All GNR Public Health offices and health centers are closed for the state holiday on Monday, May 27, 2024. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

All clinic health services and call center are not available on Monday, May 20, 2024 due to Staff Training.

WIC services will be available.

Call 770-513-9738 to schedule a WIC appointment.

Normal hours will resume Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Being a new mom is supposed to be exciting, but some moms experience physical and emotional symptoms that make them feel quite the opposite! Known as the “baby blues,” symptoms like anxiety, crying, and irritability, while troublesome, are common. What is not common, however, is for those symptoms to last or become more intense. If that’s the case, you might have postpartum depression.

What is the difference?

While similar, the symptoms of baby blues and postpartum depression differ greatly.

Symptoms of “Baby Blues”

• Anxiety
• Crying
• Irritability
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Sleep issues

Symptoms of “Postpartum Depression”

• Severe anxiety
• Excessive crying
• Difficulty bonding with the baby
• Loss of appetite
• Irrational thoughts
• Insomnia
• Overwhelming fatigue
• Intense irritability
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Recurring thoughts of suicide or harming others

The truth about Postpartum Depression.

Anyone can get postpartum depression.

It can affect younger and older moms, regardless of race and ethnicity.

Postpartum depression can also run in families.

If a family member experienced postpartum depression, you may be at a higher risk for developing it.

1 in 8 women will experience postpartum depression symptoms. Read more about postpartum depression at www.cdc.gov

How to get help.

Postpartum depression is a treatable medical condition. Call your healthcare provider right away if you think you are experiencing symptoms. Don’t wait! When treated, both mom and baby benefit. You’ll experience improved mood, have more energy and be able to better focus on caring for your baby.

Call 770.904.3717 to schedule an appointment today! For WIC, dial 770.513.9738.

For the Postpartum Depression Support Helpline call or text “Help” to 1.800.944.4773 (For Español dial 971.203.7773)

Download a postpartum depression printable in English and Spanish

GNR Public Health, in partnership with Helping Mamas and Gwinnett County Public Schools Early Learning and School Readiness, is giving away nearly 1,000 boxes containing diapers and other essential baby items to families with newborns enrolling in the Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) . The boxes contain 175 size-one diapers, a case of baby wipes, a bib, and baby-related literature.

“It is one of the Health Department’s missions to care for people in our community health-wise, but this holiday, GNR Public Health wanted to do more for the families we serve,” said Dr. Audrey Arona, CEO and District Medical Director of GNR Public Health.

While the health department offers nutritional assistance to families through programs such as WIC and health-related support by providing reduced- and no-cost medical services, Arona realized an opportunity after meeting with Helping Mamas, a metro-Atlanta non-profit that provides diapers and other essential products to needy women. In September, Arona and health department leaders designated local funding and devised a plan to give diapers to families with newborns enrolling in the health department’s WIC program.

The health department purchased a truckload of diapers at a reduced cost through Helping Mamas. Gwinnett County Public Schools Early Learning and School Readiness were eager to participate, providing bibs and early learning literature focusing on their Building Babies’ Brains initiative. In December, GNR Public Health started distributing boxes to families enrolling newborns in WIC from their Buford, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Conyers, and Covington health centers.

“It is a blessing to help families with new babies this time of year,” said Arona. “Our strong partnerships with organizations like Helping Mamas and Gwinnett County Public Schools make projects like this possible. It is nice to collaborate with organizations who care about the families they serve.”

The health department has diaper gift boxes for qualifying WIC families while supplies last. Pregnant women, postpartum women, breastfeeding mothers, and families with children aged five and younger who want to find out if they qualify for WIC benefits should call 770-513-9738.

Download the News Release

Along with cooler weather and celebrations, the holiday season brings increases in the number of infections that occur from influenza (flu), COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus.

GNR Public Health wants you to remember these simple steps to help keep yourself and your loved ones healthy this season:

Ways to avoid getting sick

-Wash your hands often. Use soap and water and have hand sanitizer available, especially at gatherings.

Important! Hand sanitizer is ineffective against some germs, especially gastrointestinal illnesses like norovirus. Hand washing is preferred.

-Stay up to date on recommended vaccines.

Make an appointment to get all recommended vaccines, including seasonal ones such as influenza.

-Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

-Consider wearing a mask when traveling or in crowds.

When you’re sick

-Stay home and isolate away from others in your household when you’re sick.

Learn when to stay home from work or school.

-Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or use your inner elbow.

Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing.

-Do not cook or serve others when sick, especially when experiencing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

-Seek testing through your healthcare provider or use at-home or community testing options to determine which illness you are experiencing.

-Test at home for COVID with reliable antigen test kits from the health department, pharmacies, or the federal government.

Get free COVID tests delivered.

Call to find out if free COVID test kits are available at our health centers.

-Self-test for flu or COVID at one of three convenient health department kiosks.

Flu and COVID testing kiosks are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week! Find a kiosk near you.

-Contact your medical provider to get tested for RSV and norovirus.

-Consult your healthcare provider right away if symptoms aren’t manageable or worsen.

GNR Public Health wishes you a healthy and happy holiday!

For additional information about staying healthy this time of year, visit CDC’s Take Steps to Help You Stay Healthy During the Holidays or This Holiday Season is a Great Time to Focus on Health.