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Seek prenatal care from your doctor as soon as you suspect you are pregnant.
There are many tests that a doctor may want you to have to help your pregnancy
get off to a healthy start.
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If you are currently taking any prescribed or over-the-counter medications
check with your doctor to be sure if it safe to continue using them.
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Avoid the use of alcohol or other drugs even if you only suspect you may be
pregnant.
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If you smoke try to quit or at least cut down. If you need help quitting call
the Indiana Family Helpline at 1-800-433-0746. The Family Helpline can put you
in touch with a program that can help.
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Proper nutrition is very important for you while you are pregnant and for your
baby as it grows. Eat a variety of foods in moderation. If you are sick during
the first part of your pregnancy, talk with your doctor. There are many ways
to cope with morning sickness and still get the nutrients that you need.
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Pay attention to folic acid. Recent studies have shown that consuming the
proper amount of folic acid before and during pregnancy can help protect
babies from neural tube defects. These are birth defects that affect the
baby's brain and spine. The defects can cause paralysis, mental retardation or
even death. Many fruits, vegetables and fortified cereals are good sources of
folic acid.
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It is important to be aware of how much your baby is moving. Your doctor may
ask you to do "kick counts" towards the later part of your pregnancy (usually
around your seventh month). Follow the doctor's instructions about this
closely. It may alert the doctor of a potential problem. Lie on your side at
the same time every day. Keep track of how much time it takes to see or feel
your baby move 10 times. If you count less than 10 movements in two hours,
call your doctor. A good time to do this is after you have eaten a meal.
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Familiarize yourself with the signs of pre-term labor. Call the doctor
immediately if you have any of these symptoms: 1) Contractions every 10
minutes or more than 5 contractions in one hour. 2) Backache that does not go
away after resting on your side. 3) Changes in vaginal discharge. 4) Pelvic
pressure that feels like the baby is pushing down inside. 5) Menstrual-like
cramps. 6) Abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
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Consider breastfeeding your baby. Breastfeeding your baby can have many health
benefits for you and your baby. Studies have shown that breastfeeding can help
reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Your doctor may be
able to give you more information on the benefits of breastfeeding including
some of the reasons it may not be possible for you to breastfeed your baby.
You can call the Indiana Family Helpline at 1-800-433-0746 for more
information.
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Consider carefully which doctor you would like to select for your baby to see
once he/she is born. Make arrangement for the doctor to see the baby at the
hospital if possible. Call the Hoosier Healthwise Helpline at 1-800-889-9949
to request a list of providers in your area. You can also make a pre-birth
selection for your baby so that your baby can be linked with your choice of
doctor at birth. Call the Hoosier Healthwise Helpline as soon as you decide so
we can enter your selection.
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Once your baby is born put him/her down on his/her back to sleep. By
placing your baby on his/her back you help reduce the risk of SIDS. (In rare
cases children may need to be put to sleep differently. Please follow
the advice of your doctor.)
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Put your baby to sleep on a firm mattress in a safety approved crib. Soft
mattresses, sofas, and waterbeds may smother the baby. Remove all loose
bedding, pillows and toys from baby's bed. Make sure your baby's head and face
stay uncovered during sleep. Try using warm sleeper-pajamas in the winter or
long sleeved sleepers during the summer if you have air conditioning. If you
need to use a blanket for the baby be sure that the baby's feet are at the
bottom of the crib and that the blanket is no higher that the baby's chest.
Tuck the ends of the blanket under the mattress. Do not let your baby get too
hot during sleep. Keep the baby's room at a temperature that is comfortable
for an adult.
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Don't smoke around your baby or allow others to smoke around the baby.
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Be sure to take your baby in for well-baby doctor visits and follow the
immunization schedule that your doctor suggests.
