Choose your area

Pregnancy and new baby

Health coverage, home visits, food, diapers and a safe place for baby to sleep.

Coverage and prenatal care

Costs should not keep you from care. These are the main ways to get it paid for.

Health coverage during pregnancy and after birth

Ohio Department of Medicaid

Ohio Medicaid covers pregnancy care. Pregnancy Related Services add help scheduling appointments, rides to Medicaid-covered visits, referrals to WIC and Help Me Grow, baby-care education, and referrals for food and clothing. Coverage continues for 12 months after the pregnancy ends; the state has that extension authorized through April 2027.

Next step: Apply at Benefits.Ohio.Gov, by phone, or at your county Job and Family Services office. Ask about Pregnancy Related Services when you enroll. Income limits apply.

Call 800-324-8680Medicaid Consumer HotlineWebsite

Checked against published sources November 15, 2026

Low-cost prenatal care at a community health center

HRSA health centers, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Health centers funded by HRSA charge on a sliding fee scale, so you can get care even if you are uninsured or cannot pay. Free or reduced-cost prenatal care may also be available through your area health department.

Next step: Search by ZIP code on the HRSA site, call the center, and ask whether it provides prenatal care and what the sliding fee would be. Or call 1-800-311-BABY to find your area health department.

Call 800-311-22291-800-311-BABYWebsite

Checked against published sources November 15, 2026

Support at home

Free help from people who come to you, before and after the baby arrives.

Free home visits during pregnancy and with a young child

Help Me Grow Home Visiting, Ohio Department of Children and Youth

A trained home visitor meets with you where you choose, during pregnancy or after the baby arrives. You get parenting information and support, and a link to other services. It is voluntary and free to families.

Next step: Call the Help Me Grow line or fill out the online referral. You can refer yourself. If someone else refers you, Help Me Grow contacts you first.

Call 800-755-47691-800-755-GROWWebsite

Checked against published sources November 15, 2026

Free nurse visit after your baby is born (Family Connects Ohio)

Family Connects Ohio, part of Help Me Grow

A nurse visits you at home, usually about three weeks after the baby comes home. The nurse checks on you and the baby, answers questions about caring for a newborn, and connects you to other services. It is free, whatever your income, and open to every family in a participating county, including adoptive families and families who have lost a baby.

Next step: Counties taking part as of September 2025: Darke, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Huron, Mahoning, Noble, Shelby and Trumbull. If you live in one, ask for a visit through Help Me Grow within 12 weeks of bringing the baby home. If your county is not listed, call and ask whether it has started since.

Call 800-755-47691-800-755-GROWWebsite

Checked against published sources November 15, 2026

A doula covered by Medicaid

Ohio Department of Medicaid

A doula is a trained, non-medical support person who gives advocacy and emotional, physical and educational support during pregnancy and birth. Since October 3, 2024, Ohio Medicaid has covered doula services for pregnant and postpartum members. The doula must be certified by the Ohio Board of Nursing.

Next step: Ask your Medicaid health plan for its list of certified doulas, or call the Medicaid Consumer Hotline. Doulas are not equally available in every area, so start early in pregnancy.

Call 800-324-8680Medicaid Consumer HotlineWebsite

Checked against published sources November 15, 2026

Food, diapers and a safe place to sleep

Feeding help and basic baby supplies.

WIC: food for pregnancy, babies and children under 5

Ohio Department of Health

WIC provides healthy food, formula help, breastfeeding support and health screenings for pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children up to age 5.

Next step: Call the Help Me Grow helpline to find your county WIC clinic and make an appointment.

Call 800-755-4769Website

Checked against published sources November 13, 2026

Breastfeeding questions: free helpline

Office on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Breastfeeding peer counselors answer questions, help with common problems and point you to other help, in English or Spanish. It is an information line and does not give medical advice.

Next step: Call Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern; it is closed on federal holidays. WIC also offers breastfeeding peer counselors, and Ohio Medicaid includes lactation consultation and breast pump supplies.

Call 800-994-9662Website

Checked against published sources November 15, 2026

Free diapers from a diaper bank

National Diaper Bank Network member banks in Ohio

Ohio has ten member diaper banks: Heart of Ohio Diaper Bank (Canton), Hannah's Treasure Chest (Centerville), Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank (Cincinnati), The Diaper Bank of Greater Cleveland, Columbus Diaper Bank, Bottoms Up Diaper Drive (Lancaster), The Diaper Angels (Plain City), As We Grow (Toledo), Gem City Diaper Bank (Trotwood) and Project MKC (Youngstown). Each serves its own area.

Next step: Find the one nearest you in the national directory, then contact it and ask how to sign up. Rules differ by bank. If none is close, dial 211 and ask about diaper help.

Website

Checked against published sources November 15, 2026

A free safe place for baby to sleep (Cribs for Kids)

Ohio Cribs for Kids, through local health departments and partners

Local Cribs for Kids partners give families who qualify a free portable crib, a fitted sheet and safe sleep education. Babies sleep safest alone, on their back, in a crib. Partners serve 71 of Ohio's 88 counties, so availability depends on where you live, and supplies can run out.

Next step: Call your county health department and ask about Cribs for Kids. If you are not sure who to call, dial 211 and give your county.

Call 211Ohio 211

Checked against published sources November 15, 2026

Feeling low, anxious or overwhelmed?

That is common during pregnancy and after a baby, and help is free. See Taking care of you for lines you can call or text. If you think your baby is not growing or learning the way other babies do, see the family guide.

All help topics · County pages