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sgmh.orgYOU’VE
just found out you’re
pregnant, and soon this wonderful
news will be obvious—you’ll have a
baby bump!
And like every mom-to-be, you
want a healthy pregnancy. What fol-
lows is expert advice on the best way
to care for yourself and the baby you
can’t wait to meet.
First things first
Of all the things you can do to
help keep you and your baby healthy,
perhaps the most important is to get
early and regular prenatal care.
These pregnancy checkups are
when your doctor will:
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Keep a close watch on you and
your baby so that any possible health
problem—such as a rise in your
blood pressure or a slowing of your
baby’s growth—is spotted early,
when it’s easiest to treat
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Answer all your questions about
pregnancy and childbirth
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Advise you on what to do—and
not to do—to give your baby a
healthy start in life
So if you haven’t arranged for
your first checkup
yet, don’t wait
any longer. And
show up for every
checkup your doc-
tor suggests, even if
you feel fine.
6 steps for two
Your lifestyle—and everyday
choices—can have a major effect on
your health and the health of your
growing baby. To take good care of
both of you, follow these six preg-
nancy must-do’s:
1
Make smart food choices.
That
means you should:
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Eat a variety of healthy foods so
Get ready
for baby
your baby is well-nourished. Choose
fruits, vegetables, whole grains,
calcium-rich foods and foods low in
saturated fat.
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Drink plenty of fluids, especially
water.
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Stay away from fish that is high in
mercury, such as swordfish, tilefish,
king mackerel and shark. Mercury
has been tied to birth defects.
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Also avoid raw fish; undercooked
meat; deli meat;
and unpasteur-
ized cheeses, such
as certain types of
feta, blue cheese
and Mexican-style
soft cheeses. Check the label to make
sure the cheese is pasteurized.
2
Get enough folic acid.
Take a
multivitamin or prenatal vitamin
with 400 micrograms of folic acid
every day. This B vitamin helps pro-
tect against major birth defects in a
baby’s brain and spine.
3
Aim for a slow, steady weight
gain.
Generally, you should gain
about 2 to 4 pounds total for the
first trimester and 3 to 4 pounds per
If you don’t have a doctor
yet, call today to get started
on your prenatal care:
951-845-1121
.
month for the second and third tri-
mesters. But ask your doctor what’s
best for you and your baby.
4
Stay fit.
Unless your doctor tells
you otherwise, get at least 2½ hours
of moderate-intensity aerobic activ-
ity every week. It’s best to spread out
your workouts. Avoid any exercise in
which you might get hit in the abdo-
men, such as basketball or soccer.
5
Don’t smoke, drink alcohol or
use recreational drugs.
You put
your baby at risk for things like fetal
alcohol spectrum disorders and sud-
den infant death syndrome. If you
need help quitting, ask your doctor
for help. Stay away from secondhand
smoke too. It’s also harmful for de-
veloping babies.
6
Always speak to your doctor
before you start or stop a medi-
cine.
Many medications, including
over-the-counter ones, can cause
problems during pregnancy. But
not taking a medicine you need can
also be risky for you and your baby.
Your doctor can advise what’s right
for you on this topic and all other
pregnancy-related concerns.