Maternal Health
Prenatal care is the health care women get when they’re pregnant. With regular checkups and a healthy lifestyle, women can work with their health care provider to prevent potential problems and have a healthy
pregnancy.
Are you thinking about having a baby?
Visit your provider before becoming pregnant. During this
visit, speak with your provider about:
- Medication
safety
- Vaccines
or screenings you may need
- Pregnancy
hazards at home or work
- Pregnancy
history
- Family
health history
- Managing
health conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, or epilepsy
It’s also important to be in your best health before becoming pregnant. In addition to visiting your provider, you should:
- Exercise
regularly
- Eat
healthy
- Quit smoking,
drinking alcohol, and using drugs
- Take a
folic acid dietary supplement daily
- Avoid
toxic substances, such as fertilizers or pesticides
Do you think you may be pregnant?
If you think you may be pregnant, schedule a visit with your
health care provider right away.
Regular prenatal care visits can help you:
- Find
any potential health concerns
- Learn
about healthy eating
- Track
your baby’s growth
- Schedule
tests
- Learn
about labor and delivery
- Learn
about breastfeeding
For a healthy pregnancy, you should also:
- Take
prenatal vitamins
- Quit
smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs
- Eat
healthy
- Keep a
healthy weight
- Exercise
regularly
- Get
enough sleep
- Ask
your provider if your medications are safe
What to eat during pregnancy
Healthy eating is key during pregnancy. This means eating an array of nutritious foods.
Most foods are safe for pregnant women. If you’re pregnant:
Eat
|
Avoid
|
- A
variety of proteins, including
lean meat, poultry, eggs, and soy products
- Fruits
- Salmon,
sardines, and trout
(high in omega-3, low in mercury)
- Low-fat
or fat-free milk, yogurt, and cheese
- Vegetables,
especially dark-green, red, and orange vegetables
- Whole
grains
- Beans
and peas
- Unsalted
nuts and seeds
|
- Undercooked
meat, poultry, and seafood
- Store-made
salads
- Shark,
swordfish, king mackerel, or tile fish (high in mercury)
- Unpasteurized
soft cheese, such as Brie, queso blanco, queso fresco, and blue cheese
- Unpasteurized
milk or juice
- Refrigerated
smoked seafood
- Medicinal
herbs and plants, unless your health care provider approves
- Raw sprouts,
including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean
|
Sources:
wicworks.fns.usda.gov/wicworks//Topics/PregnancyFactSheet.pdf
womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/youre-pregnant-now-what/staying-healthy-and-safe
BabyCare
Fidelis Care offers a special program
called
BabyCare to support the health of members during pregnancy. Any Fidelis Care member who is pregnant can join. For more information, call us at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547), or contact us to e-enroll.
For more maternal health information, including
helpful videos,
click
here
.
Maternal Health Resources
Women's Health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Women's Health (New York State Department of Health)