book. Successful prevention efforts can take many forms, but patient education will always be central to preventing infant deaths.”

Invest in Children is Cuyahoga County’s Public/Private partnership to mobilize resources and energy to ensure the well-being of all young children in Cuyahoga County. Invest in Children provides supportive services to parents and caregivers, and builds awareness, momentum, and advocacy in the community around children and family issues.