Having a healthy pregnancy can help you have a healthy baby. Eat a nutritious diet, stay active and get plenty of rest. Avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs. Start getting regular checkups as soon as you are pregnant or want to be pregnant. The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program offers classes and counseling on nutrition and breastfeeding, both before and after your baby’s birth. Visit www.wicworks.ca.gov

Exercise and relaxation can help you feel good throughout your pregnancy. Stay active, but also take time to sit quietly.

Talk to other parents. Childbirth classes are a great way to learn about different birthing methods to prepare for birth and share experiences with other parents.

Dental Care is very important during this time. Your teeth and gums need extra care during pregnancy. Women with gum disease are more likely to have a premature baby. Visit your dentist for checkups and brush and floss often. Prenatal vitamins have calcium, which is good for your teeth

Things you can do to have a healthy baby:

• Start prenatal care as soon as you know you are pregnant.
• Take prenatal vitamins with folic acid, calcium and iron. Folic acid reduces your risk of having a baby with serious spinal problems. Try to start at least a month before you become pregnant.
• Take time to rest each day. It’s normal to be tired.
• Talk and sing to your baby. Even before birth, babies can hear and learn the sounds of language.
• Eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, milk and 100% fruit juice.
• Exercise regularly.
• To avoid morning sickness, eat small amounts as often as you can.
• Testing and treatment for HIV and STDs can prevent problems for your baby. Call Mother and Infant Health or STD/HIV Hotline at 1-800-227-8922.
• If you have a disability visit www.lookingglass.org.
• If you start to bleed, get medical help right away.
• If you can’t stop drinking, smoking or using drugs then get help.
• Long periods of stress or depression may affect your developing baby. Talk to your doctor.
• Find out about Family Medical Leave and State Disability Insurance (SDI) benefits for pregnant women and new parents.
• Plan on breastfeeding your baby. Breastfeeding will help keep your baby healthy. It can even help get your body back in shape.

Having a healthy weight gain while you are pregnant:

• You will probably gain between 25 to 35 pounds.
• You will need to gain a little more if you were thin when you got pregnant.
• You might gain a little less if you were heavy when you got pregnant.
• You will probably gain just a few pounds in the first few months and then gain weight faster as your baby grows.
• During the last 6 months, gaining about one pound a week is about right. Your doctor or health worker will tell you what is right for you.

Stay away from these things while you are pregnant:

• X-rays, unless your doctor tells you that you need them. If so, tell the x-ray technician you are pregnant and ask to wear a lead apron to protect your baby.
• Hot tubs, saunas or steam rooms.
• Cat litter box. It can cause an infection that could hurt your baby.
• Meat that is undercooked.

Call your doctor right away if:

• There is a big change in the way your baby moves.
• You have a sudden flow of water from your vagina.
• Your face or hands swell up.
• You have a terrible headache that goes on for days.
• Your uterus tightens up more than 5 times in one hour.
• You have pain or pressure in your thighs or around your vagina.
• You see a change in the discharge that comes out of your vagina.
• You have a fever or chills or you feel dizzy.

Information reviewed by expert sources: Dr. May Loo, Santa Clara County Public Health