Lesson 4.13 – Prenatal Care

Pregnancy Do’s Continue taking folic acid throughout the pregnancy. Getting enough folic acid lowers the risk of some birth defects. Get all essential nutrients. Getting enough iron prevents anemia, which is linked to preterm birth and low-birth weight babies. See your doctor regularly. Prenatal care can help keep mom and baby healthy and spot problems if they occur. Eat a variety of healthy foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, calcium rich foods, lean meats, and a variety of cooked seafood.

Pregnancy Do’s Drink extra fluids, especially water. Get moving! Gain a healthy amount of weight. Gaining more than the recommended amount increases risk for complications. Also makes it harder to lose the extra pounds after childbirth. Get moving! Unless the doctor says otherwise, physical activity is good for mom and baby. Wash hands, especially after handling raw meat or using the bathroom.

Pregnancy Do’s Set limits. Pregnant women must control the stress in their lives. Don’t be afraid to say “no” and ask for help from others. Ask doctor before stopping any medicines or taking any new medicines. Prescription, OTC and herbal medicine all can harm your baby. Get enough sleep. Aim for 7 to 9 hours every night. Resting on left side helps blood flow to mom and baby, prevents swelling. Make sure health problems are treated and kept under control. Ex. have diabetes, control blood sugar levels. high blood pressure, monitor it closely.

Pregnancy Do’s Join a childbirth or parenting class. Get a flu shot. Pregnant women can get very sick from the flu and may need hospital care. Ask your doctor about the flu vaccine. Join a childbirth or parenting class. Always wear a seatbelt. The lap strap should go under mom’s belly, across the hips. The shoulder strap should go between the breasts and to the side of the belly. Make sure it fits snuggly.

Pregnancy Don’ts Don’t smoke tobacco. Nicotine and cancer-causing drugs pass to baby. Smoking keeps baby from getting nourishment, raises the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and infant death. Don’t drink alcohol. There is no known safe amount a woman can drink while pregnant. Both drinking every day and drinking a lot of alcohol once in a while during pregnancy can harm the baby. Avoid exposure to toxic substances and chemicals: cleaning solvents, lead and mercury, some insecticides, and paint. Protect mom and baby from foodborne illness, can cause serious health problems and even death. Handle, clean, cook, eat, and store food properly.

Pregnancy Don’ts Don’t use illegal drugs. Tell doctor if mom is using drugs. ALL illegal drugs are very dangerous mom and baby. Don’t eat swordfish, king mackerel, shark, and tilefish, which are high in mercury. Avoid contact with rodents urine, droppings, or nesting material. This includes pet rodents: guinea pigs and hamsters. Rodents can carry a virus that can be harmful or even deadly to baby. Don’t clean or change a cat’s litter box. This could put mom at risk for toxoplasmosis, an infection that can be very harmful to the fetus.

Pregnancy Don’ts Don’t take very hot baths or use hot tubs or saunas. High temperatures can be harmful to the fetus, or cause mom to faint. Don’t douche. Douching can irritate the vagina, force air into the birth canal and increase the risk of infection. Avoid x-rays. If mom must, be sure to tell the dentist or physician about being pregnant so that extra care can be taken. Don’t use scented feminine hygiene products. Might irritate vaginal area, and increase risk of a urinary tract infection or yeast infection.