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You are expecting a new baby! Preparing for the birth of a new child can be one of life’s greatest experiences. Take good care of your health. When you are pregnant, everything you do has an effect on you and can have an effect on your baby
Generally, your first appointment with a healthcare provider for prenatal care should be when you are 8 – 10 weeks pregnant. Young or old, first baby or not, you need to have good prenatal care for your own health and the health of the baby. Appointments for prenatal care start at once a month and increase as the pregnancy progresses. In the last few weeks before birth, appointments are usually weekly. If you have another medical condition or are pregnant and considered “high risk”, you may have more frequent visits.
During your pregnancy, it is important to attend all of your appointments, even if you are feeling well. The appointments are for your welfare and for that of your unborn baby. Most often, everything will be all right but the visits are also an opportunity for your healthcare provider to identify and treat potential problems early.
Research has consistently shown that women who get early and regular prenatal care have healthier pregnancies and healthier babies.
Do it for yourself and for your baby.
Most healthcare providers recommend that women take a prenatal multivitamin during their pregnancy. This ensures that women receive the right amounts of vitamins and minerals such as folic acid, iron, and calcium. These support the growth and development of the baby before birth.
It is also best to avoid drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
For the best advice, consult with your healthcare provider to be sure that you are doing what is right for the needs of your body and for the development of your baby.
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When you are preparing for a new baby, take the time to think about what you eat each day
Be sure that you and your baby get all of the vitamins, minerals and calories needed for a healthy pregnancy.
Each day, your diet should include servings from each of these healthy food groups:
Grain products provide carbohydrates that are an important source of energy. Eat 6-11 servings a day of fortified or whole grains like whole-wheat bread, rice, or pasta. Fruits and Vegetables provide vitamins, minerals and fiber. At least 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit are recommended each day. One of the fruits should be juice or fruit with Vitamin C such as orange juice. Protein foods like meat, fish and dried beans are very important to your baby’s growth. Eat 3-4 servings each day. If you are a vegetarian, foods like eggs, tofu or other soy, and dried beans and nuts can help meet this requirement. Milk and Milk products, including calcium fortified soy milk, help build strong bones and teeth for your baby. Have 3-4 servings each day from dairy foods including yogurt, milk, or cheese.
Finally, remember to drink lots of healthy liquids and limit your intake of caffeine.
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Pregnancy Care and Resources, page 2
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Preparing for a new baby can be stressful when there are financial problems. If you have health insurance, call and speak with your insurer about their pregnancy programs. Many insurance companies offer special benefits to women who complete their prenatal appointments.
If you don’t have health insurance and are expecting a new baby, there may be help available.
The Healthy Start Program, established in December 1985 by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, is part of a major infant health initiative. The aim of the program is to have women deliver healthier infants by reducing the number of babies born with low weights and other medical problems.
A woman may be eligible for Healthy Start or MassHealth coverage if she:
- Is pregnant and is a Massachusetts resident
- Has no, or limited, health insurance
- Meets income guidelines
The goal of Healthy Start is to promote prenatal care for all women. The Healthy Start staff can offer assistance and advocacy with the application process and other aspects of the program. Benefits can include:
Prenatal visits to a physician or certified nurse midwife Laboratory tests Some prescription medicines Additional services for high-risk clients including ultrasound, amniocentesis, and specialty referrals in some cases Coverage for some inpatient hospital costs through automatic eligibility for free care Physician or certified nurse midwife delivery charges Physician charges for babies who do not have MassHealth, up to 7 days in the hospital and one well baby visit.
Any pregnant woman needing assistance can call the Healthy Start Family Resource Line!
The phone number is 1-800-531-2229.
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Knowing that financial problems are not the only obstacles to prenatal care, the Healthy Start staff helps women at risk to obtain other pregnancy related services. These may include:
- Finding healthcare providers for prenatal care
- Connecting with community support services such as WIC (see below)
- Obtaining medical coverage for the infant or other children in the household
- Providing additional services for teens, immigrants and others at risk.
The Massachusetts Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program, or WIC, has served as a health, nutrition and prevention program since 1974. WIC helps to improve infant health by providing expectant mothers with a way to purchase nutritious foods such as milk, cheese, fruit juices, iron-fortified cereals, peanut butter, dried beans and eggs. WIC services are available to income-eligible pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five who are determined to be at medical and/or nutritional risk
For information about WIC, call
1-800-WIC-1007
November, 2003
St Patrick Parish
Health Care Ministry
118 South Broadway
Lawrence, MA 01843
978-683-9416
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